Scientific recreations in philosophy and mathematics. Including arithmetic, acoustics, electricity, magnetism, optics, pneumatics; together with amusing secrets in various branches of science: the whole calculated, to form an agreeable and improving exercise for the mind / [William Enfield].

  • Enfield, William, 1741-1797.
Date:
1825
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Scientific recreations in philosophy and mathematics. Including arithmetic, acoustics, electricity, magnetism, optics, pneumatics; together with amusing secrets in various branches of science: the whole calculated, to form an agreeable and improving exercise for the mind / [William Enfield]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    15/258
    PREFACE. To trace out the origin of amusements,’ it. appears that it ‘would be necessary to go back to the earliest ages of the world. For mankind, being exposed to a variety of fatiguing labours, which exhaust both the mind and the body, have at all times exercised their ingenuity in devising means to dispel melancholy, and to revive the depressed spirits. The remedies pointed out by nature for this purpose are, exhibits in the same individual a new being, in good or bad spirits, according to the impressions made on the animal eco- nomy, by rest, a change of food, and various other circum- stances. The mind is too intimately connected with the body not to participate in the evils by which it is affected; but .to the® former, rest alone is not sufficient: to. revive its powers, and -to exhilarate the spirits by a proper stimulus, a change of ob- jects, amusing conversation, agreeable news, and other things of the like kind, are necessary. Every one knows, that the spirits are depressed by too long _application to gloomy or serious objects: to remedy this evil, others more amusing must be substituted in their stead; the least trifle or toy is often capable of giving to the mind the most tranquil and agreeable impressions; and during this state of peace and repose, new spirits are created, which pro- duce a change in the whole frame. Walking, hunting, dancing, and music, are excellent sources of amusement ; but they are not the only ones to which the ne- cessity. of unbending the mind, and filling up a vacant hour, -haye given birth, é