194 MAN-ENGINE 



narcotic ; the bark is, however, stated to possess some tonic properties. The flowers 

 of the tree are used in flavouring a liqueur made in some parts of the West Indies, 

 called creme des Creoles. Temple. 



MANCHESTER YEXiXiOW. A name by which naphthaline yellow is known 

 in commerce. 



MANCHINEEXi. A large tree of a very poisonous character, growing in South 

 America, and in some parts of the West Indies. The wood is of a yellow-brown 

 colour, beautifully clouded, and very close and hard. It is sometimes used instead 

 of mahogany. This tree is the Hippomane mancinella, one of the Euphorbiace 



MANDIOCA. Cassava starch. See STARCH. 



MAN-ENGINE. (Machine Ascension, Fr. ; Fahrkunst, Ger.) The name 

 given to a machine by which the men working in deep metalliferous mines are 

 enabled to descend or ascend without much fatigue. The labour of climbing from 

 the bottom of the deep mines of the Hartz and of Cornwall has long been known to 

 produce an injurious effect upon the men. It Has therefore long been deemed of the 

 utmost importance to devise some means by which relief might be afforded. 



It was not till 1833 that the circumstance of two water-wheels having been thrown 

 out of work by the opening of the deep George adit in the Hartz mines suggested 

 the idea of employing the pump-rods for aiding the ascent of the miners, and in such 

 manner that every man should , as on the simple ladder plan, depend on himself 

 alone for his safety ; the ascent to be effected by means of the water-wheels' power. 

 There was sufficient room in the shaft, which was perpendicular, and an experiment of 

 100 fathoms was set in operation. The rods were entirely of wood, of a very simple 

 and solid construction. The spars were cut 4 x 6, and .joggled into each other one 

 inch, and bolted together, so that the whole was 7x6; at the joints iron plates 20 

 inches long were put on and screwed together, so as to render the whole equally 

 strong; tearing asunder, as long as the timber remains sound, being nearly impossible. 

 The whole length was then divided into 22 stages, and from the top downwards, on 

 alternate sides for each stage, the steps were fastened, at distances of 4 feet, by iron 

 rests. In like manner, hand-holds were fastened at convenient distances. Between 

 the two rods ordinary ladders were placed against one side of the shaft, for the sake 

 of safety should anyone become confused, or should the machinery from any acci- 

 dent stand still. On a given signal, the machine was set in motion by the man 

 at the engine, who regulates the supply of water according to the number of men 

 on at a time. This number was not allowed to exceed 20 men for this machine (ex- 

 cept in cases of necessity) although of siifficient strength to support a much greater 

 number. 



The perpendicular rods were supported at every stage by rollers, which were always 

 placed where there is no step. They were of fir, 10 inches long, 12 inches in diameter, 

 and a cast-iron flange of 1^ inch fastened to them at each end, to prevent the rods 

 slipping off; at five different points it was so arranged that the rods could not 

 fall farther than to the next stage, or at the utmost 48 inches, that being the 

 length of stroke. The ascent on the machine requires no description ; the miners, 

 after the second trial, felt familiar with it, nor was there any more danger than if 

 they were on the ordinary ladder. This machine, or power-ladder, was calculated to 

 ease the toil of ascent ; but it has also been used in descending, when of course it 

 requires little or no water to set it in motion ; and in cases of want of water, the 

 descending miners might bring up the men who had finished their shift, the water- 

 wheel only regulating the motion and overcoming friction and other prejudicial 

 resistances. This first machine surpassed expectation ; short as the length of ascent 

 was, many invalids of the district found new sources of employment, and the descent 

 by this was used by many, especially during winter, who could reach far-removed 

 mines by underground communication. Gradually the most prejudiced were at- 

 tracted to the machine, and it is received as a blessing. Thoroughly convinced of 

 the excellence of the contrivance, 200 fathoms of the 340 fathoms of Duke George 

 William shaft, from grass downwards, were in 1838 provided with a power-ladder 

 similar in construction to the above described, with this difference only, that this 

 being on the vein which falls at an angle of 70, only certain distances of 5, 8, 12 

 fathoms are taken on the machine, and intermediate of 5 to 10 fathoms on the usual 

 ladders, which divides the strain on the machine, provides against catching colds, 

 and in some degree against the danger of falling. Thus one of the deepest shafts 

 was rendered easy of ascent, more than half the depth being furnished with power for 

 raising the miners. 



In 1836 another machine was completed in the Schreibfeder Schacht. Here the 

 machine-rods must also servo as pump-rods in time of flood, and therefore the notion 

 01 making the rods of iron wire, thrown out by Albert, could not be brought to bear, 

 but a combination of timber and iron wire was adopted. The rods were of the best 



