Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/521

487&#93; CH A mines, wells, &c. The common chains, it is well known, cannot be depended upon, and break in the welded parts, when overstrain- ed. Such dangerous accidents can- not easily happen in the metal ropes, being woven together while cold, out of the strongest iron drawn into wire, about 3-eights of an inch in diameter ; and so tempered, that it is almost impos- sible to find in them a link of infe- rior quality. Hancock's chains will run as flexibly on the pulley as an hempen rope of two inches in diameter, manufactured of the best materials : they have been employed in several large iron works, and with the greatest suc- cess. Indeed, they deserve to be generally adopted ; as thus a con- siderable saving would arise in the consumption of that valuable ar- ticle, hemp ; and an important new manufacture might be estab- lished, from one of our staple com- modities. Viewed in a national light, we cannot but regret that the inventor's situation in life does ^not enable him to make this article for ready sale : we therefore pre- sume to appeal to the statesman, and the patriot. Chaffweed, the Small. See Bastard Pimpernell. CHAIR, in general, an article of furniture contrived for the pur- pose of relieving the lower extre^ mities from the incumbent weight of the body. Chairs have been held in great estimation, in all ages and coun- tries. But, instead of recording the flying chairs of the heathen gods and goddesses, or those great arm chairs in which, according to ancient custom, the successful can- didates, after election, are carried through towns, by certain corpo- CHA [487 rations in England, we shall confine our account to the plain house- chair. — This useful contrivance, for which we are occasionally ridi- culed by the more luxurious Ori- entals, consists, generally, of a square basis, supported by four posts, or legs. Although we are no advocates for innovation, and the quadrangular form appears to be the most eligible for strength and steadiness, yet, in this instance, we venture to pronounce that it is not the most proper. Square seats are liable to many objections, when considered with respect to their influence on the health of the aged, infirm, and especially persons afflicted with the piles, or troubled with asca- rides. For these, a round, or blunt, triangular form of a chair, resembling the shape of a saddle, would be far preferable, and more conducive to the alleviation of their complaints. The reason is ob- vious; because the thighs and legs, when compressed, occasion an ad- ditional irritation, on a part which is already in a preternatural state of excitement, or, perhaps, subject to chronic inflammation, as is fre- quently the case in the hemor- rhoids. Nor do we advise those patients to accustom themselves to rest upon very soft cushions, or pillows, except such as are tightly stuffed with horse-hair, dry mosses, or chaff. Hence we are of opinion, that the studious, and all those who are engaged in seden- tary employments, if they regard their health and convenience, should employ either round, wooden chairs, slightly concave, or such as we have before ven- tured to suggest. A Patent, we understand, has lately been granted to Mr. But- I i 4 LER,