Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1844-06-22
Hatching Machine.

Hatchins Machine.
A correspondent of the Boston Post thus de-
scribes the Machine for Matching chickens, in
New York
"Among the novelties now striving TO ar.
rest attention is the Eccaeobion, or Ilatching
Machine. Its imposing name is derived
from two Greek words, signiiyng 81 bring
forth life" 1t is about as large as bureau, con-
sisting Of series of small ovens, warmed by
pipes conveying steam. The uniformity of
temperature prevents the possibility of added
eggs, which are produced by variations from
heat to cod, occasioned by the hens unsteady
performance of her domestic duties. | felt some
resistance to this substitution of machinery for
mothers; and if were hen, would get
protest against being thus thrust aside from the
uses of creation. This is an ultimate form of
the mechanical spirit of the age, wherein men
! construct artificial memories. and teach Urnm.
mar ny machine, IN which the active verb
is little hammer pounding on the objective
case.
But what is the use of quarrelling with it
Does not the Eccaleobian hatch with perfect cer-
tainty every egg that is not stale or imperfect!
Docs it not turn out fifty chickens a day, or
twenty thousand year And will not this re-
duce the price of poultry to the hearts con-
tent Of the epicure!
These machines are sold at Sl20, and S75
is charged for one of half the capacity of pro-
duction above described. Some of the farmers
in Jersey and Long Island are investing capital
in this way, with the expectation of profit.
The chickens thus hatched almost invaria-
bly, live, and seem healthy and lively. When
co1 they run into little holes under the ovens
The hard, silent box seemed to me a poor sub
stitu,e for mothers heart-warmtb, and the
friendly, cluckng voice, which gathers them
under her brooding wings. But the little
things seemed well contcnted with their lot,
never having known anything better Those
q few weeks DID, though plump and thriving
have rather loaferish look, as if their mo.
theirs didn't know they were out, and conse-
guently had not washed their faces, or comb
ed their feathers The older ones sometimes
take to brooding the newly hstched, who run
after them with great eagerness, and strive
with each other to obtain their caressee. There
is something quite affecting in this relation be-
tween the bereaved orphans and their elder
sisters.
This American machine is doubtless a great
improvement upon the famous Egyptian NAM
mails, or Matching ovens, and upon the Chinese
method of using up the men, by having them
sit; day after day, on nests of eggs, covered with
feather cushions. 1t is a pity, though, that the
demagogues and ofice-seekers of this country
couldn't be usefully employed. II a tythe of
them were to turn their attention that way,
there would be a rapid dimnution in the price
OF poultry.
The exhibition OF the Eccaleobion is princi.
pally interesting from the opportunity it afford
to watch the progressive development Of animal
life, from the first little white spec in which
floats the embryo chicken, TO the final prtJec.
tion of the beak through the shell, which it has
broken by vigorous pecking at lie prison walls
The only thing in which took real pleasure
} however was in watching the frs, pulsatior
ofthe heart, which becomes observable on the
: third day.--Though no bigger than PIN,
head, II works with the ylgor and precision o
steam engine.