124 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



war and eminent ordnance officers, but has been examined by 

 commissions or individual officers of various European govern- 

 ments, who, without an exception, agree that the converted piece 

 excels the Prussian needle-gun, the French Chassepot rifle, or any 

 other with which they are acquainted. 



It is known as the " Allin Patent," and a large number of work- 

 men are now employed at the Springfield armory in converting 

 our muzzle-loaders into this breech-loading piece. A correspond- 

 ent of the "World" thus describes the transformation : 



" The object is to reduce the calibre of the old muskets in order 

 to admit of the use of a smaller cartridge, and thus secure greater 

 range and force ; that important point has been accomplished by 

 reinforcing the barrel ; that is, putting in a thin lining or sleeve, 

 which delicate operation is effected with admirable precision and 

 rapidity. The old rifling is first reamed out, leaving a perfectly 

 smooth bore. The lining is then inserted and brazed so as to be- 

 come practically a part of the original. This new interior is then 

 rifled with a shorter twist than before, being reduced to one turn 

 in 40 inches, while the calibre is reduced by the lining from 58-100 

 to 50-100 of an inch. Scientific American. 



HOW THE INITIAL TELOCITY OF SHOT IS MEASURED. 



The discharged ball passes through two open frames, one near 

 the gun, and one 40 feet distant, each strung with fine copper 

 wires connected with a galvanic battery, and so arranged that the 

 cutting of the wires in the first frame by the ball sets in motion an 

 electric clock, and the cutting of those in the second stops it. The 

 dial is so minutely graduated as to show just how many thou- 

 sandths of a second are occupied by the ball in passing the 40 feet 

 between the two frames. 



THE SOCIETY OF ARTS' ALBERT MEDAL. 



The Albert medal has this year been awarded to Mr. W. Fother- 

 gill Cooke, and Prof. Charles Wheatstone, F. R. S., in recognition 

 of their joint labors in establishing the first electric telegraph. 

 The first Albert medal was awarded, in 1864, to Sir Rowland Hill, 

 K. C. B., " for his great services to arts, manufactures, and com- 

 merce, in the creation of the penny postage, and for his other 

 reforms in the postal system of this country, the benefits of which 

 have, however, not been confined to this country, but have ex- 

 tended over the civilized world." The second medal was award- 

 ed, in 1865, to his Imperial Majesty the Emperor of the French, 

 " for distinguished merit in promoting, in many ways, by his per- 

 sonal exertions, the international progress of arts, manufactures, 

 and commerce, the proofs of which are afforded by his judicious 

 patronage of art, his enlightened commercial policy, and especial- 

 ly by the abolition of passports in favor of British subjects." The 

 third medal was awarded, in 1866, to Professor Faraday, D. L. C., 

 F.R.S., for " discoveries in electricity, magnetism, and chemistry, 

 which, in their relation to the industries of the world, have so 



