50 A Table of the Value of an Annuity of one Pound, payable yearly, during a Life of any Age, allowing compound Interest at Al. per Cent. per Ann. computed from the Table of the Decrements of Life, constructed by the Reverend William Brakenridge, D. D., F. R. S. Inserted Page 601, vol. x. 16 17,000 15,001 16,855 16,001 47 48 16,781 17,470 20 16,379 11,580 61 8,071 11,360 62 7,839 11,190 63 7,541 49 10,960 64 7,234 50 10,780 65 6,920 6 16,061 51 10,540 66 6,598 67 6,338 68 6,007 69 5,670 84 2,084 12,780 55 9,694 85 1,651 56 9,444 9,186 8,918 8,643 74 4,395 60 8,361 75 4,130 CXV. Of an Earthquake felt at Cologn, Leige, Maestricht, &c. on the 19th of November, 1756. By Mr. Abraham Trembley, F. R. S. Translated from the French. p. 893. There was felt, at 3 in the morning, a shock of an earthquake, at Cologn, Leige, Maestricht, in the country of Limburg, and, as appears, in all that between the Meuse and the Rhine. One of almost the same kind was felt in the same places on the 3d of June. You saw by the account, sent on the 11th of May, that earthquakes were very frequent in this country in the beginning of this year. The shock, which has been lately felt in these parts, as well as in Portugal, shows that the cause of earthquakes is still active. Persons very attentive observed, that in the neighbourhood of Lisbon for several days after the 1st of November, 1755, those who lay on the gronnd, perceived a motion under them, which they compared to the beating of the pulse. They mention likewise, that after this motion ceased to be felt, there was perceived another, which they compare to that felt in a boat on a river, the current of which is Those only who lay on the ground were sensible of this motion; for such as very slow. were sitting on chairs, or standing, perceived nothing of it. CXVI. An Account of a Treatise, in Latin, presented and dedicated to the R.S., intitled, "Gottlob Caroli Springsfeld, M.D., &c. Commentatio de Prærogativa Thermarum Carolinarum in Dissolvendo Calculo Vesicæ præ Aqua Calcis Vive. By William Watson, M. D. at Madrid, and F. R.S. p. 895. Dr. Springsfeld's Treatise, which he lately communicated to the R. s. contains a series of experiments and observations on the Carlsbad waters in Bohemia, as a solvent for the stone in the bladder; from which it appears that these waters have that property in a much higher degree than even lime-water. The Carlsbad waters have been long celebrated for their excellent effects in removing, or at least relieving, many of the disorders to which mankind is subject. How high they stood in the opinion of the great Hoffman, almost every part of his writings bears testimony; and if to their other before-known properties they should prove a safe, easy, and effectual solvent for the stone in the kidneys and bladder, it certainly would greatly enhance their value. He Our author has very attentively considered the writings of Doctors Jurin, Hales, Hartley, Whytt, and others, concerning solvents for the stone. has administered to several patients, with little or no success, the late Mrs. Stephens's medicine, with the strictest observance of all the cautions, said to be necessary in courses of that medicine. And though he allows every thing to be true that has been laid down by Dr. Whytt and others, in regard to oyster-shell lime-water, he does not scruple to assert, that the Carlsbad waters, which have great analogy to calcareous waters, are a far more excellent solvent for the stone in the kidneys and bladder, than any lime-water. Of this truth he is satisfied by various experiments, several of which were made by himself alone, and others in conjunction with our learned and ingenious brother Dr. Lieberkuhn, whose exactness, as well as fidelity in making experiments of this kind, no one will question. Dr. Springsfeld, in a treatise on the Carlsbad waters, published by him in the year 1749, has shown by undoubted experiments, that these waters partake always of an alcaline principle; for every pint of them, besides the neutral purging salt, contains 3 grains of alcaline salt, and 10 grains of calcareous earth ;* for which reason they ferment with every species of acids. Dr. S. before mentioned that these waters have great analogy with lime-water; and if they continue in the baths for any considerable time, they not only turn milky, like lime-water, but have a pellicle on them as that water is observed to have. They have likewise a gently constringing taste; that were it not for their saline taste they could not easily be distinguished from lime-water. It must here be premised, that all hard bodies, viz. pieces of wood, bone, stones, earthen vessels, bits of straw, and such like, are incrusted over by lying in the Carlsbad waters, and that in a very little time. These bodies in the space of a night will be covered with a tophaceous crust, which continually increases. But human calculi, though hard in themselves, are not incrusted by them; but * The solid ingredients in the Carlsbad waters are carbonate of lime (mild calcareous earth) sulphate of soda (Glauber's salt) muriate of soda (sea salt) carbonate of soda (mild mineral alkali) and a minute portion of iron. See the analysis of these waters by Bergman (1778) by Becher (1789) and by Klaproth (1790). are rather dissolved, which is the more remarkable. The same effects are observed on pieces of the hardest cheese, which swell in these waters, and are changed into a kind of poultice. In the treatise before us, the author has given the detail of many experiments, which prove the solvent power of these waters. Dr. W. lays a few of them only before the Society, from which an opinion both of the author's exactness in making them, as well as how far he is justified in his conclusions, may be formed. And here Dr W. observes, which should be a very comfortable consideration for the inhabitants in these parts, that the author has been obliged frequently to suspend his researches for want of human calculi, which is a disease exceedingly rare in Bohemia. June 20, 1749, a stone of a brown colour, which weighed near 24 oz. was placed in a China basin near that source, which is called Prudel, in such a manner, as to be continually covered with the warm water. On the next day the external crust began to grow soft, on the 3d you might make an impression on it with your nail, as upon cheese; on the 4th and 5th, cheese; on the 4th and 5th, it was dissolved to the nucleus; on the 6th, the nucleus itself was dissolved, and in the bottom of the basin there was left a white viscid mass, like poultice, or newly steeped cheese: this was impalpable between the fingers. In this time the basin was incrusted with a very hard tophaceous mass, of the thickness of a quill. Certain calculi, not larger than peas, were dissolved thoroughly, some in one day, and the rest in two. 1750, June 12, a stone weighing more than oz. was placed in the same manner as the former, and not a grain of it remained on the 4th day. At this time a clergyman, who was in a course of these waters for gouty complaints, voided 6 stones, all which were dissolved in the same manner. A nobleman, who was afflicted with bloody urine, from calculi in the kidneys, came to Carlsbad for the relief of his complaints; and brought with him some small calculi, which he had voided a few years before. By Dr. Lieberkuhn's advice Dr. Springsfeld divided these calculi into 4 equal parts, each of which weighed 6 grs. One part of these was infused in the water of the source called Prudel; the 2nd, in the new spring; the 3d, in that near the mill. In 12 hours the first part had lost 5 grs. the 2nd, 4 grs. and the 3d, only 1 gr. The 4th portion was put upon a linen rag, which was stretched over the bottom of a funnel. Into this funnel the nobleman was directed to make water every day before dinner, after his having drank his quantity of Carlsbad water. On this, these calculi, after 8 days, had lost 2-3ds of their weight; viz. 4 grs. It must be here remarked, that this nobleman, during the regimen, voided several small calculi, which he had not done for some years. A larger quantity of bloody urine than usual attended the parting with these stones; but this continued only 2 or 3 days, and afterwards went quite off; and this nobleman from that time was relieved from his former complaints, has enjoyed and does yet enjoy the most perfect health. In the year 1754, the author became possessed of a calculus, which was of a flinty hardness, and bore a bright polish. It weighed a quarter of an oz. He conjectured, that a much longer time would be necessary to dissolve this stone; but, what was very remarkable, it dissolved sooner than the rest: for after having been immersed 24 hours, 2 grs. of it only remained undissolved. This stone was not placed in the China basin as the others were, but suspended in a little loose-woven net, that it might more freely be washed by the water. Dr. Lieberkuhn was at this time at Carlsbad; he was present at this experiment, and was witness of its truth. The net used in this experiment was covered with a tophaceous crust, from being steeped in the water. The next year, when Dr. Licberkuhn returned to Carlsbad, he brought with him, for experiment sake, several calculi, some of which were large ones. He made there many experiments, in which our author assisted. A large stone was sawed into 4 pieces, nearly equal. One of these weighing 99 grs. was put into a little linen bag, and immersed in the source called Prudel: the 2nd in like manner, which weighed 96 grs. into that called the new spring: the 3d, weighing 93 grs. into that near the mill: the 4th was set apart for other trials. After 4 days immersion they were severally examined. The first had lost 85 grs. the 2d, 33 grs. the 3d, only 16 grs. That it might be estimated in what degree the solvent power of the Carlsbad water exceeded that of lime-water, the following experiment was tried. Three pieces of calculi, each exactly 30 grs. in weight, were put into separate phials. On one was poured some fresh egg-shell limewater: on the 2d some Carlsbad water: on the 3d, some of the urine of a person daily drinking these waters for the recovery of his health. These phials were all placed in one of the canals, which carries off the waste water from the baths: the degree of heat in this place was by Fahrenheit's thermometer 96, much the same as the heat of human blood. The lime-water, the Carlsbad water, and the urine, were changed every day, and the process continued for 14 days. On the 15th, the remaining fragments of stone were taken out of the phials, and weighed when dried. The piece macerated in lime-water had lost 1 gr. that in the Carlsbad water, 6 grs. that in the urine, 5 grs. According therefore to this experiment, the solvent power of the Carlsbad water was 6 times, that of the urine 5 times greater than that of the lime-water. The solvent power of medicated urine is of very great importance, and requires more particular attention; as our greatest expectations in dissolving the stone in the bladder must arise from that. It was therefore very fit that our author should investigate, as far as was in his power, the solvent property of the urine of those who drank these waters. He therefore suspended to the end of a funnel a sufficiently hard and compact calculus, weighing about 1 oz. This was contained in a linen rag, so that the urine might readily pass over it; and a person, who used the Carlsbad waters every morning, after having taken them, constantly made water into that funnel; whence it came to pass, that on the 16th day the stone was half dissolved, and the remaining part was become so porous and friable, that it almost fell to pieces. No one can suppose that the urine of a man perfectly in health would have the same solvent property; lest however, that should happen, our author suspended a piece of a calculus, weighing 2 drs. in the same manner with the preceding, and made water upon it himself many times a day; but this piece of calculus, after 12 days, was so far from being lessened, that it had increased 2 grs. in weight. Our author, lest he should be thought to have depended too much on one set of experiments, made others. Among several calculi, which Dr. Lieberkuhn had communicated to him, there was one exceedingly hard. This he cut into 4 parts, each weighing exactly 80 grs. Each of these was put into a separate phial. On the first was poured fresh oyster-shell lime-water: on the 2nd, Carlsbad water on the 3d, the urine of one who drank these waters: on the 4th, the urine of one perfectly in health, and who only drank for his breakfast some cups of tea. These phials were placed in the same manner with those before-mentioned, and their heat kept constantly the same. Every day these calculi had fresh liquid poured on them after the old was separated. At the end of 20 days these stones were dried and weighed. The fragment infused in oyster-shelllime water was found to have lost almost 3 grs. that in Carlsbad water 22 grs. that in medicated urine 14 grs. but that infused in the urine of the man in health had increased 3 grs. These experiments therefore leave no room to doubt of either the solvent power of the Carlsbad water itself, or that of the urine of those who drink these waters. Our author has a very curious remark in regard to a person who laboured under the stone, and who drank these waters for 2 months. He daily voided with his urine a large quantity of white viscid mucus; which, after filtration of the aqueous parts from it, was found to be a white earthy powder, rubbed off as it were from a stone. The quantity of this powder saved during the space of a month, amounted to more than 3 oz. If some of this powder was put into the urine of one who drank Carlsbad water, it was immediately converted into a poultaceous substance; but if into that of one who did not drink this water, it fell quite undissolved to the bottom of the vessel. Dr. Springsfeld observes, that the Carlsbad water has great power in dissolying the tophaceous crust which frequently covers the teeth. During the course of these waters, this crust most generally separates from the teeth, and falls off. However great the power of these waters are in dissolving the stone in the |
