, 
4 
a 
* 
1829.] 
who thought of employing the elastic force 
of aqueous vapour in the construction of an 
hydraulic machine suited to effect exhaustion. 
1690. Papin imagined the possibility of 
making an aqueous steam machine with a 
piston. 
1690. Papin first combined in the same 
steam machine with a piston, the elastic 
force of the vapour, with the property be- 
longing to this vapour of being precipitated 
by cold. 
1705. Newcomen, Cawley, and Savary 
first perceived that to effect a rapid conden- 
sation of the aqueous vapour it was necessary 
that the water should be injected in drops 
into the vapour itself. 
1769. Watt shewed the immense econo- 
mical advantages resulting from condensing 
the vapour in a separate vessel instead of in 
the body of the cylinder. , 
1769. Watt first pointed out the signal 
improvement of using the steam expansively. 
1690. Papin first proposed a steam-en- 
gine for turning an axle or a wheel, and 
“suggested a method of producing this effect. 
Preyious to him, steam-engines had been 
regarded as fit only to be employed as ex- 
hausting machines. 
1690. Papin suggested the first double 
steam-engine, but having two cylinders. 
1769. Watt invented the first double ma- 
chine with only one cylinder. 
Previous to 1710, Papin had thought of 
the first high-pressure steam-engine without 
condensation. 
1724. Leupold described the first machine 
of this kind with a piston. 
1801. The first high-pressure locomotive 
engines are due to Messrs. Trevithick and 
Vivian. 
1690. Papin must be considered the first 
projector of steam-boats. (We may also 
add, that the invention of steam-guns be- 
longs to Papin. As what is the digester 
which killed poor Naldi to be reckoned ?) 
-Of the principal parts which compose a 
steam-engine. 
1718. Beighton invented the plug-frame, 
the apparatus for opening and shutting the 
valves in the large machines. 
1758. Fitzgerald first employed a fly- 
wheel to regulate the rotatory motion com- 
municated to an axle by a steam-engine. 
1778. Washbrough employed the crank to 
transform the rectilinear movement of the 
piston into a rotatory one. 
1784. Watt invented the jointed parel- 
lelogram for producing a parellel motion. 
1784. Watt applied to his different ma- 
chines, with great advantage, the centrifu- 
gal regulator, previously known. 
1801. Murray described and executed the 
first sliding valves moved by an eccentric. 
Before 1710, Papin invented the four 
way-cock, of such great importance in the 
high-pressure engines. 
1682. Papin invented the safety-valve. 
Of the above conclusions, so totally different 
from those hitherto received, we have only 
Varieties. 
207 
to say, they rest on the indisputable evidence 
of printed works. 
Antidote to Poisonous Mushrooms.— 
Whenever a fungus is pleasant in flavour 
and odour, it may be considered wholesome ; 
if, on the contrary, it have an offensive 
smell, a bitter, astringent, or styptic taste, 
or even if it leaye an unpleasant flavour in 
the mouth, it should not be considered fit 
for food. The colour, figure, and’ texture 
of these vegetables, do not afford any cha- 
racter on which we can safely rely. But, 
in general, those should be suspected which 
grow in caverns and subterraneous passages, 
on animal matter undergoing putrefaction, 
as well as those whose flesh is soft or watery. 
All edible species should be thoroughly 
masticated before taken into the stomach, as 
this greatly lessens the injurious effects pro- 
duced by the poisons. When, however, 
this dangerous mistake has been made, vo- 
miting should be excited immediately, and 
then the vegetable acids should be given, 
such as vinegar, lemon, or apple juice ; after 
which, to stop the excessive bilious vomit- 
ing, antispasmodic remedies should be ex- 
hibited. Infusion of gall nuts, oak and 
Peruvian bark, are recommended, as capable 
of neutralizing the poison. Spirit of wine 
and vinegar extract some part of their poison, 
and tanning matter decomposes the greatest 
part of it. 
Steam Navigation to India.—The go- 
vernment of the Netherlands has ordered 
the immediate construction of alarger steam- 
vessel than has hitherto swam the ocean. 
It is to be 250 feet in length, to have three 
decks, four masts, and a bowsprit, and steam- 
engine power equal to 300 horses, and to 
cost 800,000 Dutch florins. This monstrous 
vessel is to draw but 16 feet water when 
laden, and 10 feet unladen. The object of 
the government is to facilitate the intercourse 
between Holland and the Dutch East Indies; 
and it is calculated that about 40 days will 
be sufficient for the voyage, which may be 
effected with the consumption of about 
2,400,000 pounds of mineral coal.— Asiatic 
Journal. The cost appears to be about 
£71,700 sterling, if the florin mentioned be 
that which is equal to about one shilling and 
nine-pence halfpenny, English money. 
Arlificial Diamonds.—We mentioned, a 
short time since, the attempts of an expe- 
rienced French chemist to produce crystals of 
pure carbon, and his failure.—Since that 
time, M. Gannal has communicated the re- 
sult of his researches, as the action of phos- 
phorus in contact with the carburet of pure 
sulphur. This gentleman having to prepare 
a great quantity of carburet of sulphur, con- 
ceived the idea of separating the sulphur from 
this compound body, and thus to obtain pure 
carbon. For this purpose he employed phos- 
phorus, which he perceived by combining 
with the sulphur, the carbon was disengaged 
in the form of small crystals, possessed of all 
the properties of the diamond, and in par- 
