and in this respect become subject to a law different from that of other bodies, which change from fluid to solid. This is a deviation from a general decree of Nature. Were it not for this wise provision of the Creator, the world would shortly have been converted into a frozen chaos. All bodies contract their dimensions, and acquire a greater specific gravity by cooling; but water is excepted from this law, and becomes of less specific gravity, whether it be heated, or cooled below 42° 5. Were it not for this exemption, it would have become specifically heavier by the loss of its caloric, and the waters that float on the surface of rivers would have sunk as it froze, until the beds of rivers would have been filled up with immense masses of ice. From the observations of Perron, there is reason to believe that the mountainous accumulations of ice that have hitherto arrested the progress of polar navigators have been detached from the depths of the ocean to float upon its surface. This circumstance would account for the difference of temperature of the sea according to its depth. The experiments of Perron, made with an instrument of his own invention, which he called the thermobarometer, gave the following results: 1st, The temperature of the sea upon its surface, and at a distance from shore, is at the meridian, lower than that of the atmosphere in the shade; much more elevated at midnight, but in a state of equilibrium morning and evening. 2nd, The temperature rises as we approach continents or extensive islands. 3rd, At a distance from land, the temperature of the deep parts of the sea is lower than that of the surface, and the cold increases with the depth. It is this circumstance which led this ingenious philosopher to conclude that even under the equator the bottom of the sea is eternally frozen. Humboldt is of a contrary opinion, and maintains that the temperature is from two to three degrees lower in shallow water; and he therefore is of opinion that the thermometer might prove of material use to navigators. He attributes this diminution of temperature to the admixture of the lower bodies of water with that of the surface. Who is to decide between these two ingenious experimentalists ? "Experientia fallax, judicium difficile." The curious reader may consult in this investigation the tables of Forster in Cook's second voyage, those of Lord Mulgrave when Captain Phipps. and various other navigators. The salutary medicinal effects of sea-bathing are generally Το acknowledged, although too frequently recommended in cases which do not warrant the practice; in such circumstances they often prove highly prejudicial. The ancients held seawater baths in such estimation, that Lampridius and Suetonius inform us that Nero had it conveyed to his palace. As sea-bathing is not always within the reach of those who may require it, artificial sea-water has been considered a desirable substitute; and the following mode of preparing it, not being generally known, may prove of some utility. fifty pounds of water add ten ounces of muriate of soda, ten drachms of muriate of magnesia, two ounces of muriate of lime, six drachms of sulphate of soda, and the same quantity of sulphate of magnesia. This is Swediaur's receipt. Bouillon Lagrange, and Vogel, recommend the suppression of the muriate of lime and sulphate of soda, to be replaced with carbonate of lime and magnesia; but this alteration does not appear necessary, or founded on sufficient chemical grounds for adoption. Sea-water taken internally has been considered beneficial in several maladies; and, although not potable in civilized countries, it is freely drunk by various savage tribes. Cook informs us that it is used with impunity in Easter Island; and Schouten observed several fishermen in the South Sea drinking it, and giving it to their children, when their stock of fresh water was expended. Amongst the various and capricious experiments of Peter the Great, an edict is recorded ordering his sailors to give salt water to their male children, with a view of accustoming them to a beverage which might preclude the necessity of laying in large stocks of fresh water on board his ships! The result was obvious: this nursery of seamen perished in the experiment. Russel, Lind, Buchan, and various other medical writers, have recommended the internal use of sea-water in scrofulous and cutaneous affections; but its use in the present day is pretty nearly exploded. 259 PROVERBS AND SAYINGS REGARDING AN ague in the spring is physic for a king. An apple, an egg, and a nut, you may eat after a slut. Poma, ova, aique nuces, si det tibi sordida, gustes. Old young and old long. They who would be young when they are old, must be old when they are young. When the fern is as high as a spoon, You may sleep an hour at noon. When the fern is as high as a ladle, You may sleep as long as you are able. Then milk is good with brown bread. At forty a man is either a fool or a physician. After dinner sit a while, after supper walk a mile. A good surgeon must have an eagle's eye, a lion's heart, and a lady's hand. If you would live for ever you must wash milk from your liver. Vin sur lait, c'est souhait; lait sur vin, c'est venin. Butter is gold in the morning, silver at noon, and lead at night. He that would live for aye, must eat sage in May. Cur moriatur homo, cui salvia crescit in horto? After cheese comes nothing. An egg and to bed. You must drink as much after an egg as after an ox. He that goes to bed thirsty rises healthy. Qui couche avec la soif, se leve avec la santé. One hour's sleep before midnight is worth two hours after. Who goes to bed supperless, all night tumbles and tosses. Often and little eating makes a man fat. Fish must swim thrice. Poisson, goret, et cochon vit en l'eau, mort en vin. Drink wine and have the gout, drink no wine and have it too. Quæ peccamus Juvenes, ea luimus Senes. Go to bed with the lamb, and rise with the lark. Early to bed, and early to rise, Makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. Wash your hands often, your feet seldom, and your head never. Eat at pleasure, drink by measure. Pain tant qu'il dure, vin à mésure. Cheese is a peevish elf, It digests all but itself. Caseus est nequam, Quia digerit omnia se quàm. The best physicians are Dr. Diet, Dr. Quiet, and Dr. Merryman. Si tibi deficiant medici, medici tibi fiant Hæc tria; mens læta, requies, moderata diæta. Drink in the morning staring, Then all the day be sparing. Eat a bit before you drink. Feed sparingly and dupe the physician. Better be meals many than one too many. You should never touch your eye but with your elbow. Non patitur ludum fama, fides, oculus. The head and feet keep warm, the rest will take no harm. Tenez chaud le pied et la tête, au demurant vives en bête. Qui ne boit vin après salade, est en danger d'étre malade. Cover your head by day as much as you will, by night as much as you can. Fish spoils water, but flesh mends it. Apples, pears, and nuts spoil the voice. Quartan agues kill old men and cure young. Old fish, old oil, and an old friend. Pesce, oglio, ed amico vecchio. Raw pullet, veal, and fish, make the churchyard fat. Of wine the middle, of oil the top, of honey the bottom. Vino di mezzo, oglio di sopra, e miele di sotto. The air of a window is the stroke of a cross-bow. Aria di finestra, colpo di balestra. Piscia chiaro, ed incaca al medico. When the wind is in the east, it's neither good for man nor beast. A hot May makes a fat churchyard. That city is in a bad case, whose physicians have the gout-Hebrew Proverb. When the sun rises, the disease will abate.* * A Hebrew proverb originating from a tradition that Abraham wore a precious stone round his neck, which preserved him from disease, and which cured sickness when looked upon. When Abraham died, God placed this stone in the sun. If you take away the salt, throw the meat to the dogs. Splen ridere facit, cogit amare jecur.* Lever à cinq, dìner à neuf. Souper à cinq, coucher à neuf. Font vivre dans nonante neuf. Surge quinta, prande noná, cœna quinta, dormi noná, nec est morti vita prona. Hunger's the best sauce. Optimum condimentum fames. Plures occidit gula quàm gladius. Qui a bu, boira. Ever drunk ever dry. Vinum potens, vinum nocens. The child is too clever to live long. Bitter to the mouth, sweet to the heart. Paulò deterior, sed suavior potus est cibus; meliori quidem, sed ingrato præferendus est. Après la soupe, un coup d'excellent vin Tire un écu de la poche du médecin. The ancients considered the spleen the seat of mirth, and the live the organ of love; hence their old proverb. |