- Email: [email protected]
Proceedings of the stated meeting, held April 20th, 1848
$90 FRANKLIN
INSTITUTE.
Proceedings of the Stated 3leetingg held ~pril 201h, 1848. S. V. M~'gRIeK, President, presiding. Present, 44 Members. T h e following donations were announced : From Hon. Jno, W. Farrelly, M. C., Washington City, D. C.-The President's Message at the commencement of the 1st Session, 30th Congress. From Hon. T. O.JAdwards, M. C., Washington City, D. C.-The President's Message at the commencement of the 1st Session, 30th Congress. From the Royal Astronomical Society of London-Their proceedings for January 14th, 1848. From the Apprenuees Library Company, of Philadelphia-Their Annual Report for the year 1847'. From Hon. Edmund Burke, Com. of Patents, Washington City, D. C.-Catalogue of the Library of the Patent Office, 1847. From Hon. William Jackson, Massachusetts-Annual Reports of the Railroad Corporations of the State of Massachusetts, for 1847--Legislative Document, No. 26. From Messrs. Lea &, Blanchard, Philadelphia-Principles of the Mechanics of Machinery and Engineering, by Julius Weisbach, 1st Am. ed., voh 1--1848. From Richard C. Taylor, Esq., Philadelphia-Report of the Stockholders of the Dauphin and Susquehanna Coal Company, 1848. From Thomas U. Walter, Esq., Philadelphia-Final Report of the Building Committee of the Girard College for Orphans, to the Councils of the City of Philadelphia, also a Report to the Building Committee, by T. U. Walter, Architect. From James S. Lippineott, Esq., Philadelphia-The Antiquities of Rome, to which are prefixed two Essays concerning the Roman Learning, and the Roman Education, by David Kennett. The Teacher: or Moral Influences employed in the Instruction and Government of the Young, by Jacob Abbott. The District School : or National Education, by J. Orville Taylor. From Charles E. Smith, Esq.-New York Legislative Documents, viz : No. 102, Annual Report of the Secretary of State, relative to Railroad Statistics, March 4th, 1847. No. 132, Annual Report from the same, on the same subject, March 7th, 1848. From John Merrick, Esq., Haliowell, Maine-Specimen of Iron Ore, from Dover, Maine. T h e reports from the Officers and Standing Committees vcere received. On motion, it w a s - Resolved, That the Committee on Exhibitions be, and they are hereby instructed to take lhe necessary steps to hold an Exhibition of American Manufactures, next Fall, agreeably to their r e c o m m e n dation this evening. On the report of the Special Committee, appointed at the last meeting, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted, viz:
Proceedings of lite Franklin Inslilute.
391
Resolved, That the members of the Franklin Institute have heard with the most profound sorro~v, that Dr. Thomas P. Jones, one of the earliest of their associates, departed this life on the Eleventh day of March last, after a long career of usefulness in the walks of mechanical science. Resolved, That the services of Dr. Jones, as the founder and able editor of the Journal of ,he Institute, from the time the publication of it was commenced until his death, and also for several years as the Professor of Natural Philosophy and Mechanics in the Institution, will ever be gratefully remembered by all who have participated in the labors and advantages of our society. Resolved, That we sincerely condole with the family of Dr. Jones, in their recent and irreparable bereavement, and that a copy of these resolutions be transmitted to them by the corresponding secretary'. Communications on subjects connected with science and the arts, being called for ; Mr. A. W. Whitney exhibited his patent hnproved Wiring Machine, a description of which will be found at page 384 of the present number of the Journal. Mr. Williams submitted to the inspection of the members two Foot-warmers, which present a singular phenomenon. They consist of boxes of polished zinc for the purpose of containing hot water, and are covered with cloth embossed in different colors, lined with calico. The pattern embossed upon the cloth has imprinted i~self upon the zinc, the metal being tarnished under the black, and having remained bright under the other colors. Mr. Cardeza exhibited a rifle constructed to load at the breech, and made from his drawings in 1846. The gun was familiar to some of the gentlemen present, having been used in that year, in experiments upon the explosive force of gun-cotton. His reason for exhibiting it was, that a patent for the same thing had recently been taken out by a resident of New York. Mr. Smith exhibited a solution of gun-cotton in ether, and explained the advantages which it has as a dressing for wounds. He stated that a careful microsc()pic examination of it, showed no fibrous structure, and gave no traces of the polarization of light, as had been affirmed. Dr. Rand presented to the meeting, a patient who had been operated on for a cyst on the right elbow--the wound having been dressed wittl the ethereal tincture of gun-cotton. It had succeeded admirably - - a n d allowed such free action of the joint during the healing, that Ihe individual had been able to pursue his trade, that of a weaver. Prof. W. R. Johnson stated that gutm pereha dissolved in chloroform, and gave a very similar substance by evaporation, which in addition to the advantages possessed b y the tincture of gun-cotton, was more elastic, and therefore permitted of still freer motion without injury to the dressing. Mr. Plotts explained the theory of his method of rational arithmetic, by means of which children could be taught so as to understand and explain every step which they are obliged to take in solv-
392
Franklin Institute.
ing aug problem presented. Mr. Plotts exhibited specimens of his method and illustrated the facilities which it gives. Mr. M. T. W. Chandler called the attention of the members to a very beautiful model of a weigh-lock, on the plan of Messrs. Ellicott & Abbott's platlbrm scale, which is now under examination by the Committee on Science a~ld the Arts. The crib on which the boat rests while being weighed, is sustained by rods which operate on a series of steelyards, arranged longitudinally on each side of the lock. Fram these the strain is transferred by means of a rocking shaft, to another steelyard, placed above the lock and transversely to it, on which Ihe weighing is effected. Dr. Hare communicated to the society some inferences and facts tending to explain the contradictory impressions which have existed respecting the competency of fused nitre to explode with water or carbonaceous combustibles. As his remarks were of great interest and importance, and cannot be condensed within the limits which we have at our disposal now, we refer our readers to the next number of the Journal, in which they will be given in full. C O M M I T T E E ON S C I E N C E AND T H E ARTS.
Report on Lieut. 8telwagon's Coast Surve2/ Sounding Jlpparatus. The Committee on Science and the Arts, constituted by the Franklin Institute of the State of Pennsylvania for tile promotion of the Mechanic Arts, to whom was referred for examination--The Gedney Coast Survey Sounding Apparatus, invented by Lieut. H. S. Stelwagon of the United States Navy', Report-That they have carefill]y examined this instrument, and made several experimental trials with it which have been very sarisiactory. It differs from tile ordinary deep sea lead, in having a projecting stem of iron fixed in the lower end, which carries a conical iron cup screwed upon its lower extremity. A disk of leather slides upon the stem between the cup and the end of the lead, forming a valve which rises when the lead is passing down through tile water, and allows the conical cup to receive portions of the soil into which it penetrates ou reaching soundings, and fails upon the cup when it is drawn up so as to preserve its contents from being washed out as it passes rapidly through the water. Upon unscrewing the cup after a throw of the lead, a small pol'tion of the bottom soil is found securely lodged within, having exactly its natural proportions of fine and coarse particles unchanged by washing. The Committee has no hesitation in commending this instrument, as much superior to the orditmry lead, both for scientific and ordinary maritime purposes, and its simplicity is such, that any" one capable of using the common lead, can use this with equal facility and with more certain and satisfactory results. By order of the Committee. WILLIAM HAMILTON~ ~2cluary. Philadelphi% Feb. 10~ 1848.
INSTITUTE.
Proceedings of the Stated 3leetingg held ~pril 201h, 1848. S. V. M~'gRIeK, President, presiding. Present, 44 Members. T h e following donations were announced : From Hon. Jno, W. Farrelly, M. C., Washington City, D. C.-The President's Message at the commencement of the 1st Session, 30th Congress. From Hon. T. O.JAdwards, M. C., Washington City, D. C.-The President's Message at the commencement of the 1st Session, 30th Congress. From the Royal Astronomical Society of London-Their proceedings for January 14th, 1848. From the Apprenuees Library Company, of Philadelphia-Their Annual Report for the year 1847'. From Hon. Edmund Burke, Com. of Patents, Washington City, D. C.-Catalogue of the Library of the Patent Office, 1847. From Hon. William Jackson, Massachusetts-Annual Reports of the Railroad Corporations of the State of Massachusetts, for 1847--Legislative Document, No. 26. From Messrs. Lea &, Blanchard, Philadelphia-Principles of the Mechanics of Machinery and Engineering, by Julius Weisbach, 1st Am. ed., voh 1--1848. From Richard C. Taylor, Esq., Philadelphia-Report of the Stockholders of the Dauphin and Susquehanna Coal Company, 1848. From Thomas U. Walter, Esq., Philadelphia-Final Report of the Building Committee of the Girard College for Orphans, to the Councils of the City of Philadelphia, also a Report to the Building Committee, by T. U. Walter, Architect. From James S. Lippineott, Esq., Philadelphia-The Antiquities of Rome, to which are prefixed two Essays concerning the Roman Learning, and the Roman Education, by David Kennett. The Teacher: or Moral Influences employed in the Instruction and Government of the Young, by Jacob Abbott. The District School : or National Education, by J. Orville Taylor. From Charles E. Smith, Esq.-New York Legislative Documents, viz : No. 102, Annual Report of the Secretary of State, relative to Railroad Statistics, March 4th, 1847. No. 132, Annual Report from the same, on the same subject, March 7th, 1848. From John Merrick, Esq., Haliowell, Maine-Specimen of Iron Ore, from Dover, Maine. T h e reports from the Officers and Standing Committees vcere received. On motion, it w a s - Resolved, That the Committee on Exhibitions be, and they are hereby instructed to take lhe necessary steps to hold an Exhibition of American Manufactures, next Fall, agreeably to their r e c o m m e n dation this evening. On the report of the Special Committee, appointed at the last meeting, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted, viz:
Proceedings of lite Franklin Inslilute.
391
Resolved, That the members of the Franklin Institute have heard with the most profound sorro~v, that Dr. Thomas P. Jones, one of the earliest of their associates, departed this life on the Eleventh day of March last, after a long career of usefulness in the walks of mechanical science. Resolved, That the services of Dr. Jones, as the founder and able editor of the Journal of ,he Institute, from the time the publication of it was commenced until his death, and also for several years as the Professor of Natural Philosophy and Mechanics in the Institution, will ever be gratefully remembered by all who have participated in the labors and advantages of our society. Resolved, That we sincerely condole with the family of Dr. Jones, in their recent and irreparable bereavement, and that a copy of these resolutions be transmitted to them by the corresponding secretary'. Communications on subjects connected with science and the arts, being called for ; Mr. A. W. Whitney exhibited his patent hnproved Wiring Machine, a description of which will be found at page 384 of the present number of the Journal. Mr. Williams submitted to the inspection of the members two Foot-warmers, which present a singular phenomenon. They consist of boxes of polished zinc for the purpose of containing hot water, and are covered with cloth embossed in different colors, lined with calico. The pattern embossed upon the cloth has imprinted i~self upon the zinc, the metal being tarnished under the black, and having remained bright under the other colors. Mr. Cardeza exhibited a rifle constructed to load at the breech, and made from his drawings in 1846. The gun was familiar to some of the gentlemen present, having been used in that year, in experiments upon the explosive force of gun-cotton. His reason for exhibiting it was, that a patent for the same thing had recently been taken out by a resident of New York. Mr. Smith exhibited a solution of gun-cotton in ether, and explained the advantages which it has as a dressing for wounds. He stated that a careful microsc()pic examination of it, showed no fibrous structure, and gave no traces of the polarization of light, as had been affirmed. Dr. Rand presented to the meeting, a patient who had been operated on for a cyst on the right elbow--the wound having been dressed wittl the ethereal tincture of gun-cotton. It had succeeded admirably - - a n d allowed such free action of the joint during the healing, that Ihe individual had been able to pursue his trade, that of a weaver. Prof. W. R. Johnson stated that gutm pereha dissolved in chloroform, and gave a very similar substance by evaporation, which in addition to the advantages possessed b y the tincture of gun-cotton, was more elastic, and therefore permitted of still freer motion without injury to the dressing. Mr. Plotts explained the theory of his method of rational arithmetic, by means of which children could be taught so as to understand and explain every step which they are obliged to take in solv-
392
Franklin Institute.
ing aug problem presented. Mr. Plotts exhibited specimens of his method and illustrated the facilities which it gives. Mr. M. T. W. Chandler called the attention of the members to a very beautiful model of a weigh-lock, on the plan of Messrs. Ellicott & Abbott's platlbrm scale, which is now under examination by the Committee on Science a~ld the Arts. The crib on which the boat rests while being weighed, is sustained by rods which operate on a series of steelyards, arranged longitudinally on each side of the lock. Fram these the strain is transferred by means of a rocking shaft, to another steelyard, placed above the lock and transversely to it, on which Ihe weighing is effected. Dr. Hare communicated to the society some inferences and facts tending to explain the contradictory impressions which have existed respecting the competency of fused nitre to explode with water or carbonaceous combustibles. As his remarks were of great interest and importance, and cannot be condensed within the limits which we have at our disposal now, we refer our readers to the next number of the Journal, in which they will be given in full. C O M M I T T E E ON S C I E N C E AND T H E ARTS.
Report on Lieut. 8telwagon's Coast Surve2/ Sounding Jlpparatus. The Committee on Science and the Arts, constituted by the Franklin Institute of the State of Pennsylvania for tile promotion of the Mechanic Arts, to whom was referred for examination--The Gedney Coast Survey Sounding Apparatus, invented by Lieut. H. S. Stelwagon of the United States Navy', Report-That they have carefill]y examined this instrument, and made several experimental trials with it which have been very sarisiactory. It differs from tile ordinary deep sea lead, in having a projecting stem of iron fixed in the lower end, which carries a conical iron cup screwed upon its lower extremity. A disk of leather slides upon the stem between the cup and the end of the lead, forming a valve which rises when the lead is passing down through tile water, and allows the conical cup to receive portions of the soil into which it penetrates ou reaching soundings, and fails upon the cup when it is drawn up so as to preserve its contents from being washed out as it passes rapidly through the water. Upon unscrewing the cup after a throw of the lead, a small pol'tion of the bottom soil is found securely lodged within, having exactly its natural proportions of fine and coarse particles unchanged by washing. The Committee has no hesitation in commending this instrument, as much superior to the orditmry lead, both for scientific and ordinary maritime purposes, and its simplicity is such, that any" one capable of using the common lead, can use this with equal facility and with more certain and satisfactory results. By order of the Committee. WILLIAM HAMILTON~ ~2cluary. Philadelphi% Feb. 10~ 1848.