286 On the Spheroidal State of Water in Steani'boilers. 



the usual manner ; there is no doubt that the steam generated 

 in the Hmb B would^ by lifting the superincumbent water, 

 have soon permitted that part of the boiler to become red-hot, 

 and thus have produced the curious phsenomenon revived and 

 studied by Boutigny d'Evreux, and named by him a fourth or 

 spheroidal condition of matter, but to which, so far as refers to 

 water, the late Jacob Perkins had, to my certain knowledge, 

 called the attention of engineers and of savants more than 

 twenty-five years ago (in fact, as far back as 1824). 



Allow me to relate also the curious experiment of a distin- 

 guished civil engineer, Mr. Alexander Gordon, made several years 

 ago, as related to me by Mr. A. M. Perkins. 

 AB is a cylinder provided with four try-cocks, A 

 1, 2, 3, 4 ; water being introduced into the 

 cylinder and heated therein, the cocks on being 

 successively turned gave the following results ; 

 namely, steam issuing from 1, 2, 3, and water 

 from 4 ; but after urging the fire, the above 

 order was found to be completely reversed ; 

 that is to say, cock No. 1 emitted water, and 

 cocks Nos. 2, 3, 4 steam. 



These facts, in my humble judgement, ap- 

 pear to me to prove in a decided manner, — 



1. That the heating of surfaces previous to _ 

 the introduction of water is not necessary to 



produce the spheroidal state. 



2. That many boiler explosions may be referable to that con- 

 dition. 



3. That all boilers which ofifer an extensive surface to the heat, 

 that is to say, all boilers with internal flues, are pre-eminently 

 liable to explosions from this cause. 



Earthy deposits in all kinds of boilers are favourable to the 

 production of this dangerous phsenomenon. 



I cannot terminate this informal letter without apologising for 

 having so long trespassed on your valuable time and patience ; 

 but if a collection of facts be essential to the progress of science, 

 I hope that you wdl indulgently receive this communication, and 

 believe me, 



Yours very faithfully, 



A. Normandy. 



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