584 



Article XVIIT. 



Experimental and Theoretical Researches on the Figures of 

 Equilibrium of a Liquid Mass withdrawn from the Action of 

 Gravity. By J. Plateau, Professor at the University of 

 Ghent, Member of the Royal Academy of Belgium, i^c. 



Second Series*. 



Preface, 



At the period when attacked by the disease which has entirely 

 deprived me of sight, I had terminated the greater part of the 

 experiments relating to this series, as well as the following. 

 M. Duprez, correspondent of the Brussels Academy, and 

 M. Denny, had the kindness to undertake those which were 

 still wanting. I constantly directed their execution ; nearly all 

 were made in my presence, and I followed all the details. I 

 have therefore considered myself justified, in order to simplify 

 the description, in expressing myself in the course of this in- 

 vestigation as if I had made the experiments. 



With respect to the theoretical portions, I am indebted to 

 the able assistance of one of my colleagues, M. Lamarle, who 

 has most kindly devoted many long hours to listening to the 

 details of my investigations, and to aiding me in the explanation 

 of several difficult points. I am also indebted to another of my 

 colleagues, M. Manderlier, for the execution of a part of the 

 calculations. 



May I be permitted to express in this place my gratitude to 



* The memoir published in vol. xvi. of the Memoirs of the Royal Academy 

 of Belgium (and translated in vol. iv. of the Scientific Memoirs) under the 

 title of "Memoir on the Phaenomena of a free Liquid Mass withdrawn from 

 the Action of Gravity, First Part," constitutes the first series of these researches. 

 A different title has been adopted for the other series, because the preceding 

 was not applicable to the entire work. 



