noxious, method of dissipating. The following ingenious method of dissipating the noxious vapours commonly found in wells and other subterraneous places, is related in the Trans. Philadel. by Mr Robison of Philadelphia the inventor. "After various unsuccessful trials (says he), I was led to consider how I could convey a large quantity of fresh air from the top to the bottom of the well, supposing that the foul would necessarily give way to the pure air. With this view I procured a pair of smith's bellows, fixed in a wooden frame, so as to work in the same manner as at the forge. This apparatus being placed at the edge of the well, one end of a large tube (the hose of a fire-engine) was closely adapted to the nose of the bellows, and the other end was thrown into the well, reaching within one foot of the bottom. At this time the well was so infected, that a candle would not burn at a short distance from the top; but, after blowing with my bellows only half an hour, the candle burned bright at the bottom; then, without farther difficulty, I proceeded in the work, and finished my well. Wells are often made in a very slight manner, owing to the difficulty of working in them, and there have been several fatal instances of the danger attending the workmen; but, by the above method, there is neither difficulty nor danger in completing the work with the utmost solidity. It is obvious, that in cleansing vaults, and working in any other subterraneous place, subject to damps as they are called, the same method must be attended with the same beneficial effect."

in medicine, a disease properly called hydrosis, or the hypochondriacal disease; and in men particularly, the spleen. See Medicine, n° 276 and 321.

VAPOUR-BATH, in chemistry, a term applied to a chemist's bath or heat, wherein a body is placed so as to receive the fumes of boiling water. It consists of two vessels, disposed over one another in such manner as that the vapour raised from the water contained in the lower heats the matter inclosed in the upper. It is very commodious for the distilling of odoriferous waters, and the drawing of spirit of wine.

We also use the term vapour-bath, when a sick person is made to receive the vapours arising from some liquid matter placed over a fire. Many contrivances have been proposed for this purpose; and their expediency and utility are well known to those who are conversant in this business. A late writer has suggested a new construction of vapour baths; and the whole apparatus is reduced to a tin-boiler, tin pipes wrapped in flannel, and a deal box with a cotton cover, for the reception of the body and circulation of the vapour.