AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 37 



REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES, APPOINTED BY THE MANAGERS OF 

 THE 27th annual fair, ON THOMPSON'S GRADUATING LIFE PRE- 

 SERVING SEAT. 



The undersigned, appointed a committee to examine Mr. Nathan 

 Thompson's " Graduating Life Preserving Seat," submit the follow- 

 ing report : 



That impressed by the fact that the real value of a life preserver 

 can only be judged of by a practical test, the undersigned, by 

 appointment, met Mr. Thompson at the Battery, where a full ex- 

 amination was made. The committee were not a little surprised at 

 the simplicity of this preserver, which they found, however, to con- 

 stitute one of its chief merits. It is in the form of a stool, which 

 makes it an useful article, aside from its life preserving qualities. 

 The floating power is cork, which is encased in woodwork, which 

 precludes it from becoming water logged. The legs are hung on 

 hinges, which are held in their places by strong elastic bands, which 

 also serve to keep the preserver close to the body, without however 

 exerting an uncomfortable degree of pressure. 



The preserver is applied by opening the legs of the stool and 

 placing it around the body, directly under the arms, which may be 

 done even by a child, being adapted to persons of all sizes. 



Having examined the form of the preserver to our satisfaction, 

 we next proceeded to test its powers. 



The subject to be experimented upon, having fixed the preserver 

 to his body, precipitated himself into the water, sank a short dis- 

 tance, but immediately arose and floated at his ease. The preserver 

 is so adjusted that the lower part of his body acts as a pendulum, 

 and an upright position is preserved, which cannot be overcome 

 without some effort. 



The arms and legs are entirely at liberty to be used as occasion 

 may demand. Little or no impediment is offered to the art of 

 swimming, and we do not see how it is possible for a person to drown 

 with this preserver, or to be lost except from long exposure and 

 starvation. Having tested the preserver in all its adaptations to the 

 preservation of himian life, the committee have only to add, that 

 the whole experiment afforded them the deepest gratification, and 

 we arc compelled to say that this life preserver is most decidedly 

 the best which we have yet seen, and quite free from some serious 

 objections justly urged against those now in use. It is simple in its 

 structure, useful as an article of furniture in addition to its specific 

 purpose, not liable to get out of order, readily applied, and admir- 

 ably adapted to the preservation of human life. 



