Knowledge for the People: Or, the Plain why and Because. Familiarizing Subjects of Useful Curiosity and Amusing Research

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Lilly & Wait, and Carter & Hendee, 1832 - 284 pages

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Page 140 - shall thy arm, unconquer'd steam, afar Drag the slow barge or drive the rapid car; Or on wide-waving wings expanded bear ; The flying chariot through the fields of air...
Page 10 - Apothecaries' profit is become a bye-word, denoting something uncommonly extravagant. This great apparent profit, however, is frequently no more than the reasonable wages of labour. The skill of an apothecary is a much nicer and more delicate matter than that of any artificer whatever; and the trust which is reposed in him is of much greater importance. He is the physician of the poor in all cases, and of the rich when the distress or danger is not very great.
Page 3 - ... of the caprice of human appetite : yet, if the fisherman will ply his nets, or the mariner fetch rice from foreign countries, in order to procure to himself this indulgence, the market is supplied with two important articles of provision, by the instrumentality of a merchandise which has no other apparent use than the gratification of a vitiated palate.
Page 21 - The new process of Refining sugar, by which more money has been made in a shorter time, and with less risk and trouble, than was ever perhaps gained from an invention, was discovered by a most accomplished chemist,* and was the fruit of a long course of experiments, in the progress of which, known philosophical principles were constantly applied, and one or two new principles ascertained.
Page 117 - Having previously closed my nostrils and exhausted my lungs, I breathed four quarts of nitrous oxide from and into a silk bag. The first feelings were similar to those produced in the last experiment ; but in less than half a minute, the respiration being continued, they diminished gradually, and were succeeded by a sensation analogous to gentle pressure on all the muscles, attended by a highly pleasurable thrilling, particularly in the chest and the extremities.
Page 63 - In the year 1589 the ingenious William Lee, Master of Arts, of St. John's College, Cambridge, devised this profitable art for stockings (but being despised went to France) ; yet of iron to himself, but to us and others of gold, in memory of whom this is here painted.
Page 3 - It appears also, that it signifies nothing, as to the main purpose of trade, how superfluous the articles which it furnishes are ; whether the want of them be real or imaginary ; whether it be founded in nature or in opinion, in fashion, habit, or emulation : it is enough that they be actually desired and sought after.
Page 17 - ... ultimately gave the preference to a mixture of four ounces of nitrate of ammonia, four ounces of sub-carbonate of soda, and four ounces of water. This mixture, in three hours, produced ten ounces of ice ; whilst, with the mixture of sulphate of soda and muriatic acid, he obtained ice only after seven hours.
Page 20 - at first used by the members of the Royal Society for astronomical experiments, but was abandoned on account of its vibrations being too great for the nicety required in their observations. This occasioned a report that it was unsafe ; but its scientific construction may bid defiance to the attacks of all but earthquakes for centuries.
Page 49 - Buchanan that the same quantity of human labour employed in working a pump, turning a winch, ringing a bell, and rowing a boat, are as the numbers 100, 167, 227, and 248. The most advantageous manner of applying human strength is in the act of rowing.

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