The New York herald., 1850-08-21
The An, er,can Scientific Convention.


The Am nerican Scientific Convention.
OUR NEW HAvIN CORRESPONDENCE.
NEw HAVEN, August 10, 1850.
Effects Of Lightning, &c.
In the convention to-day, Professor HsSxr gave an
account Of experiments proving that electricity
along the surface in of thock-a needle coil
of wire in the interior of gun barrel remaining uu-
magnetized, while the exterior was magnetised
He had made many ex periments showing the disper-
sive action of the passing and its track by the
magnetizng Of needles placed upon pasteboard disk.
He thought that the phenomena could proved to be
owing to high degree Of repulsion ia the particles
electrified by the passing spark.
with respect to the remarks Of Professor Olmsted,
Professor Looms said that 1t generally the case
that those trees which have sap conduct the light
ming most. Trees with little zap are more shattered
than those which have much.
Professor BRocKLEsLS unmarked that no had the
good fortune II such he might call It, to be in tho
meeting house alluded TO by Professor 0lmsted at tho
time it struck by lightning. QLaughter) He
then described the effect IL had OF threwing up the
mud several feet high and the grass to some
length, and about six inches In breadth. There
singular circumstance connected with this phenomena
person was standing in his shop some seventy five
yards distant from the meeting house. surrounded by
various articles aud he felt the shock going through
him: and many Of the inhabitants said at the time OF
the shock that they bah OF re descending upon
The building: and the air SLED with nre.
Mr. W. @. REpFIELD observed, that en- occasion OF
dischsrgs of lightning In frsnt OF St. Pauls Church
New York there tree which separated the charge
IL then left the tree and won't ON to the iron rails In
front OF the church.
Professor BAcHg, the President stated tina. all the
phenomena which he had read or observed in regard
20 the effect the electrical shock on bodies could bo
explained by tho high refulson Of the pars, and by
the action on tho sids Of least resistance TO
equilibrium took place, he had hopes that Professor
Henry would have described the numerous expsri-
ID epts which he had made. In oue case observed By
himself signs OF fusion exhibited In theodalie
placed upon wooden stand, below tripod used a.
signal in the coast survey. the tripod having been
struck by lightning AT the distance Of an eigh of
mile q man standing with his hand q crowbu that
thrust into the ronnd received at the time OF the
striking NJ the tripod very severe shock The ques
tion Of what Kind Of trees most liable to be struck
was dihcut In a journey made under favorable cir
many In the facts In regard to this Que
tiop, that though alter two days OF observation, he
a three weeks Journey, mono could be framed The
difficulty n inferipg the direction OF forces from
cursery sHsmipatop OF the direction In which objects
are thrown, was very great salute from Ringsolds
battery cred the Capitol had broken ths glass
in the windows and the fragments had all fallen out
DIR. r. A GovLD said that he vas informed by DR.
Boyd, Of fPhiadephia that the occasion Of shock
ofightnipg he examined several panes OF glass which
had been shattered and found that every Of them
tell the outside professor In Germany had late
~ visited telegraph line which had been struck BY
lshtnng; i, struck very near the station hous vhsrs
the kseper knocked down, and rendered sensesss
| for many hours at about a mile distant another
| keeper knocked down, and ELK electrical posts
| showed their n arks; every OF them spiral
line from the top Of the pest 10 the ground
Professor AaAnsir, 10 his comparison OF the sse OF
Afhes with that OF other vertebrate, drew figures Of
sseh the exhibition board and created some laugh
tor throughout the meetios He ssid there was no
one who bas not been led some time or other, when
looking at the face Of friend to see resemblance
tetwssn IL and some animal lie had seen such re-
ssmbapce and IL had led him 10 make enquiriss why
| nvaafo Hejwas satishsd that such thing exists,
and the unity which exists between all classes OF YER
tebsss shows that there mus, be foundation tor
such rssemb blance. We ind one common structure Of
the face In general Fishes ss clsss. rank the low
est - vertebrate; there ere reeuliariuss In them
| which are not observed In any othsr-the fins, the
movesble regions shout the eye and the movable
gions ofths lover jsv, 40 Nc. The issrned profes
then described certain pseusrites In the fOrms
ton Of nshes, aud illustrated them BY drawings.
Nr~ H.v,-, Tuesday, Aug. 20, 1850
ia, .7meeer .fsocsiior r ne .sd~sn>e-ert Of Science
"a vi-a 10 u, k.rersss and Geological cssi.,, II
Ysk Cel,ss-.4. RxrssrS.rsrp M>fesr-71> L,srs-
| rSss-7z Tonfrs Hotel.
The American Association for the Amusement Of
Science met again this morning at Tale College ssd
IL Is undsr,tood that the business Of the convention
will occupy the whole Of this week Al little sfes
nine O'Clock Professor Bschs the president took the
chair. The hall was fully attended Amongst the su-
dienee there were rrest many ladies, who seemed "
take considerable interest In the scientific proceeang
The President announced that II would be de.irsbls
for members give abstract In writing to the See
retary, Of their observations.
JvL. Pruyn, ESQ., Of the city Of Albasy, invited
the Association TO select that city their plscs
Of meeting ON behalf Of the citizens Of Albany hs
assured them that they you'd meet With every vel
come and accommodation Referred 10 Standing Com.
mittse.
| The minutes Of the Standing Committees meeting
we're read They recommended that the Assoclssios
divide into two sections for geology and nstura,
history and the other for physics msshemsties and
chemistry This Recommendation asreed TO.
Professor Rogers Of Boston, reported that tb. Gen
mite, on Tickets and Fees recommended ths appoint
ment cf secretary to hold his once for thrss years
- sslasy Of $500 per annpm. Referred 10 Standing
Gem nittee
rhs section Of physics. mathematics, and chemistry,
Professor II. Rogers then moved 10 the chair,
70 prsde ever the section ef geology aud natural his
tosy asd Professor Hubbard Doctor B.rnest v.es
! requested 10 act ss principal secretaries
Professor Ags~ss then oommenced ed oral expisna.
ton OF The uo-th 81 the egg prior 10 the dsvelops
Professor o. p. Hubbard addressed the mse,lur on
rattle In quarts. aud other minerals
a, he nature and sss oa ,ss ssas,. ~
m .lluses. In the Isisnd 81 Jsmsica. He SAID
Notwithstanding tss dnacuty OF explorations In tro-
pcs regions the Island of Jsnaica presents rsmsrt-
sbls facilities for the Investigation ef subjects which
connected With the geographical distribution Of
,.,rrs,ri.i sbsIls an, in IN. r-srosisa os mos. of
them. tsversly. to very nsuss limits. ve Ind the
fssts even more NUMEROUS tbsn thoss vhich
vbsis temperate sone On the nature of the speses.
The arst conclusion s this that In many gvoups the
-. 4S,. By s', .sS no, y
by hsufe IN which species usrs rsprsseatei By
csrees nspy q -bich we're Ia costAet, ssa whose
srsss v'r' 'rsishis rssnisriy -iiA ios, rseseseot