1854.] 



ON THE SPHEEOIDAL STATE OF BODIES. 



11 



the sculptor's experience : and, if it will not be considered out 

 of place, I will briefly state the process by which 1 have con- 

 structed these large models. 



In the first week of September, 1852, I entered upon my 

 engagement to make JIastodon or any other models of the 

 extinct animals that I might find most practicable; such was 

 the tenour of my undertaking, and being deeply impressed with 

 its important and perfectly novel character, without precedent 

 of any kind, I found it necessary earnestly and carefully to 

 study the elaborate descriptions of Baron Cuvier, but more 

 particularly the learned writings of our British Cuvier, Professor 

 Owen. Ilere I found abundant material collected together, 

 stores of knowledge, from years of labour, impressing me still 

 more with the.grave importance of attempting to present to the 

 eye of the world at large a representation of the complete and 

 living forms of those beings, the minutest portion of whose 

 bones had occupied the study and research of our most profound 

 philosophers ; by the careful study of their work.s, I qualified 

 myself to make preliminary drawings, with careful measurements 

 of the fossil bones in our Museum of the College of Surgeons, 

 British Museum, and Cxeological Society; thus prepared I made 

 my sketch-models to scale, either a 6th or a 12th of the natural 

 size, designing such attitudes as my long acquaintance with the 

 recent and living forms of the animal kingdom enabled me to 

 adapt to the extinct species I was endeavouring to restore. 

 These sketch models I submitted in all instances to the criticism 

 of Professor Owen, who with his great knowledge and profound 

 learning most liberally aided me in every difiiculty. As in the 

 first instance it was by the light of his writings that I was ena- 

 bled to interpret the fossils that I examined and compared, so 

 it was by his criticism that I found myself guided and improved, 

 by his profound learning being brought to bear upon my exer- 

 tions to realise the truth. His sanction and approbation ob- 

 tained, I caused the clay model to be built of the natural size 

 by measurement from the sketch-model, and when it approxi- 

 mated to the form, I with my own hand in all instances se- 

 cured the anatomical details and the characteristics of its nature. 



Some of these models contained 30 tons of clay, which had 

 to be supported on four legs, as their natural history characte- 

 ristics would not allow of my having recourse to any of the ex- 

 pedients for support allowed to sculptors in an ordinaiy case. 

 I could have no trees, nor rocks, nor foliage to support these 

 great bodies, which, to be natui'al, must be built fairly on their 

 four legs. In the instance of the Iguanodon, it is not less than 

 building a house on four columns, as the quantities of material 

 of which the .standing Iguanodon is composed, consist of 4 iron 

 columns 9 fe&t long by 7 inches diameter, 



600 bricks, 



650 5-irich half-round drain tiles, 



900 plain tiles, 



88 ca.sks of cement, 



90 casks of broken stone, 



making a total of 040 bushels of artificial stone. 



These, with 100 feet of iron hooping and 20 feet of cube 

 inch bar, constitute the bones, sinews, and muscles of this large 

 model, the largest of which there is any record of a casting 

 being made. 



I have only to add that my earnest anxiety to render my re- 

 storations truthful and trustworthy le.s.-;on.s has made me seek 

 diligently fur the truth and the reward of Professor Owen's 

 sanction and approval, which T have been so fortunate to obt.ain, 



and my next sincere wish is that, thus sanctioned, they may, 

 in conjunction with the visual lessons in eveiy department of 

 art, .so establish the efllciency and facilities of visual education 

 as to prove one of many sources of profit to the shareholdei's of 

 the Crystal Palace Company. 



On the Spheroidal State of Bodies, 



By Arthl-k H. Citokch, Esq.— r© Dt. Tyndall, F.R.S. .j-c. 



The successful method by which, in your last lecture, the 

 existence of a space between water in the spheroidal state and 

 the containing vessel was proved by the complete interruption 

 that space offered to the passage of a galvanic current, has in- 

 duced me to devise a few experiments on the subject. 



I have to describe in the present comnmnication, in the first 

 place, some experiments, I have just performed for the purpose 

 of obtaining decisive evidence of the isolation of all bodies 

 in the spheroidal state from the surfaces on which they roll ; 

 and in the second place, to ofi"er a few suggestions as to the 

 probable causes of the phenomena under consideration. 



It was found by Boutigny, that if into a clean, red-hot 

 platinum capsule acids and alkalies be placed, the acid and 

 alkaline liquids will roll about, repelling one another violently. 

 This, though an interesting example of the suspension of 

 chemical affinity, does not prove the existence of a space be- 

 tween the platinum vessel and the spheroids. 



The first experiment I have to mention was this; — I took a 

 copper basin, three inches in diameter and rather more than 

 half an inch deep, polished its concave surface, and covered it, 

 with a thin film of silver by the galvanic process. The plated 

 basin was now brought to a very high temprature, and while 

 thus heated, a few drops of a slightly alkaline solution of sul- 

 phide of sodium were poured into it. These drops instantly 

 assumed the spheroidal form and rolled about, making, how- 

 ever, no mark or track upon the silver. The source of heat 

 was now withdrawn : the temperature was soon so far reduced 

 that the liquid exhibited its normal properties, the space be- 

 tween it and the silver no longer existed, and a black stain of 

 sulphide of silver covered the dish. 



Another instance of the assumption of the spheroidal state 

 has been often noticed. It occurs when ether is placed on 

 the surface of boiling water. Now, if a fixed inorganic acid 

 be dissolved in ether, and the water be coloured with litmus, 

 no reddening of the latter will take place as long as the ether 

 remains in the spheroidal state. The acidulated ether and the 

 tinted water caunut, tlu'refore, be in communication ; they are 

 separated by a film of air ur of vapnur. 



I pass on to notice in as few words as po.-sible the remaiiuler 

 of mv experiments. I have remarked that in certain circum- 

 stances si)heriii(Ial glubides fnrni upon the surface of liquids 

 during the processes of filtration and distillation. The pheno- 

 menon to which 1 refer is exhibited by many liquids, more 

 frequently and conspicuously perhaps by those that are the 

 more volatile. 1 have observed it with alcohol, water, aque- 

 ous and alcoh(ili(; solutions, syrup, with e.>«iential oils and 

 many other organic substances. I have sometimes, however, 



* From tlio Loml. Edinb.. and Diibl. Pliilo.sopli. Mngaxino, April, 186-1. 



