210 ALCOHOL AT LOW TEMPERATURES. \JaniUiry. 



sary to close the cracked skin ; resulting solely, I be- 

 lieve, from constantly handling metal instruments and 

 tools at very low temperatures. The affection was so se- 

 vere, that I termed it the finger fever ; all the nails be- 

 ing more or less affected, and, as they advanced, exhi- 

 biting corrugated transverse ridges, with spots occasion- 

 ally ; however, I eventually found that these experi- 

 ments could be satisfactorily conducted in the Observa- 

 tory, after cooling the materials outside, by consenting 

 to the loss of a few degrees. 



Better however that I should suffer, than, by any 

 neglect of mine, some other unfortunate of lower rank 

 should be crippled, and obtain but very inadequate re- 

 muneration, although loss of fingers to me would be 

 very little short of loss of life. I think my spirited and 

 talented friend, Mr. Glaisher, might have whispered, 

 " But, my good Sir, when alcohol is reduced to 94 be- 

 low the freezing-point of water, pray take care of your 

 fingers." True it is that, internally, alcohol is a heating 

 spirit, but we have no name for it under these burning 

 circumstances. 



