436 



Mr. Tomlinsoris Experiments and 



[June 



action of a fluid of great specific gravity in a glass is to 

 neutralize the parts of the glass in contact with that fluid. 

 Mercury does so very perfectly, water in a manner less 

 perfect, and ether still less perfect, and so on. 



55. The following results were obtained when distilled 

 water at 60° was employed : — 



2^-J- ,, B tried by the octave above. 



(Those notes marked with a star were produced by 

 striking the glass with a wooden hammer covered with 

 leather.) 



57. The large number of notes obtained from the glass 

 when mercury was employed surprised me. I have before 

 stated (21.) that a fluid in a glass raises, as it were, the 

 bottom of that vessel. This remark, however, is not strictly 

 true, but the effect is best obtained when so heavy a fluid 

 as mercury is employed. The vibrations being neutralized 

 from the surface of the fluid downwards ; whereas, with the 



