Item of the Day: Isaiah Thomas’s Almanack (1802)

Full Title: Isaiah Thomas’s Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode-Island, New Hampshire & Vermont Almanack, with an Ephemeris, for the Year of our Lord 1802: Being the VIth after Bissextile, or Leap Yrar, and 26th of Columbian Independence. From Creation, according to Scriptures, 5764 . . . Containg, besides the more than usual Astronomical Calculations, a lerger Quantity and greater Variety, than are to be found in any other Almanack, of Matters Curious, Useful and Entertaining. Printed at Worcester, Massachusetts, by Isaiah Thomas, Jun. . . . [1801]

A NEW PLANET.

Another new Planet is discovered. This celestial phenomenon moves between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, and is an intermediate planet between them. It was discovered by Mr. Piazzi, an Italian Astonomer on the 1st of January, 1801. He concealed the discovery, to preserve all the honor and observations to himself, till after six weeks close watching, he fell ill. It is but a small planet, ranking only as a star of the 8th magnitude, and therefore invisible to the naked eye. Its motion is nearly parallel to the ecliptic, it was then about four degrees and a half to the north of it, and nearly entering the sign of Leo. The distance from the sun is about two threefifth times that of the earth, and the periodical time nearly four years and two months. . . .

 

ANECDOTES, &C.

The late Earl of Chatham, who bore no good will to a certain physican, was rallying him one day about the inethicacy of his prescriptions. To which the doctor replied, “He defied any of his patients to find fault with him.”  — “I believe you,” replid the witty Earl, “for they are all dead.”

 

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Item of the Day: Hutchin’s Almanack (1773)

Full Title: Hutchin’s Improved Almanack and Ephemeris of the Motions of the Sun and Moon; the Ture Places and Aspects of the Planets; The Rising and Setting of the Sun; and the Rising, Setting, and Southing of the Moon, for the Year of our Lord, 1773: Being the first after Bissextile or Leap Year. Containing also, The Lunations, Conjuctions, Eclipses, Judgment of the Weather, Rising and Setting of the Planets, Length of Days and Nights, Courts, Roads, &c. Together with Useful Tables, chronological Observations, and entertaining Remarks. By John Nathan Hutchins. New-York: Printed and sold by Hugh Gaine, at the Bible and Crown, in Havover-Square, where may be had the New-York Pocket Almanack.

Precaution to preserve SIGHT; and a Remedy for Weakness in the Sight. By Dr. Hill.

FIRST, never sit in absolute Gloom, or in a Blaze of Light, much less go suddenly from one into the other: A House situated North and South, is therfore wrong for any who are tender in Sight. Secondly, To avoid small Print in Reading, and all Attention to minute Objects. It is in vain to think of assisting the sight by Glasses; they represent Objects plainer, but commit a Kind of Violence upon the Eye, and always hurt weak ones. Thirdly, Never read in the Dusk: and when the Eyes are at all disordered, not by Candle Light. Fourthly, Never look into a bright Fire. Fifthly, Avoid all glaring Objects, especially in the Morning at first waking; therfore a Bed-chamber should never be so situated, as for the Sun to shine into it at that Time; and there should be no Red, nor too much White in it; and the Degree of Light should be moderate. Those who have weak Eyes, will find great Advantage in green Furniture in their Rooms, and in admitting the Light gradually to their Eyes at the Time of waking: And it is thus Nature provides for all her Creatures; the Day Light comes by very slow Degrees, and the first Object is univeral Green.

For a Weakness in the Sight, take two Ounces of Leaves of Rosemary, and put them into a Pint of Brandy; let it stand three Days, then strain and filter it through Paper; mix a Tea Spooful with Four of Plantain Water; make it warm, and wash the Inside of the Eye every Night going to Bed, moving your Eye till some get between the Eye and the Lid. By Degrees put less and less Water, till at length a Tea Spoonful of each is mixed.