Medicine made to agree with the institutions of nature, or A new mechanical practice of physick ... / by Dav. Stephenson, M.A.

  • Stephenson, David, M.A.
Date:
MDCCXLIV [1744]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Medicine made to agree with the institutions of nature, or A new mechanical practice of physick ... / by Dav. Stephenson, M.A. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    to W3, and the Air above the Water be render’d threeTimes as denfe as common Air, whereby the Perfon will be fubjedled to a Preffure equal to that of a triple Atmofphere. ft the Forcer begins to make the Stroke by moving between f 4, and f i, the Water will be rais’d up from the Level w 1, to w 4, and the Air become condens’d into four times lefs Space than common Air, whereby the Perfon will be placed under a Preffure equal to that ol a quadruple Atmofphere. And if the Forcer be made to move from f 5, to f 1, the Water in the Receiver will be rais’d from w i, to w 5, when the Air will be render’d five times denfer than common Air, and the Perfon laid under a Preffure equal to that of a quintuple Atmofphere ; and fo for all other Diftances, fo that according to the Lengths of the Strokes, the Air will be condens’d and rarefied proportionally, and that in all Degrees and Quantities, as may ferve bell to advance and promote the Intentions of Cure propos’d thereby •, and in order to know how to regulate and adjulf the Machine, fo as to lay on the juft Quantity of Preffure intended, the fame is for this Purpofe provided with a mercurial Gage Tube bb, the Ufe whereof has been explain’d before. The pneumatick Engine, as here reprefented, may be work’d by the Force of Men, &c. for which Purpofe there is fix’d upon the upper End of the Axis a a, a Wheel ww with a fquare Groove round its Circum¬ ference, wherein are fix’d the Ends of feveral Ropes w 1, W2, W3, W4, C?c. to each whereof may be apply’d any Number of Men requir’d ; and in pulling the Laid Ropes, the Men may do it either (landing or fitting with their Bodies reclin’d backwards, according to which Method there may be any Number of Men apply’d for working the Machine, to the Number of a Thoufand. As to what relates to the Strublure of the Barrel and Forcer, with the Method of applying the common auxiliary Powers thereto, having given a particular Defcription thereof, with divers other new Machines, in another Treatife relating to Hydraulicks, muft refer thereto for Brevity. 20. In the foregoing Draughts and Defcription of this Machine or artificial Atmofphere, the fame has been confider’d only as apply’d to the whole Body, which was underftood to be entirely inclofed in the Receiver, I fhall next fhew how the mechanical Effebls of the fame pneumatick Machine may be alfo apply’d to any particular Region or Member of the Body, as fuppofe it to be either a Leg, Arm, &c. after what Manner this may be effedled may be readily underftood by referring to the two vertical Sections of the Machine, Fig. 3. and Fig. 6. in Plate 2. In the firft Figure a Perfon. is reprefented with his Thigh, Leg and Foot, inclofed within a proper Veffel or Receiver rrrr, being thruft through a round Hole in the Plate or Cover r r fix’d upon one End of the Receiver, which Hole may be arm’d with foft Leathers to keep the Perfon’s Thigh from being hurt by the Edge of the Hole, and likewife to fecure and keep the Hole clofe ftopt, fo that no Air, Water, or Steam may pafs out between the Member, and the Edge of the Orifice. The Perfon thus fitting or (landing with his Body in the open Air, and his Thigh and Leg within the pneumatick Mill, upon fetting the Machine to work, the Strokes with the Forcer may be made fo ftrong and quick, and with fuch a Quantity of Preffure, that the Member will become as throughly work’d and exercis’d, like as a Piece of Cloth is manufadlur’d in a Fulling Mill: vvvv is the Boyler or Copper for producing Vapours or Effluvia from Subllances of all Kinds that are endow’d with any medicinal fanative Qualities for anfwering curative Intentions, with which Exhalations and Effluvia the Air in the Receiver may be kept impregnated to all Degrees of Strength requir’d ; the Air in the Receiver being thus properly prepar’d and medicated with the Steam and Vapours produc’d from Ingredients well chofen and fuited to the Intentions of Cure, will prove very fuccefsful in many obftinate Diftempers, fuch as Tumors, Ulcers, either of the Inflammatory, (Edematous, Scorbutick, Strumous, Scrophulous, Dropfical, Venereal Kind, &V. by reafon of the ftrong, quick, frequent Vibrations, Tremors, Pulfations, and Stimulation that will become alternately and fucceffively, and for any Time requir’d, excited, kept up and main¬ tain’d in the Member by the alternate repeated Strokes of the Machine, whereby the opprefs’d, languid, tonick Motion of the Solids will become reftor’d, and the vifcid, fizy, corrupt, ftagnant Humours broken, attenuated and diffolv’d, and thereby fitted either for Suppuration, or to be thrown out by Tranfpiration, or refumed into the Veffels in the Courfe of Circulation, &V. 21. By the other Seftion and Draught, Fig. 6. of Plate 2. which prefents a pofterior View of a Perfon fitting with his Body in the open Air or Atmofphere, and having his whole Arm in¬ clofed in the artificial Atmofphere within the Receiver rrrr •, the Member being thruft in through a Hole in the Plate or Cover r r, fix’d upon the End of the Receiver, which Hole muft be guarded round with foft Cloths or Leather, to defend the Arm from being incommoded, and to fecure the Junctures, fo as to let no Air pafs out or in between the Perfon’s Arm and the Edge of the Hole. What farther relates to the Conftruftion, Ufe and Application of this Draught of the Machine, may be deduced by referring to the preceeding Numbers. 22. Now in what Manner the other Parts and Regions of the Body may be made to receive the Benefit of this mod falutary Method of Exercife, may be readily underftood from what has been faid: Thus fuppofe that either the upper Region of the Body from the Loins upwards, was requir’d to be fubmitted to this new mechanical Exercife and Difcipline ; or the lower Region from the Loins downwards. How the former of thofe two Cafes may be executed may be readily conceiv’d, (without the Neceffity of having particular Draughts for that Purpofe) making proper Allowances, by referring to the Draught, Fig. 6. Plate 1. by conceiving the Veffel ebb b,. to be in this Cafe the Receiver, none of the other Parts of the Machine being here reprefented. 1 And
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