MOOEE’S ElIEAL NEW-YOEKEE: AN AGEICULTUEAL AND FAMILY JOUENAL. 
Mwljaiiif Irts ^ Icienrt. 
AMERICAN MECHANICS AND INVENTORS. 
It is no supercilious assumption to assert 
that the United States has during her brief 
period of existence, brought out more valu¬ 
able discoveries—more ingenioas and labor 
saring macliines—than all the world beside, 
in the same period of time. There is no 
clannish arrogance in this Jisseition, and the 
reason to us is plain. Although we claim 
a common origin with Europeans, and are 
))one of their bone, yet our free institutions 
and imiversal diffusion of education—our 
intelligence and general distribution of prop¬ 
erty—give us the advantage and superiority 
over the ill-educated, poor, shirring and labor 
ridden arti.^ans of Europe. They have no 
time, opportunity or ability to think. Neces¬ 
sity for food Is their sole thought. The 
belly swallows the mind. 
A simple schedule of evcai a moiety of 
the inventions that we claim, and to which 
we have a most indisputable title, woidd 
astonish the most confirmed American ego¬ 
tist. III the advancement of the physical 
and abstract sciences we claim respectability 
—in Electro-Magnetism, Chemistiy, Meteor- 
olugy. Geology and the Mathematics—but 
mostly in the elements and combinations of 
motion and matter. 
The steam boat and propellei-, are of our 
invention and introduction. We built the 
fii-st steam boat that ever crossed the ocean. 
The cotton gin of Whitney, has almost 
changed the destiny of the Avorld. The 
making of nails, spikes, rivets, hooks and eyes, 
and various articles of necessity, by other 
power than human muscles and sineAvs, are 
indisputabl)' due to American genius. The 
simple article of jiins, which in Europe re¬ 
quire the fingers of 17 pensons to finish, are 
noAv, by our mechanics’ invention, performed 
by inert machinery; a single revolAang shaft, 
driven by a small engine, moves machinery 
that is capable of taking the wire from the 
reel, and finishing and sticking on paper a 
ton of pins a Aveek—and a better article than 
was ever before constructed. The same 
may be said of the cutting, bending and 
sticking card teeth, on fillets of interminable 
length, and that without the intervention of 
human intellect. Franklin’s lio-htnina’ rod 
—the eleccro-magnetic telegraphs of Morse 
and House —the compound o.xyhydi-ogen 
bloAV-pipe of Hare—Hoe’s wonderful steam 
printing presses, that give 10,000 impre.ssions 
per hour—the iron plow—the power, car¬ 
pet and stocking loom—are all purely Ameri¬ 
can. Lead pipe by hydrostatic pressure — 
the screAv auger—pegged boots and shoes 
—the reduction and application of India rub¬ 
ber to the thousand uses it is noAv applied, 
we claim exclusively. The changing of hon 
wire into plumbago, for pencil points — 
Paine’s frictional electrical lights —thesolar 
compass—the use of ether as an anaesthetic 
to suspend sensation—the tuniing of gun 
stocks, shoe lasts and axe handles. 
An American mechanic invented Avhat is 
now called Hadley’s quadrant—took it to 
London and sold it for a mess of pottage. 
Rittenhouse constructed the firet orrery — 
Spencer and Curra', two intuitive geniuses 
of Western New York, have excelled all 
Europe in forming the microscopic len.s, and 
opened new Avorlds of discovery, beyond the 
reach or conception of former observers. In 
engraving we are equal, and in type found¬ 
ing and cutting far before the old Avorld, to 
whom our grain cradle, horse-rake and chop¬ 
per’s axe are unknown. The whole system 
of door knobs, locks and latches liaA-e been 
entirely changed, simplified and improved, 
that had remained in s^atu quo in Europe 
for two hundi-ed years. 
The multitudinous improA'enients in the 
steam engine, cotton and wool spinning, are 
evidences of the superior genius of our me¬ 
chanics. Brass clocks, beautifully cased and 
ornamented, for the trifle of two dollars, is 
one among the wonders of the age, and the 
ten thousand Yimkee inventions of minor 
note, and others of prime importance, of 
wliich oui’ patent records are so prolific, and 
wliich we have neither space nor ability 
to enumerate, fully attest the truth of our 
jiosition.- 
List of Patents; — We shall, as soon 
as received, publish the Patents issued at 
the United States Patent Office—commen¬ 
cing Avith the issues during the first week 
in January, 1850, and continuing the list 
weekly or semi-montlily, as the copy may 
come to hand. 
A NEW.ROTARY ENGINE. 
Messrs. Strong & Pease, of this city, 
have introduced a neAV Rotary Engine, or 
non-reciprocating apparatus for using the 
poAver of steam. It is unique and entirely 
original in its construction—using a circular 
continuous cylinder. Its Avorking poAver is 
decidedly greater, per square inch of steam 
surface, than any variety of the reciproca- 
ting cylinder engines, and if used AA'ith a 
condenser, nearly double. It is simple in 
its construction and operation, and any com¬ 
mon fireman or laborer can engineer it— 
But Avhat is of more and A'ital importance, 
(and in truth the great and almo.st the only 
desideratum in steam power,) is the fact that 
he con.sumption of fuel required for a gri'en 
poAver, is little more than half that is neces¬ 
sary to generate the same, in any other 
engine; as we are assured by the Me.ssis. 
CoNKEY'of this city Avho liaA'e had one in 
operation for the year past, performing the 
labor that a double cylinder engine could 
not do, and consuming much less Avood Avith 
the same boiler. 
The only question that can come up, as 
to the profit of steam as compared with other 
power Is the cost of fuel, as water costs noth¬ 
ing. The first cost is something less, Ave 
understand, per horee power, than in the 
common engine. It is admirably adapted 
to giist and saAV-miUs, mechanic shops, pro¬ 
pellers, and Ave think for locomotives. It is 
compact, occupying no more space than a 
tea table, and requiring no expensive found¬ 
ation, or fixtures; in short, av'O shall be dis¬ 
appointed if it does not produce a new era 
in steam macliinery, for all purposes not 
requiring a power exceeding fifty to one 
hundred horses. 
New Discovery for Electrotype Pla¬ 
ters.—At the meeting of the British Scientific 
Association, Mr. Elkington stated, that a 
few drops of sulphuret of carbon, added to 
the cyanide of silver in the decomposing 
cell, has the property of precipitating the 
silver in a perfect lustrous surface; instead of 
the frosty, pearly appearance, Avhen thrown 
down by the ordinaiy proce.ss, requiring bur¬ 
nishing, or polishing—a difficult operation on 
all but plain surfaces. The compound re¬ 
ferred to. Is the bicarbonate of sulqykur or 
carbosulphuric acid, a fluid, heavy, volatile 
substance, produced by the distillation of the 
sulpuret of iron (iron pyrites) Avith charcoal. 
The Electrotype process is one of the Avon- 
ders of modern discoveiy, and one of the 
most beautiful and pleasing experiments tliat 
the galvanic battery exhibits. A tliin film 
of pure silver, gold, or copper, may be de¬ 
posited, and a cast taken of all substances— 
a leaf, a fruit, a coin, or the copy of an en¬ 
graving. Articles of lioweA'er elaborate 
camnji or turning are in a few minutes so 
completely plated Avith these metals, as to 
defy scrutiny, and from the thickness of gos¬ 
samer, to a solid crust. Counterfeiters are 
availing themselves of this process in produ¬ 
cing base coin. 
Photography. — The astonishing im¬ 
provements in the DagueiTcian Art, Avhich 
ai-e made from time to time and brought 
before the public, is beyond any precedent 
in the arts and sciences A new discovery 
in photography has just been perfected and 
brought out by tlie Messrs. Lanqenheim, of 
Philadelpliia. It is called “Talbotype,” 
in honor of the individual Avho first sugges¬ 
ted it By this method images are taken 
upon paper, glass, wood, or any other solid 
material, and the proprietors assert it will 
remain immutably fixed upon the base for¬ 
ever. The truth of this, time alone can 
attest Wliile in Philadelphia a few weeks 
since, we Avere kindly shoAvn by a friend 
several specimens of Talbotype, taken upon 
a coai-se sheet of Avriting paper, and, for 
correctness of delineation and beauty of ex- 
preasion, we never saAV their equal. The 
modus operandi still remains sub rosa, and 
the secret is only knoAvn to the proprietors. 
In our opinion it will ultimately entirely 
supercede the present mode of daguerreo- 
typing._ _ _ * 
Marble Cement. —Take plaster of Paris 
and soak in a saturated solution of alum; 
then bake the two in an oven, the same as 
gypsum is baked, to make the phuster of 
Palis; after which they are ground to pow¬ 
der. It is then used as wanted, being mixed 
up Avith water, like plaster, and applied. It 
sets into a very hard composition, capable of 
taking a very liigh polish. It may be mixed 
Avith A'arious coloring minerals to produce a 
cement of any color capable of imitating 
marble. Tills is a yery rare receipt. 
“IMPORTANT DISCOVERY IN VENTILATION.” 
An article Avith this heading, from the 
London Literaiy Gazette, Is going the rounds 
of the papers, and has been published, with¬ 
out comment, in ever)' paper of any note in 
the Union. It is no neiv discovery at all, and 
entirely false in its premises; as the action is 
not attributable to the inverted syphon. 
That a syphon inverted, or not, should have 
any action in a quiet uniform medium, is 
absurd. If the long leg entered a lighter 
fluid, and the short one Avas pressed by a 
heaAier or more dense one, the action Avould 
be philosophical. The same action should 
take place according to the Avritei-s reasoning, 
if it Avas placed entirely under Avater, and in 
both cases would create the power required 
for producing that incarnation of impos-sibil- 
ities, perpetual motion. 
It Is true that the effect is produced as 
stated, but the iiwerted syphon is as innocent 
of being the agent, as the AA'riter is of giving 
the true action. Any shaped tube when 
elevated in the air—the common chimney 
flues and stoA'c pipes AA'hen left open—con¬ 
stantly carries on this “mysterious” action 
of ventilation, which so “puzzles his philoso¬ 
phy.” It is not attributable to the long or 
short leg of the syphon, or to the action of 
the syphon at all, but simply to the currents 
of air, passing OA'er the top of any elevated 
tube, decreasing the pressure of the atmos¬ 
phere, Avhile the lower end, being in a state 
of quiet, rushes up to relieve the A'acuum 
and consequently ventilates the chamber. 
This fiict is illustrated by a vciy common 
and simple experiment Insert a glass tube, 
of a quarter or half inch calibre into a dish of 
Avater, and with a pair of belloAvs, project a 
current of air over its top, at right angles to 
its lengih, and the Avater will rise in propor¬ 
tion to the strength of the current Every 
one knows AA'ith Avhat increased action, fires 
of the chimney and stoA'e burn dui-ing gales 
of Avind, simply caused by the storm passing 
OA'er its top. 
The writer’s “philosopy is puzzled” by this 
action, compared with its operation in cariy- 
ing Avater, or other fluids; he does not take 
into consideration, that the syphon in the 
ordinaiy process of drawing off fluids, is 
acting in two different mediums, one a thou¬ 
sand times as heaAy as the other. In all cases 
and shapes of a ventilating tube, Avhether a 
syphon or otherwise, in a perfect calm, there 
Is no action at all, except in sudden changes 
of temperature and then it is liable to be 
reversed and force air into the room, as is 
experienced by the smell of soot, during the 
summer months. 
To RENEW OLD AND WORN FiLES.—The 
following recipe has been selling about the 
county for $5 as a secret:—Take half a 
pound of sulphuric acid, (oil A'itriol) add one 
pint of soft water in an earthen or glass ves¬ 
sel, A'ery sloAvly, or it will inflame. Put in 
the files and heat to about the scalding point 
Keep them in from five to ten minutes, ac¬ 
cording to their coarseness. Wash in strong 
ley or saleratus Avater, rinse off—diy, and oil. 
The explanation of this operation is, that 
the acid has two sides of each tooth of the 
file to corrode and only one point. It cre¬ 
ates a species of sharpness about like a file 
half worh. We hav'e tried it. 
SUSPENSION BRIDGE. 
The Congregational Journal, N. H., remarks: 
“ Mr. Ammi White, of this town, has invented 
what ho and many 'scientific mechanics think will 
be a substitute for the wire cable. By dowelling 
boards together, making them overlap each other 
in the construction of the pile, and then fastening 
them with spikes, ho forms a body of any length, 
and a.s incapable of divulsion as a tree. Ho has 
made a model 500 feet long and six inches square, 
and elevated 20 feet, which has borne the weight 
of above five tons, and is capable, in the judgment 
of Mr. White, of bearing 20 tons. Like wire ca¬ 
bles, these AA’ooden ones are to bo fastened to firm 
abutments, and then thrown across rivers over 
which suspension bridges are to be erected. The 
best of the wooden cables will not cost more than 
one-eighth of those of wire, and Avill bo stronger as 
well as cheaper. Mr. YVhite’s inventien is worthy 
of close examination, and if it proves to be what 
he anticipates, it is a fortune to the ingenious me¬ 
chanic, as we hope it will be.” 
Remarks.—W e doubt the success of the 
use of wood for stringei's for suspension 
bridges. We are atvare of the great strength 
of the woody fibre, and the great tension it 
Avill resist when applied endivise. A rope 
is but a bundle of Avoody fibres, twisted to- 
o-ether, to connect them in a common mass, 
and Avould ansAver all purposes for bridge.s, 
if they were made large enough and could 
be preserved from decay. In case of Mr. 
White’s project, the final strength of his 
combination of slips, on boards, must entirely 
depend upon the dowels and spikes that 
confine them together. The project is fal¬ 
lacious, and Avill not succeed. 
ORGANS AND FUNCTION OF DIGESTION. 
Explanation of the Cut .—This cut shows the rel¬ 
ative size, form and position of the digestive organs. 
The liver is raised fVom its natural position, in order 
to show the gall bladder and ducts. The small in¬ 
testine is folded in a more uniform manner than when 
in its natural position, in order to show the relative 
length of itself to the large intc.stine. 
AI. The mouth, showing the tongue and half 
arches of the palate. 
E. ^Esophagus, uniting the stomach and mouth. 
S. Stomach, united by its small end to the du¬ 
odenum,— the end of the small bowel. 
I. lllium, or small intestine'. 
L. Liver, showing its concave surface. 
G. Gall bladder. 
D. Mouths of the bile and pancreatic duct, com¬ 
ing from the liver and pancreas. 
P. Sphincter muscles, at the end of the bowels. 
B. Spleen, attached to the stomach. 
C. Colon, or large intestine in natural form. 
R. Rectum, or end of the large bowel. 
A. Pancreas, bcliind the stomach. 
The digestive apparatus consists of many 
different organs, only part of AA'bich can be 
described here. The stomach is a somewhat 
pear-shaped hollow sac, l}dng across the ab¬ 
domen, connected at its large end to the 
mouth, by a muscular tube called the 
cesophagtts, or meat-pipe. The Avails of the 
stomach are thin, and composed of three 
layers or coats, A'iz: an outside membranous, 
a middle muscular, and an inside mucus 
coat The boicels or intestines, consist of 
a tube composed of three coats like the 
stomach; they are smallest Avhere they join 
the stomach, and largest at the other ex¬ 
tremity, and usually about four or five times 
the leng-th of the body. The liver is a solid 
reddish gland, AA'eighing in the adult from 
three to five pounds, and suspended in the 
abdomen, in contact Avith the diaphragm or 
midriff, and the small end of the stomach, 
and connected by vessels to the bowels: the 
principal function of the liver is to form the 
bile. The gall bladder is a small pear 
formed sac, from two to four inches in 
length, and one in diameter; it is attached 
to the under surface of the liver; it serves 
as a reservoir for a part of the bile, w'hile 
the remainder passes on from the liver into 
the small intestine near the stomach. The 
sftleen is a reddish gland-like body, about 
four inches long and tAvo in breadth, lying 
on the left side of the stomach and attached 
to it by vessels. It is supposed to assist in 
digestion, or to seiwe as a reserv'oir for the 
blood of the vessels of the stomach. The 
jyancreas, is a greyish gland, four or fiA'e 
inches long and two in breadth, lying behind 
the stomach and connected by a duct to the 
small intestine at the same place AA'here the 
bile duct enters it This organ furnishes a 
fluid Avhich assists in the digestion of the 
oily part of the food. The viscera or organs, 
both of the chest and abdomen, are coA'ered 
by a thin delicate membrane, Avhich in the 
healthy condition, is slightly moistened, to 
prevent friction and enable the parts to glide 
smoothly over each other during their own 
movements, or those of the body. They 
are all abundantly supplied Avith veins, ar¬ 
teries and nerves, and are retained in their 
position by ligaments, vessels and the walls 
of the body. 
Digestion comprises all the changes which 
food undergoes from the time it is taken into 
the mouth, until it is converted into arterial 
blood. The first act of digestion is mastica¬ 
tion or chewing; the presence of food excites 
a flow of saliA'a from the glands of the mouth, 
which mingles with it and prepares it for 
SAvallowing. When the food is thus prepared 
there is an involuntary desire to swallow,— 
the muscles of the throat contract and the 
mass is forced dow'n the oesophagus into the 
stomach. M’hen it arriA'es there it mingles 
Avith a fluid called the gastric juice, Avhich is 
poured into the stom:ich from the mouth 
of numerous vessels all over its surface.— 
By a gentle and Constant contractile motion 
of the stomach, the fixid becomes intimately 
mixed AA'itli the gastric juice and dissolved, 
so as to form a gray pulpy mass called 
chyme, Avhicli passes out of the stomach, in 
from tAvo to six hours after eating—the time 
varying according t<; the kind of food taken, 
and tlie liealth and activity of the digestive 
organs. A fcAV inches below the .stomach 
in the small intestine, the chyme nuHits AV'ith 
the bile and pancreatic juice, AA'bich are 
poured in by the cominom duct to assist in 
the process of digestion. The chyme passes 
along the bowels by means of the same con¬ 
tractile motion which takes place in the 
stomach, until it is thoroughly mixed Avith 
the fluids of the inte.stines, when it is fit to 
be absorbed and carried into the general 
circulation. The nutritive part is alisorbed 
by the* mouths of the lacteal vessels and 
collected together into a small canal, called 
the thoracic duct; in this state it is a milky 
fluid called cAy/e,—this passes through the 
duct along up the spine until it arrives at a 
vein just under the left collar bone, Avhere it 
mixes Avith the dark or venous blood:— 
When this blood passes through the lungs 
and becomes artcrialized or purified by the 
air AA'hich is inspired, digestion is complet¬ 
ed ; the food is noAv transformed into arterial 
blood, Avhich is capable of being organized 
into the various tissues of the body. The 
process of digestion, then, is finished in the 
lungs. The digestion of fluids takes place 
mostly from the surface of the stomach alone. 
Drinks of whatever kind, are absorbcAd by 
the vessels of the stomach, carried into the 
general circulating system, and eliminted 
from the body by the kidneys and skin, in 
the form of urine and perspiration. 
It must be apparent to every person on 
reflection, that the food must contain all the 
elements which exist in the body, or it is unfit 
for the formation of the varioius tissues, viz: 
flesh, bone, fat, hair, nails, cfec. To obtain 
this end a mixed diet of animal and vegeta¬ 
ble substances should be used. The whole 
organization of man, shoAvs him to be a 
carniA'orous being. The structure of the 
stomach, bowels, jaAvs and teeth combines the 
properties of both caniiA'orous and herbivor¬ 
ous animals. We learn also by the result 
of experiment, that man can exist on a mixed 
diet alone; all attempis at subsisting on an 
exclusively animal or vegetable diet, haAung 
failed, or been productive of impaired or 
ruined health. M. M. Rodger.s, M. D. 
Rochester, December, 1849. 
PURCHASING PATENT RIGHTS. 
It will be Avell for those Avho have occa¬ 
sion to purchase a patent right, to bear in 
mind the difference between an assignment 
of an invention, and a mere license to use 
the invention. To assign im invention, is 
to transfer ones right to the same, either fully 
and absolutely, — or for a limited time or 
place or both. But to license the use of an 
iuA'ention, is merely alloAving a party to use 
the same in common Avith the patentee and 
others deriving title from him. 
Assignments must be recorded, otherwise 
they do not prejudice a bona-fide purchaser 
of the invention Avithout notice of the as- 
sigTinient But licenses need not be record¬ 
ed. So that he who contemplates buying a 
patent right, AviU hunt in vain among the 
records of the Patent Office in order to 
ascertain Avhether any licenses to use the 
inventimi have been sold by the patentee 
or others having the right to sell them.— 
And yet the value of a patent right may be 
seriously impaired by granting of a license 
to use it. '•'=^ 5 ©^ 
The purchaser of a patent right, therefore, 
Avill make diligent inquiry in respect to all 
antecedent contracts in reference to the same. 
Othei'Avise, he may say like the perplexed 
and baffled Macbeth, 
“ Come, let me clutch thee, 
I see thee still, and yet I have theojnot.” 
Neav Art.—T he Ncav York Herald says, 
there Avas amongst other specimens of lith¬ 
ography, at the Institute, a neAV method of 
producing impressions from stone, similar in 
appearance to the mezzotint engravings of 
our best modern schools—the inA'ention of 
Mr. Burton, Avho has made lithography his 
study for the last tAventy-eight years. Fine 
effects may CA'cntually be brought out on a 
large scale, in this new style, from its capa¬ 
bility of great force and masterly touches, 
especially in the fore-ground; but the prin¬ 
cipal advantage seems to be the short time 
requisite for this production, being executed 
in one-fourth the time of an engraving. 
Little can be done well to Avhich the 
whole mind Is not applied. 
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