PROCEEDINGS OF THE POLYTECHNIC ASSOCIATION. 647 



weather occurred in a given locality, a cycle would bring there correspond- 

 ing weather. 



The secretary, Mr. Garvey, replied at length to Mr. Dick. We should 

 be careful how we attempt to establissh laws upon a few coincidences. He 

 denied that the moon had influence, except upon the tides. There were, 

 however, many causes modifying the weather, which it seemed would 

 almost render nugatory the effects imagined by Mr. Dick. 



The Chairman remarked that this subject of periodicity in weather was 

 exciting the attention of prominent mcteoroh)gists. Sir Jolin Herschel has 

 requested that daily observations in all parts of Great Britain during .1864, 

 be sent to him, from which he will doubtless draw deductions that may in- 

 fluence the common faith in weather signs. We will put on record the 

 .prognostications of Mr. Dick, without endorsing his views upon a subject 

 which always bears with it a charm for all classes of people. 



The following notes of scientific progress were then read by the Chair- 

 man: 



On Boiling Water. 



Mr. W. Grove, F. R. S., in a lecture before the Royal Institution, pre- 

 sented some facts upon a subject lately brought to the notice of this Asso- 

 ciation. He first alluded to the statements of Donny before the Brussels 

 Eoyal Academy, in 1843, that in proportion as water is deprived of its air 

 the character of its ebullition changes, becoming more and more abrupt, 

 and boiling like sulphuric acid with soubresaut, and between each burst of 

 vapor, the water reaches a temperature above its boiling point. To effect 

 this, it is necessary that the water be boiled in a tube with a narrow orifice 

 through which the vapor issues; if it be boiled in an open vessel, it con- 

 tinually reabsorbs the air and boils in tlie ordinary way. Mr. Grove found 

 that with the oxy-hydrogen gas, given off from ignited platinum plunged 

 in water, there was always a greater or less quantity of nitrogen mixed, 

 which led him to examine more carefully the phenomenon of boiling. He 

 arranged two copper wires parallel to each other, in a Florence flask, so 

 as nearly to touch the bottom; the lower ends were united by a platinum 

 wire, about an inch and a half long, which was curved horizoirtally. Dis- 

 tilled water, which had been boiled and cooled in an air-pump vacuum, 

 was poured into this flask, so as to fill about one-fourth of its capacity. 

 The whole was placed under the air-pump receiver, and a connection was 

 made with the wires of a voltaic battery. In this manner the platinum 

 wire was heated and the boiling continued indefinitely. The effect was 

 curious; the water did not boil in the ordinary way, but at regular inter- 

 vals bursts of vapor took place, after which the water was perfectly tran- 

 quil. 



Another experiment with a glass tube five feet long and four-tenths of 

 an inch internal diameter, bent into a V shape; into one end a loop of pla- 

 tinum wire was sealed with great care. Into this tube, water, purged of 

 air, was poured to the depth of eight inches, and the rest of the tube filled 

 with olive oil. This experiment of boiling presented nearly the same pe- 

 culiarities already mentioned. It was continued for many hours, and even 

 days. It was found that at each burst of vapor a minute bubble of gas 



