1817. Wind. Max. Min. Med. Max. Min. Med. Hygr. at Rain. The observations in each line of the table apply to a period of twenty-four hours, beginning at 9 A. M. on the day indicated in the first column. A dash denotes, that the result is included in the next following observation, REMARKS. Eighth Month.—21. A wet morning: windy at N: p.m. cloudy, with wind about NNW: pretty calm at night. 22. Fair, with Cirrostratus beneath Cirrus: gold-coloured moon: calm at night. 23. Fine morning: there is said to have been hoar frost: a few Cumuli appeared, which soon became heavy Cumulostratus: and in the evening it was quite overcast, with a few drops of rain. 24. Fine, a.m.: the wind SE: a little rain, p.m.: during the day a singular anomalous veil of cloud overspread the sky, in which the Cirrostratus on the whole predominated : the lower surface of these clouds put on fine crimson and grey tints at sun-set, and the lights formed by the moon shining through them were peculiarly soft and pleasing. 25. Cloudy, a. m.: small rain: the wind gentle, veering to S : it rained much of the day at intervals: afterwards appeared groups consisting of Cumulostratus and Cirrocumulus, with Nimbi: hazy moonlight. 26. Cirrostratus in the morning: then Nimbus, and some rain: the wind gone back to SE, and moderate: many sudden showers of small amount from ill-defined clouds amidst haze: a bow soon after three, p. m.: windy night. 27. Fine morning: much dew: calm: Cumulostratus tending to Cirrocumulus above: some rain at mid-day. 28. Fine morning: Cumulus passed to Cumulostratus: a very few drops fell, p.m.: and there followed wind, succeeded by calm, with Cirrostratus and haze: rain in the night. 29. Fair: brisk wind, with various clouds. 30. A veil of Cirrostratus in flocks, a. m., with this Cumulus rapidly inosculating, formed Cumulostratus, which was heavy through the day: in the evening much Cirrostratus, succeeded by small rain: in the night a heavy shower. 31. Fine, with Cumuli, carried by a strong breeze. Ninth Month.-1. Misty morning, with Cirrostratus above, to which succeeded Cumulostratus. 2. Fine morning: wind NE, with Cirrostratus, which gave place to Cumulus: the evening was overcast, as for rain, but little or none fell, and in the night there was a most copious fall of dew. RESULTS. Winds Westerly, save twice about the last quarter of the moon, when they became Easterly. The following was communicated to me by my friend Thomas Forster : "Tunbridge Wells, Oct. 6, 1817. Being out about midnight, and the sky being remarkably clear, wind SW, therm. 49°, I saw in the WSW a brilliant meteor, almost half the apparent bigness of the moon: it began at about 45° or 50° of altitude, and slowly descended, increasing in size: it might perhaps be near 10 seconds in falling: the colour of the flame was white till near its extinction, when it was bright blue, tinged with reddish at the top.-T. F.” TOTTENHAM, Ninth Month, 22, 1817. L. HOWARD. ANNALS OF PHILOSOPHY. NOVEMBER, 1817. ARTICLE I. Biographical Account of William Brownrigg, M.D. F.R.S. By Joshua Dixon, M.D. THE occurrences in the lives of literary characters are seldom so extraordinary as to awaken interest, or gratify curiosity. Removed from the active and busy scenes of the world, and experiencing few vicissitudes of fortune, they glide down the stream of time with that silent uniformity which neither attracts, nor deserves, the notice of men. To the physician this observation is particularly applicable. The completion of his most sanguine expectations never terminates in any high elevation of rank, or dignity of station: and in a public capacity he has no opportunity of distinguishing himself, however qualified he may be to shine in it, from the gifts of nature, and the acquisitions of study. The possessors of those honours which exclusively belong to the other professions may, by their weight in the scale of politics, become objects of general attention. The contrast also between the glimmering dawn of their prospects, and their subsequent splendour, produces surprise and perplexity in the inquisitive mind; and every minute circumstance which has been the immediate or remote cause of so rapid and singular a promotion hence derives an importance to which it has no This life was published at Whitehaven in 1801. It was written by Dr. Dixon, the principal physician of that part of the country, who had been an apprentice of Dr. Brownrigg. I have been induced to reprint it here because it contains much curious and important matter, which ought to be known to the scientific world; and I have reason to believe that the circulation of the original has been very limited.-T. intrinsic claim. Rarely, on the contrary, does any striking and wonderful event rescue the physician from oblivion: on his scientific attainments depends his future celebrity. These introductory remarks are designed to apologize for the deficiency of incident in the life of Dr. Brownrigg; whose title to the regard of mankind rests not on the capricious distributions of fortune, but on the firm foundation of personal merit. The medical education of Dr. Brownrigg* commenced at London, where he attended public lectures two years. He then proceeded to Leyden; and, from the date of his inaugural dissertation, it appears that the degree of Doctor of Medicine was conferred upon him in 1737. To that University, which had obtained unrivalled celebrity and estimation, medical students generally resorted; and from it they derived the greatest improvement, and the highest honours of their profession. In this learned seminary the Doctor remained several years, and studied the theory and practice of physic, anatomy, botany, and experimental philosophy, under the auspices of their respective, most illustrious, professors, Boerhaave, Albinus, Van Royen, and s'Gravesande. To these his intimate friends, and much revered preceptors, he dedicated, with affection and respect, his elaborate thesis De Praxi Medicâ ineundâ: an inquiry well adapted to the situation of one who, conversant with the theory, was about to engage in the practice, of medicine. In treating this important subject he has very ingeniously given heads of discussion with regard to the state of the air, that of the climate, and other contingencies affecting the place where the physician proposes to reside. To these are annexed useful rules, and judicious advice, for the assistance and direction of medical students, relative to the characteristic temperament and constitution of its inhabitants, their mode of living, their particular articles of diet, the diseases and infirmities to which they are peculiarly liable, and the means which have been proved from experience to be adequate to their immediate relief, or permanent removal. Many other circumstances are added, which might be read with advantage by young physicians. As soon as Dr. Brownrigg had entered upon the practice of medicine at Whitehaven, in his native county, he began, with judgment and perseverance, to put in execution the measures qualified to accomplish the plan which he had thus laid down: and, among other inquiries, the damps + or exhalations arising in the coal-mines, with which that town is surrounded, appeared to him deserving of careful and accurate examination. So extraordinary were their effects, that he employed much of his leisure time in investigating their properties. Earnestly solicited by the late Sir * Dr. Brownrigg was born at High Close Hall, in the county of Cumberland, on March 24, 1711; and was married to Mary, the daughter of John Spedding, Esq. on Aug. 3, 1741. + In the Saxon and German languages, a vapour or exhalation is expressed by the word damp. 5 |