Proceedings of the Polytecuxic Association. 851 



boat would right itself under any and all circumstances. The keel 

 in this boat is, as it were the back bone from which starts the ribs. 

 The loose keel lies under the true keel, and is bolted to it between 

 the bow and stern, it projects about six inches beyond the sides of 

 the true keel, and is called the keel water regulator. Should the 

 boat cross the seaway tliis keel will prevent the drifting and canting 

 of the boat, and will keep it in the right direction. This keel 

 answers for the heavy keel and the water ballast, because it lies so' 

 deep in the water ; it also gives great protection to the principal 

 keel. The room which in other life boats is used for air-chests, is 

 used in this boat for cabins. The great advantages which these 

 cabins possess for those on board, are, that it is impossible for the 

 sailors to disturb them, and again that, they cannot by seizing the 

 side of the boat prevent it from righting ; this safety is rendered 

 surer, from the fact that every one will be strapped to their seats, and 

 the saved will, by their weight, be the very best ballast, and the 

 greater their number the better. The water holes are placed on the 

 sides, and so arranged that the water on going in on the lee side 

 runs out on the other. The weight of the boat is only 2,500 pounds ; 

 it is thirty-two feet long, ten feet four inches broad and four feet deep 

 in the water, and accommodates about forty passengers. 



After some discussion of the invention the Association adjourned. 



June 10, 1869. 



Prof. S. D. Tillman, iu the chair ; Mr C. E. Emery, Secretary. 



The chairman read his usual weekly summary of scientific news, 

 <)f which no report has been furnished. One item on " Molecules in 

 Gamboge," called forth the following remarks by Dr. Yanderweyde : 



The microscope, he said, was unable to show us any molecules; the 

 largest are far beyond the power of the strongest microscope. It is 

 said that the molecules of ice are in a state of vibration ; that, at a 

 low temperature, the hypothesis is that the molecules of hydrogen 

 and oxygen are simply in solution, and that motion is the latent 

 heat, and that we can get all that heat by freezing. And further, the 

 hypothesis goes that the attraction between these is change of heat, 

 and tiiere is a to and fro motion in the solution ; but with gases the 

 molecules are rotating in space, not like the molecules rolling around 

 each other. If small pieces of camphor are placed in water, they 



