A treatise of artificial magnets ; in which is shewn an easy and expeditious method of making them, superior to the best natural ones, and also, a way of improving the natural ones, and of changing or converting their poles : Directions are likewise given for making the mariner's needles. In the best form, and for touching them most advantageously, &c / by J. Michell.

  • John Michell
Date:
1750
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A treatise of artificial magnets ; in which is shewn an easy and expeditious method of making them, superior to the best natural ones, and also, a way of improving the natural ones, and of changing or converting their poles : Directions are likewise given for making the mariner's needles. In the best form, and for touching them most advantageously, &c / by J. Michell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    23/86 (page 21)
    METHOD OF MAKING BEFORE we come to the Method of making Magnets, it may not be amifs to obfervc, that every Magnet has two Poles, (as they are called,) that is, two Points from which the attractive and repulfive powers feem to fpread themfelves, and to which they are directed; at the neareft parts to which, if other circumfiances be the fame, the Magnet always aCts ftrongeft: One of thefe is called the North Pole, and the other the South ; and that is ge¬ nerally, and mod properly called the -f South Pole, which, if the Magnet was put into a little boat of Wood, or other Materials, large enough f This is the Sente, in which they are always under¬ wood by the beft Authors. [See Gilbert its ds Magnete. Mr. Savery in the Pbilof. Tranf. and feveral others, that have written upon this fubjeCE] The reafbns of calling them thus, may be feen in Gilbertus de Magnete ; who fays, he was the who called them after this manner.