Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/232

iio] M I L attendant on the levlgation of rOTJOUS substances, and to pre- vent the waste of their finer par- ticles. The original mill maybe inspect- ed in the llepository of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts. Sec, Adelphi ; and we understand from jilr. Taylor, the Secretary to this patriotic association, that the in- ventor of the machiner}^ Mr. Tho. RusTALL, wheelwright, of Pur- brook-heath, near Portsmouth, en- gaees to furnish the whole appa- ratus, and to deliver it free of car- nage, in London, for the moderate price of tiveiity guineas. ■ MILL-REEK, a dreadful dis- ease, caused by the poisonous fumes fcf melted lead, which affed not only those who are employed in the smelting or preparing of that metal, but likewise all who reside near the mines whence it is dug, or conti- guously to the furnaces, &c; m here it is worked. On the first attack of this disease, the patient feels a weight and un- easiness in the region of the sto- mach, and a slight degree of colic in the bo^els : the pulse is lovv' ; the"^ appetite impaired} the legs become feeble, and the whole body is debilitated. Scmetimes these •symptoms abate in consequence of a slight diarrhoea ; though, if the latter continue for som.e time, it is always attended v.ith danger. At first, however, the patient is not prevented from following his usual occupations ; but, if the dis- order progressively increase, and he neglect to apply for relief, the next symptoms will be, obstinate costiveness, violent pain in the in- testines ; a troublesome giddiness, •insensibility, and delirium. I'he •extremities become convulsed ; tiie pulse intermits j and, at length, the MIL highest degree of palsy, or apoplexy, closes the distressing scene. As the mill- reck is of a similar nature and origin with the Dcooji- shire-colic, of which we have already treated under the article Lead, we refer the reader to p. 75 of the pre- sent volume, where he will find a short account of its most successful treatment. — We cannot, however, conclude this article, without re- commending the following precau- tions (from the first vol. of the Edinburgh K^sai/s and Oiserva- tions, phi/si ml and lircrari/, &c. 8vo. 175-i) to the attentive conside- ration of the humane. It is a duty, incumbent on ail those persons who are in any manner connected with the manufa6ture of lead, or who re- side in the vicinity of lead-mines, to spread and inculcate the means of rescuing many industrious mem- bers of society from a most painful death 3 or, if a person be attacked by this terrible disease, to contri- bute their share towards presen"inof them from feeling its extensive hor- rors. 1. No labourer should be suf- fered to repair to his work. Justing -, his food ought to be fat and oily, and it would be very beneficial, if he were to drink a glass of sweet oil, either pure, or mixed with a little brandy, every morning. 2. It will be advisable to take some a}-)erient physic, not only iu the spring and in autumn, but like- wise, as often as any symptoms of the mill-reek, however slight, arc perceived . 3. No spirituous liquors should be allowed, or at least, be very sparingly used, especially while the labourer is at ork, or immediately after it. 4. No workman in a state of perspiration must expose himself to