SPINNING

A well-known toy. The steady motion which a well-spun top soon acquires suggested to Mr. Si on, about eighty years ago, the employment of a mirror placed upon it at right angles to its axis, as an artificial horizon which might probably be used at sea; and on sending out the first of the late polar expeditions, the attention of Mr. Trough ton was turned to the subject. But though useful observations might have been made on land with the instrument which he constructed, it was not found at sea to give results of any practical value; and we are not aware that any further attempts have been made to improve its construction, which is attended with considerable mechanical difficulties. TOREUMATOLOGY (Gr. roj6t;^«, sculpture, and y^oufa, I describe), signifies either the science or art of sculpture, or a description of ancient and modern sculpture and bas relief. [s. 1257]