466 
DISCOVERY IMPORTANT FOR INVALIDS. 
labour, is one object which has been cfTected ; 
but this, although in itself important, is 
one of its least advantages. By the same 
plan, the herap^ to whatever purpose ap- 
plied, being drawn over a succession ot gills, 
or small hackles, is dressed in the highest 
degree ; hence the fibrous substances of the 
hemp are regularly split and subdivided ; 
they are also multiplied to such an extent as 
that their number in a Patent-spun yarn will 
be found more than double the quantity of 
those which compose a hand -spun yarn of 
equal grist ; this, every one will admit, must 
increase its strength in no inconsiderable de- 
gree. Again, while the fibres are thus great- 
ly multiplied, they are also completely elon- 
gated and laid straight, so as to admit of being 
regularly twisted, and each fibre being stretch- 
ed its full length and laid parallel to the 
others in the yarn, they are all made to bear 
at the same time, and equally, in the strain ; 
thus every fibre of the hemp is called into 
action, and contributes its own proportion of 
strength to the fabric; this is certainly a 
most important feature in our Patent plan, 
and such a result could never be expected 
from the most careful and best conducted 
hand-spinning. But this is not all, by hand- 
labour the hemp can only be spun from the 
middle, or bight ; and therefore only one- 
half of the length of its fibre is extended in 
the yarn, consequently, some qualities of 
hemp have hitherto been considered inferior, 
because, on account of the shortness of their 
fibre, they would not admit of being doubled ; 
thus, a material in other respects as good, 
while of lower price, has been rejected in the 
manufacture of Cordage, not so much on its 
own account, but because, by the process of 
hand-spinning, only the one-half of its length 
could be employed. Now, Mr. Lang’s plan 
has this additional advantage, that the hemp 
is spun by the end of the fibre, and thus, by 
having its whole length extended in the yarn, 
those qualities of hemp hitherto considered 
inferior, because shorter, may be applied 
W’ith equal safety and advantage, and do in 
reality produce Cordage as strong and as 
durable as the others. When we take into 
account the very depressed state of this branch 
;Of our manufacture, in consequence of the 
•facilities enjoyed by our neighbours on the 
.continent of underselling us in a foreign 
market, as also the present state of the ship - 
■ping interest, it will, by every candid person, 
be acknowledged that an invention such as 
this, by which we are enabled to produce a 
superior article, and at a cheaper rate, ought, 
even in a politicalpoint of view, to be regard- 
ed as a public good ; and is consequently en- 
titled to public encouragement and support.” 
i Professor Jameson adds : — We have seen 
the rope-yarns, understand the machinery 
employed, have rqad carefully the exposition, | 
and do riot hesitate to say, that this new I 
cordage has answered the expectation of those ■ 
who hare tried it, and that severely too, in i 
liiany seas.* — Arcana of Science. 
CYLINDER BEDSTEAD. 
An important and invaluable contrivance, 
denominated the reclining cylinder bedstead, 
for which a patent has been recently obtain- 
ed, and which, on the point of adoption in 
St. George's Hospital, London, has been 
minutely inspected and most cordially ap- 
proved hj 'Written testimonials, by the whole 
of his Majesty’s physicians and surgeons, 
and the most eminent practitioners in the 
Uietropolis, is one amidst the many brilliant 
evidences of that astonishing progress in 
mechanical science for -vv'hich the present 
age is remarkable. The inventor is Mr, 
James Cherry, of Coventry. 
The sacking is attached to two cylinders 
running lengthwise, one on each side of the 
bed ; these C5dinders contain several springs 
upon the chronometer principle, which, pro- 
pel them upon the axles outwards, or right 
and left from the centre of the bed. The 
sacking, when the bed is not in use, ,is'al- 
ways at full stretch ; but when it receives the 
weight of the body, the springs relax, and 
the bedding is sunk to a concave of twelve 
inches ; the feathers encompassing the patient 
and relieving the back from the pressure 
which is imparted to the sides ; together 
with the undulating motion of the spring.s 
by which the bedding is sustained, impart a 
sensation of entire comfort and ease. In the 
opinion of the faculty, this individual feature 
presents an eftectual preventive of sloughing 
in the back, that dreadful and often fatal 
consequence of a long continuance in the 
recumbent posture. The invalid, however 
helpless he may be, may be placed -in any 
required position, either for his own comfort, 
or for surgical operation ; for example, the 
body can be raised to any degree ; the lower 
limbs placed on a double inclined plane, a 
point essential in the I'eduction of fractures ; 
the feet elevated to assist in replacing a dis- 
located knee-pan, &c. &c. 
By this fortunate invention, the torture 
which many patients experience from being 
lifted out of bed, and exposed to the atmos- 
phere while the bed is re-making, or other 
necessary changes eifeeting, will be utterly 
obviated, and the expensive attendance of 
assistants precluded. One person can, in the 
space of two minutes, and without trouble or 
exertion, complete an entire changepf bedding 
-—the bed under the patient, holsters, pil- 
JamcEoi»’« Journal, No. 36. 
