D I S 162 1 ) I S
D iscus Fold, the surface of the leaf. II
DISCUSSION', in matters of literature, signifies the cleartreating or handling of any particular point, or problem, so as toshake off the difficulties with which it is embarrassed : thus we saysuch a point was well discussed, when it was well treated of, andcleared up.
DISCUTIEXTS, in surgery, are such external remedies as,by their subtilty, dissolve or disperse a stagnating or coagulatedfluid in any part of the body.
DISDIAPASON, or BISDIAPASON, in music, a compound 'concord, described by F. Parran, in the quadruple ratio of 4 : 1, ior 8:2. I
Disdiapason Diapente, a concord in a sextuple ratio of \
1 : 6 .
Disdiapason Ditone, a compound consonance in the propor-tion of 10: 2.
Disdiapason Semi-diapente, a compound concord in theproportion of 16 : 3.
Disdiapason Semi-ditoxk, a compound concord in the pro-portion of 24 : 5.
DISEASE, that condition of the body, in which it has declinedfrom a state of health, so that its different functions arc either igreatly impeded, or performed with difficulty. Of ail organised jcreatures, man is subject to the greatest diversity of diseases ; some 'impairing only the use of the pari immediately affected ; for in-stance, the palsy, gout, rheumatism, &c. ; others disordering thewhole body, such as fever, apoplexy, &c. ; again others disturb-ing the mind, as delirium, melancholy, and tiielike; and lastly,some attack both mind and body, such as phrenzy, accompaniedwith fever. Without perplexing the reader with conjectures onthe origin and propagation of diseases, we may observe, that inproportion as men associate together in large and populous places,their manners and habits become more refined ; while they gra- idually degenerate in bodily strength and energy of mind, so thatthey are less capable of resisting the noxious agency of the ele-ments, and other external powers. This progress towards refine-ment is always attended with an increase of luxury, the painful ef-fects of which are sooner or later experienced by its votaries.Luxury, indeed, has also afforded the means of lessening the sud-den influence of cold, heal, rain, moisture, and other externalcauses; for we can occasionally guard against their severity ; buton their next return, we are liable to be acted upon with additionalvehemence. To this state of things,'we owe the introduction ofmany articles both of food and dress, the consequences of w liichtoo frequently prove to be injurious to our bodily welfare. Timsit may be safely affirmed, that the number and variety of diseases,in a great measure depend upon the prevailing refinements in theprevailing department of luxury. The passions an- another fruit-ful source ot disorders. Man is perhaps more violently attacked,and more obstinately governed by them, than any other creature.These disorders variously affect the human body : the most hurl-fill and oppressive of them, however, are terror and grief; the lormer in particular, is often attended with the mo->t fatal effects. Theremedies to which we report duiing the prevalence ot passion, toofrequently lay the foundation of lingering disorders, both mentaland corporeal, in which medicine can afford but precarious relief.The last source of diseases to which we shall allude, is a variety ofspecific contagion;; the greater part ot which is probably gene-rated in the atmosphere. Such is particularly the case with re- !spect to air that is vitiated by putrid, marshy, or noxious vapours,and by the unwholesome effluvia of various manufacturing pro-cesses, especially those of combustion, fermentation, and putre-faction. Lastly, there is another, and very numerous class olcontagious maladies, that perpetually migrate from one individualto another, such as the small-pox, meazles, hooping-cough, in-fluenza, putrid fevers, &c. Every disease weakens the digestivepowers. Tne diet ought, therefore, in all ca-es to be light andeasy of digestion. Paying due attention to this circumstance alone,without having recourse to those pernicious nostrums and pre-tended specifies, now in-general circulation, will in a very greatmeasure contribute to the recovery of the patient. Medicines aredoubtless of considerable utility when properly and opportunelyadministered; but an indiscriminate use ot drugs (such as prevailsamong the ignorant and fanciful,) cannot fail to be productive ofthe worst consequences.
Diseases of Horses. See Farriery .
Diseases of Peants. See Husbandry.
DISEMBOGUE, in the sea language, is said of a ship thatpasses out of a gulph or bay into the open sea ; a river is also saidto disembogue or discharge itself into the sea.
D1SENT1S, one of the eight jurisdictions in the superior partof the Grison league; situated about the sources of the Rhine .It is mountainous and fertile.
Disentis, the capital of the above territory, situated near thesources of the Rhine .
DISGUISE, in law. Persons doing unlawful acts in disguise,are by our statutes subjected to great penalties, and even declaredfelons. Thus by an aci, commonly called the black act, personaappearing disguised and armed in a forest or grounds inclosed, orhunting deer, or robbing a warren or a fish-pond, are declaredfelons.
D1SII, in mining, is a trough made of wood, about 28 incheslong, four inches deep, and six inches wide; by which all mineismeasure their ore. It any be taken selling their ore, not first mea-suring it by the bar-master’s dish, and paying the king’s duty, theseller forfeits his ore, and the buyer forfeits ior every swell offence40 shillings to the lord of the field or farmer.
DISHERISON, a term used in old writers for disinheriting.
DISJUNC T PROPOR TION, the same with that otherwisecalled discrete. See Discrete.
DISJUNCTIVE,, something that separates or disjoins. Thus,or, neither, &c. which m connecting a discourse separate the partsof it, are called disjunctive conjunctions.
Disjunctive Propositions, in logic, is that where, of severalpredicates, we affirm one necessarily to belong to the subject to theexclusion of all the rest, but leave that particular one undetermin-ed. Such is the major of the following disjunctive syllogism :
The world is either self-existent, or the work of some finite,or of some infinite being.
But it is not selflexistent, nor the work of a finite being.
'Therefore it is the work of an infinite being.
DISK, or DISC. See Disc and Discus.
DISLOCA TION, in surgery, the same with luxation. SeeSurgery.
DISMISSION OF A BILL, in chancery. If the plaintiffdoes not altend on the day fixed for the hearing, his bill is dismiss-ed with costs. It may be also dismissed for want of prosecution,which is in the nature of a nonsuit at law, if he suller three termsto elapse without moving forwards in the came.
DISMEMBERED, in heraldry, is applied to birds that haveneither feel nor legs, and also to lions and other animals whosemembers are separated.
DISMES, [deci/nts, Laf.] a term formerly used for tithes.See 'Tithe .
DISMOUN TING, in the military art, the act of unhorsing.Thus lo dismount the cavalry, dragoons, &c. is to make themalight.
Dismounting Cannon, is the breaking of their carriages,wlierls, axletrees, or any tiling eLe, so as to render them unlit forservice.
DISPARAGEMENT, in our law, is properly used for thematching an heir in marriage under his degree, or against de-cency.
DISPARA TES, [disparata, Lat.] things so unlike that theycannot lie compared wild each other.
DISPART, in gunnery, is the mark set upon the mu/zle ringof a piece of ordnance, so that a sight line taken upon tile top ofthe base ring against the touch.hole, by the mink set on or nearthe muzzle, may he parallel to the axis ot the concave cylinder.'The common way of doing this, is to take the two diameters of thebase ring, and, of the place where the dispart is to stand, and di-vide the difference between them into two equal parts-, one ofwhich will be the length of the dispart, which is set on the gun withwax or pitch, or fastened therewith a piece of twine or marline.By means of an instrument it may be done with all possiblenicety.
DISPATCH, a letter on some affair of state, or other businessof importance, sent with care and expedition, by a courier ex-press. 'The business of dispatches lies on the secretaries of stateand their clerks. The king gives directions to his ministers abroad6 by