274 
NATURE 
but carefully protected from currents of air by screens appro- 
priately arranged. Thehorizontal gas-pipe with its perforations, 
1 inch between each, having been so adjusted that the distance 
between the central perforation and the thermometer was 14 in., 
the 17 jets were ignited, and the supply of gas regulated at pre- 
cisely 5 cubic feet per hour. The temperatures imparted to the 
thermometer during the experiment are recorded in Table A. It 
TABLE A, 
: Indication Temperature Differential 
5 f surroundin 
ca heerdometer. “Aegeatate, Temperature. 
| 
m. 5s Deg. Fah. Deg. Fah. Deg. Fah. 
oOo 62°8 62°8 oo 
Gv 64° 4 | 62°8 16 
Biz 5 65°6 | 63'0 2°6 
18 6 66'5 63°2 33 
, 24 8 67°0 63°4 376 
30 II 67°3 63°6 Bal 
136 9 67°4 63°7 | 37 
will be seen on examining this table that the temperature im- 
parted to the thermometer at the expiration of -36 minutes, was 
only 3'7° F., in place of 61'2° observed by Mr. Williams ; the 
rate of discrepancy being thus 3°7 : 61°"2=1 : 16°56. 
This extraordinary discrepancy between the temperatures 
published by Mr. Williams in his original communication, and 
the distances assumed in his reply to Lord Rosse, having been 
fully established by the experiment, the arrangement was changed, 
the thermometer being brought within 3 in. of the flames. But 
even at this short distance, the thermometer exposed to the 
radiant heat during an interval of 29 minutes, indicated a differ- 
ential temperature of only 22°6° F,, in place of 61'2° F. as stated 
by Mr. Williams—a fact clearly showing that the high tempera- 
ture observed by him was owing to the intervention of the box 
in which he inserted the thermometer. Such a box composed 
of polished tin plate, open at the end presented towards the 
flame, was accordingly applied ; its position being such that the 
space between the thermometer and the flame measured 3 in., as 
before. The 17 jets being ignited and the supply of gas regulated at 
5 cubic feet per hour, the column of the thermometer rose rapidly, 
attaining a height of 136° in 20 minutes. Deducting the tem- 
perature of the surrounding air, 63°5°, the increment of heat 
proved to be 72°5°, thus showing that by the intervention of the 
box, the differential temperature was increased threefold. It 
scarcely requires explanation that owing to the close proximity 
of the flame the air in the box becomes heated, imparting its heat 
to the thermometer, by convection ; while the reflection of the 
heat rays against the sides and bottom of the polished box, im- 
parts radiant heat to those parts of the bulb which are not ex- 
posed to the direct radiation of the flame. 
In view of the foregoing explanation it will be evident that, 
ina properly conducted experiment, the temperatures recorded 
in Mr, Williams’ table cannot be produced unless the thermo- 
meter be placed even nearer than 3in. from the flame. But 
admitting that the recorded temperatures could be developed at 
a distance of 3 in., it will be found that the mistake to which 
Lord Rosse has called attention is fatal to Mr. Williams’ de- 
ductions. Referring to Table B, constructed in accordance with 
TABLE B, 
No. of jet from Energy No. of jet from Energy 
‘Thermometer. Transmitted. Thermometer. Transmitted. 
I 2°77 Io 090 
2) 2°37 II 0°82 
3 2'O4 12 o'75 
4 177 13 0°69 
5 1'56 14 0°64 
6 1°38 15 0'59 
7 1'23 16 0°55 
8 I'll 17 o'51 
9 1'00 
the theory pointed out by Lord Rosse in his letter to NATURD, 
it will be seen that each pair of jets so far from developing an 
equal amount of radiant energy, as indicated by Mr. Williams’ 
table, they differ to a very great extent. 
For instance, while the 
two jets on each side of the centre develope respectively 1°11 
and 090 (the energy transmitted by the central jet being repre- 
sented by unity), the two outside?jets develope respectively 2°77 
and o’51. Accordingly, the energy developed by the central 
pair will be 1°11 + 0°90 = 2’01, while the outside pair develope 
2°77 + 0°51 = 3°28. Leaving out of sight the imperfections of 
the method adopted in making the observations, this great dif- 
ference of the radiant energy transmitted to the thermometer by 
each pair of jets, is conclusive against the deduction concerning 
diathermacy of flame, which Mr. Williams has based on his pub- 
lished table of temperatures. 
SCIENTIFIC SERIALS 
Tue Archives des Sciences Physiques et Naturelles contains a 
long and admirable article by Prof. Plantamour, on the meteo- — 
rology of Geneva and the Great St. Bernard for 1871, a year 
of very exceptional weather at these places. In a series of 
carefully compiled tables, the various meteorological phenomena 
observed are compared in every possible way, and deserve the 
study of meteorologists. The second paper is an exceedingly 
interesting one from the work published by M. de Candolle, 
‘* Histoire des Sciences et des savants depuis deux Siécles,” &c., 
containing the result of much acute and original research, on 
Transformations of Movement among Organised Beings. The 
other two principal papers are one by M. Ernest Favre, on the 
Geology of the Ralligstécke on the banks of Lake Thun, and 
one by MM. de la Rive and Sarasin on the rotation’ under 
magnetic influence of the electric discharge in rarefied gases, 
and on the mechanical action which this discharge may exercise 
in its movement of rotation. 
Transactions of the Wisconsin Academy of Science, Arts, and- 
Letters, 1870-72. This academy was organised in 1870, ‘* by a 
convention called by the Governor and more than one hundred 
other prominent citizens of the State,” its general objects being 
‘the material, intellectual, and social advancement of the 
State,” as well as, or rather by means of the advancement of, 
science, literature, and the arts. This first volume of Tran- 
sactions contains some specimens of the work already done 
by the Academy in its various departments, to which is pre- 
fixed an extremely interesting 7¢swmé of what has already 
been done by Wisconsin for science. This is followed. 
by a long list of papers on various subjects read before the 
Academy since its formation. Of the scientific papers contained — 
in the volume before us, Dr. Lapham contributes one ‘‘ On the 
Classification of Plants ;” Mr. J. G. Knapp ‘‘ On the Coniferce 
of the Rocky Mountains ;” Prof. Irving on ‘‘ The Age of the 
Quartzites, Schists, and Conglomerate of Sank Co. Wisconsin ;” 
Prof. Chamberlain a few suggestions, some of them original, as 
to a Basis for the Gradation of the Vertebrata; and Prof. 
Davies “ On Potentials and their Application to Physical 
Science ;” in which he attempts to give a physical interpretation 
to the potential function, and to illustrate it and its use by some 
simple examples. We hope the Academy will continue to pro- 
duce as satisfactory work in the future as it has done since it 
commenced, 
WE have received numbers 8, 9, 10, and 11 of the 
Australian Mechanic and Journal of Science and Art for __ 
August, September, October, and November, and highly 
creditable is the quality of the contents to its able editor, 
Mr. Ellery, Superintendent of Melbourne Observatory, and a 
hopeful sign of the intelligence and progress of the Australian 
people it is, that such a high-class scientific journal should 
have a paying circulation in so young a colony. Mr, Ellery 
himself is contributing a series of valuable and well-illus- 
trated articles on ‘‘ How to make and how to use a Spectro- 
scope,” while another contributcr, ‘‘ Delta,” concludes in the 
August number a series of seven papers on ‘* Spectrum Analysis.” 
The subjects treated of are very various, and mostly practical, 
but whatever the subject of an article may be, science and the 
application of scientific principles are never lost sight of. 
There is a series of articles on agriculture, in which the 
application of science to this department of industry is well 
illustrated; and in an article on ‘Science and Govern: 
ment,” principally with reference to the supply of coal, the 
writer concludes thus :—‘‘ There is scarcely any subject within 
the range of material science, however trifling it may at first ap- 
pear, that has not a direct and important interest for the whole 
community, and especially for those who hold the responsibility 
J. Ericsson 
’ 
