The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-23
From The Neo York Euening Post.
The Scientific Convention.
NEW HAVEN, August

An annual meeting Of the American Convention
for the Advancement of Science is in session at the
college in this city. Ii was organized about two
o'c lock to. day. On motion of Professor Siiman,
Professor Bache took the chair; and the pres
ident then nominate Professor Looms, DIR. Gould
and VIM. p Blake to assist the regular secretary,
MIR. Herrick. Professor Woolsey opened the pro.
ceedings with prayer.
Among the most notable men OF science present
were-Professor Agassiz, Drs. Joseph Henry, w.
c. Redfed, Denison Olmsead, O. M. Mitchell,
Charles H. Davis, A. ID. Bache, Professor Horsiord
Benjamin Pierce, James ID. Dana, &c &c. They
are altogether highly respectable and intelligent
looking set of men, as full of scientific facts, evil
IDENTIFY, an egg is Of meat, and ready and eager
to communicate what they know to an admiring
world.
who discussed at length certain points of electrical
theory, which he illustrated by large number of
incidents drawn from his own observations. His
subject considered under five divisions: LIST, as
10 the expansion of air produced by an electrical
discharge; 3D. the effect Of mass in its connexon
with conducting surface; Sd, the division of the
electric charge between several different conduct
ors; 4th, the return stroke, as il has been caled
5h, the relation OF lightning TO trees. There were
so many facts stated in the course of this paper,
that il would be quite impossible for Inc TO convey
them to your readers. did not discover, however,
that any new principles were announced.
A kindred subject was subsequently treated by
Professor Looms, who rema rked that many houses
in New York had been lately found to be highly
electrical. They so highly charged sometimes
he said, that they emit sparks which snap. Even
the occupants partake of the general condition. anc
when approached, give their friends shocks. Ladies
when they kissed each other, saluted by
| spark. This play upon words elected great des
| of laughter If the hand were brought near TO tn
knob of a door, mirror, the water gas pipes, o
| any other metallic body, il would be shocked. Tn
lady OF one house, in approaching the speaking
tube To give orders to the servants received a YER
unpleasant shock in the mouth, and was very muc
annoyed by the electricity, until she first lcarnc
! to touch the tube with her finger. In passing
from parlor to the other if she CHANGED 10 ste
upon the brass plate, which a Glide for th
folding doors, she received an unpleasant shock il
| the foot.
| These phenomena, he continued, were not con
| fined 10 any one house, but had been noticed il
several to the great surprise of their inhabitants
/ The Professor accounted for them by supposine
that the electricity incitcd by the friction o
shoes upon the carpets. Leather and woollcn cloth
when rubbed, produce electricity, and any persoI
/ by stepping once or twice across a carpcted room
/ becomes highly charged. lie confirmed his yicwi
/ by quoting from the Philosophical Magazine anc
/ -jmeican Journal Of Science. When he had closed
Professor Sillman related an instance where, OT
! the return home Of navy officer, be met viii
! the affection Of fond wife, and he experienced
shock Of electricity. IL proved that she il
state Of electrical excitement, and 50 corsi
ill her death, which occurred Ia short time sub
! scquent 10 her husbands return.
In the course fthe day, Professor Agu-siz enter
! tanned the company by a discussion of several Gu
! rious analogies which he had discovered between
fishes and men, particularly in their oountenances
/ His remarks, which were exceedingly interesting
! produced at times considerable mcrnment H
| was followed by the younger Siliman, who read
paper on certain spheroidal structures in rocks,