1108 WAX 



sphere. The object of this pipe is not only to remove pressure from the cylinders, but 

 likewise to afford an exit for the excess of air generated. 



45, brine cock. 



46, opening reserved in the feed and priming-box. 



The first thing to be done is, of course, to charge the apparatus with sea water. 

 This is done by establishing a communication between the apparatus and the sea 

 water round the ship. This is easily effected by turning on the large cocks, or Kingston 

 valves, connected with the large orifices 2 and 7 (see the figures), whereupon the salt 

 water immediately fills up both the refrigerator 3 through the passage 4 and the con- 

 denser 6 through the passage 5, up to a certain point 20 of the aerating pipe. 



Opening now the cock 10 of the feed pipe 11 the sea water will pass from the con- 

 denser 6 into the feed and priming-box 12 and thence through pipe 13 into the evapo- 

 rator 14, where it should be allowed to rise up to about one third of the glass gauge, 

 43, when the cock 10 should be shut up. The apparatus being thus charged with its 

 proper quantity of sea water ; the steam-boiler being ready to furnish the necessary 

 steam ; and admitting, of course, that the steam-pipe 35 is in communication with 

 the said boiler, the next thing to be done is to open the steam-cock, 35, shutting at 

 the same time the cocks, 39, 41, and 32, and opening cocks, 38, 40, and 42, and like- 

 wise the small pet cock 27 of the steam-trap 26. On opening the small pot cock 27 

 nothing but air will at first rush out; but, presently, steam will issue from it; it 

 should then be closed more and more gradually as the steam is seen issuing from it 

 with rapidity ; and it should eventually be left almost, but not altogether, shut up, so 

 as to leave only room for the smallest possible wreath of steam slowly to issue from it. 

 As soon as the steam-cock 35 is open, and the steam from the boiler will rush through 

 that cock into the sheaf of pipes 23 of the evaporator 14, in which pipes it will be 

 condensed by the sea -water which surrounds them, and it will then flow in the state 

 of condensed non-aerated distilled water through the pipe 25 into the steam-trap 26 ; 

 lift up the float 22, and passing through pipe 29, will flow through cock 40, its further 

 progress being intercepted by cock 41, which is shut, as said before. As soon as the 

 condensed water flows out in a clear state from cock 40, shut it, and open cock 41, so 

 that it may pass into the pipes 15 of the refrigerator 3, and out at cock 42. In a few 

 moments the condensed water will flow out in a clear state trom that cock, 42, which 

 should then be closed, opening at the same time cock 32, so that it may pass into the 

 filter 33. 



But the steam within the sheaf of pipes 23 of the evaporator 14 soon brings the sea 

 water round them to the boiling point, and converts part of it into steam. This 

 pure secondary steam from the evaporator, issuing then from the priming-box 12, 

 passesthrough pipe 21 into the pipes 17 immersed in the salt water of the condenser 6, 

 and being condensed in the said pipes, is allowed to flow out at the cock 38 (which 

 has been opened at starting), as long as it is not clear. In a short time, however, it 

 will flow out from that cock 38, in a perfectly clear state ; when this takes place shut 

 this cock 38, and open cock 39, whereupon it w.511 flow into the pipes 15 of the refrige- 

 rator 3, in which pipes it will mix with that coming from the pipes 23 of the evaporator 

 14, and flow with it through the said pipes 15, and thence into the filter 33 through 

 the cock 32, the whole issuing finally from the filter 33 through pipe 34, in the state 

 of perfectly aerated fresh water. 



From this brief description of Dr. Normandy's marine fresh-water apparatus it may be 

 seen that a quantity of fresh water is produced always double that which can be evapo- 

 rated from any boiler whatever, and indeed by increasing the number of evaporators 

 1 Ib. of coals may thus be made to yield 30 or 40 Ibs. of fresh water of matchless 

 quality. The small volume of the apparatus, the large quantity of fresh aerated water 

 whicli it produces, at an extremely small cost, its perfect safety, permanent order, 

 and the ease with which it can be disconnected, and all its parts reached, not only 

 render it pre-eminently suited to naval purposes, but likewise to such stations or 

 places as are deficient in one of the first necessaries of life, salubrious fresh water, or 

 whore it cannot be obtained at all, or only in an insufficient, precarious, or expensive 

 manner. 



WATTX.E BARK. See P.AHK. 



WAX (Cire, Fr. ; Wachs, Ger.) is the substance which forms the cells of bees. 

 It was long supposed to be derived from the pollen of plants, swallowed by these 

 insects, and merely voided under this new form ; but it has been proved by the expe- 

 riments, first of Mr. Hunter, and more especially of M. Huber, to be the peculiar 

 secretion of a certain organ, which forms a part of the small sacs situated on the sides 

 of the median line of the abdomen of the bee. On raising the lower segments of the 

 abdomen these sacs may be observed, as also scales or spangles of wax, arranged in 

 pairs upon each segment. There are none, however, under the rings of the males 

 and the queen. Each individual has only eight wax sacs, or pouches ; for the first 



