Suppose now that the lever is moved to the position denoted by the dotted line M M, and the leverages will be altered; that at end A becoming that denoted by the distance from F to the vertical C, and that for end B being denoted by the distance from F to the vertical D. This occurs because we are dealing with gravity, which always acts in a vertical line.
"Modern Machine-Shop Practice, Volumes I and II"
Joshua Rose
Also the theory of rods of invisible matter emanating from the medium's body, to move bodies at a distance from her, had only been evolved; and none of the methods for calculation of leverages and strains had been formulated, so far as I know.
"Sight Unseen"
Mary Roberts Rinehart