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Tonnage (Regard to ships a measure both)

in regard to ships, a measure both of cubical capacity and of dead-weight carrying capability. The term, used by itself, may have reference severally to "builders' old measurement" tonnage (B. O. M.), "register" tonnage, "displacement" tonnage, "freight" tonnage, etc., each of which expressions is more or less current in shipping circles.

From very early times in the history of shipping a scale of one sort or other must have been employed to determine the relative capacity or carrying power of different vessels, and in point of fact the term "tonnage" in this connection can be traced back for at least 500 years. In Great Britain the first Act of Parliament dealing with the subject was passed in 1422, a second was introduced in 1694, and a third in 1720, but the application of these was limited to particular classes of ships, or those employed in particular trades. "Displacement" tonnage is by general consent regarded as the fairest measure for the tonnage of naval ships since they are designed to carry certain maximum are fixed with reference to the weights and to float at certain load lines in two ways: (1) Indirectly, by first influencing the stomach and increasing character of service. It has for many its digestive powers; such being the effect of the vegetable bitters, the most im- years been the official tonnage for the portant of which are calumba, chamomile, warships of France and other European cinchona bark, gentian, taraxacum, etc. (2) Directly, by passing into and exerting their influence through the blood; such being the case with the various preparations of iron, certain mineral acids, and salts. The non-medical tonics are open-air exercise, friction, cold in its various forms and applications, as the shower bath, sea bathing, etc.