Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 2, 1802).djvu/222

192] only ten marks currency, or about 15s.

Fig. 4, The Warming Machine of block tin, or other metal, was originally invented by Mr., of London, who suggested it to our Royal Humane Society, and it was subsequently improved by M. , an ingenious mechanic, of Hamburgh. Its object is to procure an uniform degree of warmth, throughout the apparatus, in the most expeditious manner, by filling the hollow or double bottom and sides of the whole implement with boiling water.—a is the body of the machine, seven feet long, and made of solid pieces of block-tin, to prevent the necessity of soldering them, and consequently the formation of iron-rust: it rests on two wooden legs ff, and may be easily carried by the handles g g.—The water is poured in through both funnels d, d, in order to warm it more speedily; and each of these is provided with a stopper (as represented in the Plate, suspended on a chain), with a view to prevent, if necessary, too sudden evaporation and cooling of the water:—h is the intermediate space between the two metallic plates, producing a vacuum of $2 1⁄2$ inches, in which the fluid is diffused over the whole machine;—b is a wooden desk to support the head of the patient, and to protect it from the immediate contact with the heated parts; but, on the opposite end of the machine, there is an enlarged intermediate space c, for holding such a quantity of water and vapours as will procure an additional, or at least a more permanent, degree of heat towards the lower extremities, than to the trunk of the body. For discharging the water, when it is not wanted, or changing it when too cold, there is a cock at e. The hollow sides of this machine are about twelve inches high; and in order to ensure an uniform warmth, the body apparently dead should be placed on a straw mattress, and tucked in with blankets. A pailful of water is required to fill the whole machine, as a smaller quantity would warm the sides only for a short time, by means of the vapour.

It deserves to be remarked, that this ingenious contrivance may also be used for a ; for which purpose, the inner space in which the body lies, should be supplied with water. The whole apparatus, in its present improved state, made of , costs at Hamburgh about 200 marks, or from 14 to 15l.

Lastly, we cannot conclude this subject, without affording the reader a view of the different articles belonging to a complete chest of instruments, and other materials, employed in the various processes for recovering suspended animation from drowning. The merit of these institution's in England, is due to Drs. and, the founders of the Royal Humane Society at London; but the improved arrangement of the chest now to be described, together with the choice of internal and external remedies, were made by one of our most esteemed surgeons, Mr. , in 1783, though considerably extended in 1790, by Mr. , a respectable medical practitioner at Hamburgh. This gentleman is likewise one of the most active members of the Humane Society in that city, and has orfered the following articles for sixty-five marks, or about four guineas and a half.—His complete chest contains: A small