176 ENQUIRY INTO THE STRENGTH AND 
method adopted in removing the weights, 
for the purpose of ascertaining the defects of 
elasticity, was by pressing down the end of a 
wooden lever, G, applied to the bottom of the | 
scale, and thus raising it to a height sufficient to 
disengage the hook every time the set was taken ; 
this was done by a slow steady motion, and 
the weights were laid gently upon the scale to 
prevent jerks or sudden derangement of theparts 
under strain. 
In 52 experiments on inch bars 4 ft. 6 in. be- 
tween the supports, the deflections varied (with 
equal weights of 350 lbs.) from .707 to 1.582, 
which for the whole number gives a mean of 
1.051 as follows :— 
