876 Transactions of the American Institute. 



atom. Moreover, the normal motion of such particles may determine 

 not only the peculiarities of elemental spectra, but produce other 

 effects not dependent on the velocity or the amplitude of atomic oscil- 

 lations, thus favoring the inference that the atom itself is a receptacle 

 of force. 



Dr. J. V. C. Smith, after expressing his high appreciation of the 

 paper read by the president, alluded to what the speaker had said con- 

 cerning the views of ancient philosophers concerning the atomic doc- 

 trine, and said it was only one of the many instances of similarity 

 between modern theories and those taught 3,000 years ago. 



Prof. James A. Whitney — My friend, Dr. Smith, is never so much 

 himself as when doing justice to the merits of other people. I, too, 

 must express my appreciation of the paper just read by our chairman, 

 and of the value which always attaches to the latest phases of thought 

 in those branches of scientific research, which, while capable of being 

 traced back to the writings of philosophers in remote ages, are, even 

 now, constantly growing in interest and importance, thanks to the 

 acute intellects of our own time. 



Self-locking Screw. 



Mr. Freeland exhibited a screw, intended especially for railroad 

 purposes, and similar positions, where the perpetual jar has a tendency 

 to loosen the nut. The screw has a longitudinal recess, in which is 

 placed a brass wire bent at the end by a small apparatus ; and the nut 

 has a cavity with a ratchet upon its exterior, the end of the brass wire 

 taken in the teeth as a pawl. On tightening the screw, the brass wire 

 holds the nut in position. The screw may at any time be tightened, 

 and the wire will hold it in its new position. If the nut is to be 

 loosened, sufficient force must be applied to the wrench to break the 

 wire ; and a new wire inserted on again putting on the nut. 



Mr. J. B. Root — The only objection would be the cost of making 

 it ; and that when the nut binds close to the bolt, there is less tend- 

 ency to lateral motion. There might possibly be some difficulty from 

 water getting into the slot and rusting the thread. 



Road Steamer in Greece. 

 Mr. J. K. Fisher said : The Engineer of February 16 has a letter 

 from Patras from Mr. Blakevay, engineer to the Hellenic Road 

 Steamer Company, from which I extract the following: "On the 

 26th of January we tried our first road steamer, with omnibus attached, 

 carrying seventy to eighty passengers. The steepest grade was one 



