"Instead, he [De Morgan] introduced his "spicular" notation. In this notational scheme, parentheses are used to indicate the quantity (distribution) of a term, and negation is indicated by a dot or the use of a lowercase term letter. Distribution is indicated by a parenthesis facing the term, otherwise parenthesis faces away from the term."
January 1, 1970
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Notation