A General View of the Natural History of the Atmosphere: And of Its Connection with the Sciences of Medicine and Agriculture; Including an Essay on the Causes of Epidemical Diseases, Volume 1Abernethy & Walker, 1808 - 406 pages |
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Common terms and phrases
appear ascend ascer ascertained atmo atmosphere aurora borealis barometer blow bodies caloric cause circumstances climate clouds coast cold colour condensation consequence considerable corresponding current of air Dalton dense density Dr Priestley earth earth's surface ecliptic effect elastic electric fluid elevated equal equator evaporation experiments falls feet frequently gravity greater greatest height hygrometer inches increased latitudes light likewise luminous matters mean mercury meteor monsoon moon neral north-east northern northern hemisphere observed occasioned occur ocean opinion owing parallel latitudes parhelion perature perceived Pere Cotte perigee period poles portion prevails probably produced properties proportion quicksilver rarefaction rarefied remarkable respect rise Saussure season seems similar situation snow specific gravity sphere storm strata stratum summer sun's rays supposed takes place temperature thermometer thunder tion trade-winds tricity tropic of cancer tropics variations velocity vesicular vapour warmer water-spout weather winds winter
Popular passages
Page 292 - ... majestic slowness ; at intervals we thought they were coming in a very few minutes to overwhelm us; and small quantities of sand did actually more than once reach us. Again they would retreat so as to be almost out of sight, their tops reaching to the very clouds.
Page 286 - I saw from the south-east a haze come, in colour like the purple part of the rainbow, but not so compressed or thick. It did not occupy twenty yards in breadth, and was about twelve feet high from the ground. It was a kind of blush...
Page 293 - Eleven of them ranged alongside of us about the distance of three miles. The greatest diameter of the largest appeared to me at that distance as if it would measure ten feet. They retired from us with a wind at...
Page 286 - I scarce could turn to fall upon the ground with my head to the northward, when I felt the heat of its current plainly upon my face. We all lay flat on the ground, as if dead, till Idris told us it was blown over. The meteor, or purple haze, which I saw, was indeed passed, but the light air that still blew was of heat to threaten suffocation.
Page 292 - We were here at once surprised and terrified by a sight surely one of the most magnificent in the world. In that vast expanse of desert, from W. and to NW of us, we saw a number of prodigious pillars of sand at different distances, at times moving with great celerity, at others stalking on with a majestic slowness ; at intervals we thought they were coming in a very few minutes to overwhelm us ; and small quantities...
Page 293 - The same appearance of moving pillars of sand presented themselves to us this day, in form and disposition like those we had seen at Waadi Halboub, only they seemed to be more in number and less in size. They came several times in a direction close upon us ; that is, I believe, within less than two miles. They began immediately after sunrise like a thick wood, and almost darkened the sun. His rays shining through them for near an hour, gave them an appearance of pillars of fire.
Page 293 - They retired from us with a wind at south-east, leaving an impression upon my mind to which I can give no name, though surely one ingredient in it was fear, with a considerable deal of wonder and astonishment. It was in vain to think of flying. The swiftest horse, or fastest sailing ship, could be of no use to carry us out of this danger, and the full persuasion of this riveted me as if to the spot where I stood...
Page 402 - A | TREATISE | ON THE | DISEASES OF CHILDREN. | WITH DIRECTIONS | FOR | THE MANAGEMENT OF INFANTS | FROM THE BIRTH.
Page 161 - Both heats and colds are become much more moderate within the memory even of the middle-aged. Snows are less frequent and less deep. They do not often lie, below the mountains, more than one, two, or three days, and very rarely a week.
Page 286 - ... fall upon the ground with my head to the northward, when I felt the heat of its current plainly upon my face. We all lay flat on the ground, as if dead, till Idris told us it was blown over. The meteor, or purple haze, which I saw, was indeed passed, but the light air that still blew was of heat to threaten suffocation. For my part, I found distinctly in my breast that I had imbibed a part of it, nor was I free of an asthmatic sensation till I had been some months in Italy, at the baths of Poretta,...