Curiosities for the ingenious : selected from the most authentic treasures of nature, science and art, biography, history and general literature.

Date:
1822
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Curiosities for the ingenious : selected from the most authentic treasures of nature, science and art, biography, history and general literature. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    this sort, was a carriage by M. Richard, a physician of Rochelle, exhibited at Paris in the last century. Fig. 1, Plate II. exhibits a representation of it. It is moved by the footinan behind it, and the fore-wheels, which act as a rudder, are guided by the person who sits in the carriage. Between the hind-wheel is placed a box, in which is concealed the machinery. A A, Fig. 2, is a small axis fixed into the box. B is a pulley, over which runs a rope, whose two ends are fastened to the ends of the two levers or treadles, C D, whose other ends are fixed in such manner in the piece E, which is joined to the box, that they can easily move up and down. F F are two flat pieces of iron that are joined to the treadles, and take the teeth of the two wheels, H H, which are fixed on the same axis with the hind-wheels of the carriage, 11. It is evident that when the footman behind presses down one of the treadles, suppose C, with his foot, he must bring down one of the pieces of iron, F, and consequently turn the wheel H that is next to it; and at the same time, by means of the rope that goes over the pulley, he must raise the other treadle, D, together with its piece, F, which, being thrust down, will turn the other wheel, H, and so alternately ; and as the great wheels are fixed on the same axis, they must necessarily move at the same time. It is easy to conceive, that if the ends of the treadles next E, instead of being placed behind the carriage, were turned the opposite way, so as to come under the feet of the person who sits in it, he might move it with equal or even greater facility than the footman, as it would then be charged with the weight of one person only. A machine of this kind may afford a salutary recreation in a garden or park, or on any j)lain ground ; but on a rough or steep road, it must be attended with more pain than pleasure. French Rebiis. The fastidiousness of rnerc book learning, or the over- weening importance of politicians and men of business, may be employed to cast contempt, or even odium, on tlie