PROCEEDINGS OF THE POLYTECHNIC ASSOCIATION. 617 



rubbing will answer in washing; the machine here exhibited is a 

 rubbing, washing machine. 



Mr. Seely.— The trouble with machines is that they do not dis- 

 lodge the fluid on the inside. 



Mr. Stetson stated in the four most popular washing machines ; 

 the Metropolitan, the Cataract, the Union and the Conical the 

 clothes are not rubbed together. 



Mr. Dickerman. — There have been no clothes rubbed in my 

 house since November. 



PROJECTILES. 



Mr. Stetson. — Several years ago it was my privilege to show a 

 projectile which has done the best execution, viz : B. B. Hotch- 

 kiss' patent ball. The ball is in two pieces, united by lead, flush 

 with the surface. When discharged, the first efi"ect of the powder 

 is to drive forth the back portion and to force out the lead at 

 the sides against the internal surface of the cannon. The back 

 portion shuts over the front portion, and the lead between is 

 only half an inch thick. The print of the internal surface of the 

 cannon is shown in this ball (exhibited, weighing 15 lbs.), which 

 was fired into a soft substance. On the 19th of February, a tar- 

 get nine feet high and six feet wide was fired at at a distance of 

 1,000 yards — a good fair distance for rifled cannon practice, and 

 here is a diagram showing the result. Out of seven shots six 

 struck the target, the seventh just clearing the edge ; and three 

 of the shots hit within a space 16 inches square in the center. 

 The cannon was of iron, weighing 650 lbs.; elevation, 3|o; weight 

 of ball, 5 J lbs.; quantity of powder, 5A ounces. 



Numerous other diagrams were exhibited of the results of 

 other trials. 



ALCOHOL. 



The Chairman wished to call the attention of the association 

 to the consideration of alcohol in conection withthe agricultural 

 interests of the country. There is a vast deal of grape culture 

 for producing wines, and from wine brandy is distilled. He 

 wished to have some light upon the question of the effects of al- 

 cohol upon the human system — particularly whether there is any 

 difference when taken in the form of brandy and when taken in 

 the form of wine, and combined with the vegetable products; and 

 whether, in the latter form, or in any form, it is healthful or 

 otherwise. It is maintained by many that brandy made from the 



