RUPTURE OF THE VESSELS WHICH CONTAIN THEM. 123 



friction, the weight of {m) will detach it from {a), and bring- {b) into such a 

 position as to prevent its impeding the reaction by which {a) is broken. 



The sides of the reservoir, in the case which led to this investigation, we 

 have assimilated to («); the brief but powerful hydraulic concussions of the in- 

 ternal fluid, to the action of the spring (b), and the effect of the external water 

 in M^hich we suppose the reservoir plunged, to that of the mass {m,'); and I 

 need merely add, that were the cases perfectly parallel, our formula proves 

 that the tendency to rupture by the reaction may amount to a very large mul- 

 tiple of that resulting from the mere explosive stra,in when the exterior pres- 

 sure is removed. 



