1853.] ALCOHOL AT LOW TEMPERATURES. 209 



upon the expansion of alcohol under low temperatures. 

 The instrument for this purpose was furnished by Mr. 

 Glaisher, of the Royal Observatory, as well as a supply 

 of the same spirit from which his thermometers had 

 been filled. Unfortunately those who operate in Eng- 

 land seldom dream of the mean temperature under which 

 such observations would be conducted here, and have 

 failed not only to supply gloves adapted to 50 or 

 60, but also to warn those who may not have brought 

 their brains with them, that 10 to 20 below the con- 

 gealing point of mercury is hot work. The raw expe- 

 rimenter might easily lose his hands or life, should he 

 inadvertently take up the bottle containing half a gallon 

 of alcohol at 58 or 60, without the hands being 

 properly protected. 



We find that the unfortunate artilleryman, servant of 

 Colonel Sabiue during the voyage of Sir Edward Parry 

 in 1819, in consequence of endeavouring to rescue the 

 dipping-needle from the flaming Observatory, was com- 

 pelled to undergo amputation of part of four fingers on 

 one hand and three on the other ; and it is but natural 

 to suppose, from all the causes then in action, that the 

 instrument itself could not have cooled down below 

 43, the prevailing temperature away from the fire : 

 what then would be the effect of a person tumbling and 

 breaking a bottle of alcohol, and shedding it over his 

 hands and person at the temperature of 58? Even 

 with double gloves, lined with fur, I felt the cold sharp- 

 ly, and my hands generally suffered, but more particu- 

 larly the nails and points of forefingers and thumbs, 

 throughout the winter, rendering adhesive straps neces- 



VOL. I. p 



