The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-09-03
Scientific Convention,

| pay when we can.
| Scientific Convention.
| The Scientific Convention held its session this
year at New Haven. The deliberations Of this
body are attracting more attention every year. In
fact, physical science has received a new impetus
from this association In the closet of the student
at the table of tue mathematician, in the laboratory
and the observatory, in the field and the cave,
the principle of associated labor manfests its eff
cacy. To make pin or detect the velocity of star,
or discover new world, there must be part
nership of toll pleasure and reward. These an
nua meetings are rich with the gifts which the
votaries Of science bring to her affairs. The
Northern papers devote columns TO the publication
of their proceedings. Prof Agassiz has been
elected President Prof Page explained his dis
discoveries in Eectro-Magnetsm. In regard to
the expense of the power, he said its re-
markable cheapness had been matter of surprise
even to himself. His present estimation is, that
20 cents per day will be the cost Of horsepower
that is provided the principle can be made to work
for so long period as twenty-four hours uninter-
ruptedly. He had succeeded in operating ma
chine of four-horse power three hours, but was as
yet dubious Of the continued power of the battery,
which is liable to attain its maximum at about this
period, and then decrease in similar ratio. DR..
Page announced that he should again make the ex-
periments upon which these conclusions are
founded particularly as those instituted at Wash
ington had been hastily concluded, in anticipation
of the adjournment of Congress- He will observe
closely all the relations of the discovery to other
known principles and hoped to be able to attain
yet greater results The discovery is most i'm
pOrtant one, and may well arrest the attention of
the scientific world less than Of the mechanical
interests of our country whom it so nearly con-
Germs.
The committee appointed to report on the expe-
dieney of adopting an g American Prime Meri.
dian, adopt the recommendation OF Mr. Stanton,
through his report in the House of Representatives
that the Greenwich zero of longtudes should be
preserved for the convenience Of navigators, and
that the meridian of the National Observatory
| should be adopted by the authority of Congress
as its first meridian on this Continent for defining
accurately and permanently territorial limits, and
for advancing the Science of Astronomy in
| America.
The Committee on the subject of Uniform
Standard OF Weights and Measures" being called
| upon for its report, the Chairman, Prof Henry,
| stated that the Committee had had the matter un.
der consideration, and had prepared Circular Let
ter, asking the opinion OF distinguished scientific
men in our own and other countries. This circular
had been published, and would be submitted to the
| Association before the close of the session. No
further definite action than this has been taken in
| this matter.
Aceoa7,t of Sons Experiments on HE Cause OF
Feraentattoh.-Th experiments and observations
on Fermentation here communicated by Mr.. Erni
were made in the course OF the year lS47, in the
Chemical Laboratory of Zurich. Their publica-
ton has been deferred because Mr. E, left Switzer-
| land before they were extended and perfected so
much he had desired 1t is well known among
chemists that notwithstanding the voluminous
| writings on Fermentation, we yet know very little
| Of its original cause, and no one Of the theories
advanced is competent to the full explanation of the
facts known at present. II is doubtless true that
in this process by the action of the so.caed fer
| ment, organic bodies of complex composition such
| as sugar, ETC., are decomposed into simpler sub
| stances
| Mr.. Ennis investigations thus far led him to the
conclusion h,ot aicOjtolic fermentation is CEASED
By tile deoelopeD1eRt Of tie Fnngi.
| Eeideaees Of Vegetable Life IN SmlpAmic
Aeid.-Prol. Horsford made few remarks in cor
| roboTahon OF some statements by Mr.. L. S. Hunt
OF the Canadian Geological Commission in relation
to the occurrence OF microscopic vegetable organ
| lsms IN the snlphurlc acid springs of Canada He
had observed light colored deposit in the bottoms
oil bottles OF water from the Oak Orchard Acid
| Springs OF Western New York and had submitted
L.
| Bowditch OF the Cambridge Laboratory This
gentleman prepared drawings exhibiting the struc
| ture as revealed by the microscope, which were
submitted to Prof. Gray, who pronounced them to
be imperfectly developed vegetable organisms.
| Electrical Phenomena t1 Netc York-Professor
| LOOMS remarked that many houses in NewYork
had been lately found to be highly electrical They
are so highly charged sometimes he said, that they
| emit sparks which snap. Even the occupants par,
take Of the general condition. and when approached
give their friends shocks Ladies, when they kissed
each other, were saluted by shock. This play
upon words ELECTED a great deal of laughter. Il
| the hand were brought near 10 the knob of door,
1t would be shocked. The lady of house in
approaching the speaking tube TO give orders to the
servants, received u very unpleasant shock in the
mouth, and was very much annoyed by the cleo
Iicity, until she learned first to touch the tube with
ner hnger In passing from one paror to the other,
II she CHANGED to step upon the brass plate, which
served slide for the folding doors she received
an unpleasant shock in the foot. These phenomena,
ne continued were not confined to any one house,
Du' hau been noticed in several, to the grent sur
PRISE OF their inhabitants. The Professor account
Gu LOT tneih by supposlng that the electricity was
ihcilea by the friction of shoes upon the carpets.
Leather and WOODEN cloth, when rubbed, produce
eleetfieity' ana any person, by stepping once or
twlce across a carpeted room, becomes highly
charged He confirmed his views by quoting
from the philosophical Magazine, and American
/ -NNNta'Nf
Silliman related instance where, on the return
home of a navy offices, he met with the affection
of a fond wife and he experienced a shock of elrr
tricity II proved that she was in a state Of
electrical excitement and continued till her death
which occurred short time subsequent to her hus
bands return.
AT one time an attempt was made to enlist reli
gon against science. We need not go back to tn,
time OF Calico In our day, geology and astron
E omy were iereely assaed, it Nature could con
. uadiet the words OF inspiration. Fortunately, tina
5 aay oil bigotry is gone--lhe records which He la
written IN the Heavens and on the Earth cannot b
erased by ecclesiastical anathemas.
Inc plons man. better informed, now finds
nat what be views of beautiful or grand
r. b th IRON ~ the broad majestic oak
N | aio sieSn plaue that wrinkles in the sun.
- i"mpS Wlth fellembranee Of present Col
Natural religion is the strongest suppoTtsr Of 70
i vealed religion. And the discoveries Of ,,,oJor,
science, though they disprove the literal version .
the mosaic account, prove the existence of God
|. Omnscence and omnipotence
v Mrs. Howard is truly gem.--LOuisuiHc Cou,,a,
I | paachas q - a hnpJsnt IN C;,,.;,s.s