ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY : 



YEAK BOOK OF FACTS IN SCIENCE AND AET, 



Exhibiting the most important discoveries and improvements in Mechanics a/nd 

 Usef 



Obituaries of Eminent Scientific Men ; An index of important, 

 Papers in Scientific Journals, Reports, cfc. 



EDITED BiT 



DAVID A. WELLS, 



OF THE LAWRENCE SCIENTIFIC SCHOOL, CAMBRIDGE, AND 



GEORGE BLISS, JR. 



THE ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY is designed for till those who 

 desire to keep pace with the advancement of Science and Art. The great and 

 daily increasing number of discoveries in the different departments of science 

 is such, and the announcement of them is scattered through such a multitude 

 of secular and scientific publications, that it is very difficult for any one to 

 obtain a satisfactory survey of them, even had he access to all these publi- 

 cations. But scientific Journals, especiall} 7 those of Europe, besides being 

 many of them in foreign languages, have a very limited circulation in this 

 country, and are accessible to but very few. It is evident, therefore, that an 

 annual publication, giving a complete and condensed view of the Progress of 

 Discovery in every branch of Science and Art, being, in fact, THE SPIRIT of 

 the SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS of the year, systematically arranged, so as to pre- 

 sent at one view all the new discoveries and improved processes of the by- 

 gone year, must be a most acceptable volume to every one, and greatly facili 

 tate the diffusion of useful knowledge. As this work will be issued annually, 

 the reading public may easily and promptly possess themselves of the most 

 important facts in these department?. 



The Editors are so situated as to have access to all the scientific publi- 

 cations of America, Great Britain, France, and Germany ; and have also re- 

 ceived, for the present volume, the approbation as well as the counsel and 

 personal contributions of many of the ablest scientific men in this country, 

 among whom are PROFESSORS AGASSIZ, HORSFORD, and WYMAN, of 

 Harvard University, and they have the promise in future, from many 

 scientific gentlemen, of articles not published previously elsewhere. They 

 have not confined themselves to an examination of Scientific Journals 

 and Reports, but have drawn from every source which furnished any thing of 

 scientific interest. For those who have occasion for still further reseai-ches, 

 they have furnished a copious Index to the scientific articles in the American 

 and European Journals ; and moreover, they have prepared a list of all books 

 pertaining to science which have appeared originally, or by republication, iu 

 the United States, during the year. A classified list of Patents, and brief obit- 

 uary notices of men distinguished in Science or Art who have recently died, 

 render the work still more complete. They have also taken great pains to 

 render the general index to the whole work as full and correct as possible. 



It will thus be seen, that the plan of the "ANNUAL of SCIENTIFIC DIS- 

 COVERY " is well designed to make it what it purports to be, a substantial 

 summary of the discoveries in Science and Art ; and no pains have been spared 

 on the part of the Editors to fulfil the design, and render it worthy of patronage. 

 As the work is not intended for scientific men exclusively, but to meet the 

 wants of the general reader, it has been the aim of the editors that the articles 

 should be brief and intelligible to all; and to give authenticity, the source 

 from whence the information is derived is generally stated. Although they 

 have used all diligence to render this first issue as complete as possible, in its 

 design and execution, yet, they hope that experience, and the promised 

 aid and co-operation from the many gentlemen interested in its success, will 

 enable them in future to improve both on the plan and the details. 



This Work forms a handsome duodecimo volume of 350 pages, price $1.00. As the 

 edition is limited, all who wish to possoss the FIRST VOLUME of this valuable publication 

 must make an early application. On the receipt of ONE DOLLAR, the publishers will 

 forward a copy in paper covers, by Mail. POST PAID. 



