The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-19

LECTURE UPON THE sUBJECT OF WATER, BY PRO
SILLIAAN.

LECTURE UPON THE SUBJECT OF WATER, BY PRO-
fEssOR sILLIAAN.
Professor Sllman delivered q lecture upon the
above subject last Thursday evening, at the Brook
Ign Institute, before very large audience. On the
two preceding evenings, the lecturer remarked, he
addressed the audience upon the subject Of volca-
noes and the internal fires of the EARTH and he
had to deal with water. The ancients selected
water as one of the elements; but modern science
had demonstrated it to be a compound and subject
to decomposition, frequent experiments, even in
our common schools, testified. Hydrogen and oxygen
are its elements. Hydrogen is the lightest body
known, while oxygen is a little heavier than the
atmosphere One of the most beautiful results Of
scientific experiments is that those elements which
can do us no harm are let at large, such as
diamonds, gold iron, and other minerals, VIII lie
poisons are restrained by the hand OF nature.
The gas which Eliminates our rooms Is nox-
ous to ventilation, and frequently produces results
the most fatal, in consequence of mixture with the
atmosphere, which it posons. The burning fluid so
extensively used is most dangerous article being
composed OF nothing but spirits Of turpentine and
alcohol, and people deceived by it. As the fluid
with which lamp may be filed is burned out, the
space it leaves is filled with explosive gases, and
highly nflammable, which become ignited by prox
unity to lighted candle and very often cause serious
consequences. As the fluid burns down, the air be-
comes impregnated with gas, and often draws the
flame from the wick into the body of the lamp. The
lecturer cautioned all against using this fluid lie
would sooner think of placing powder in the place
of salt upon his supper table, than this burning fluid
In describing the mining lamp invented by Sir
Humphrey Davy, he incidentally mentioned that a
lamp had recently been invented which he consider
ed perfectly safe The tube containing the Wick is
composed of wire gauze, which the flame cannot
penetrate and is therefore preferable to lamps
not provided with this safeguard. Simple as
it may appear water, continued the lecturer is the
! yno ayals
solves almost any substance it comes in contact with.
1t paltakes of the nature Of the land from which it
arises, and is therefore impure In a limestone
country it partakes of lime and those countries with
rich aluvial soil are generally unhealthy-take the
Southern States for example All fluids that man
can drink and use are composed principally OF water
even strong wines are composed OF three-quarteH
water; they have, however, more brandy III them
than wine. Brandy is one-half water 1t is impos-
sibe for any one to drink it in its strongest state
Small beer is ninetyfve parts water; blood, eight
tenths water; muscles, three-quarters water, and
even the gastric Juice, which dissolves our food
contains great proportion OF water. There is water
in everything. The lecturer instanced the case OF
who by accident lost one Of his ribs, leaving an
orifce which could never be healed up. The action
of the gastric juice in his stomach could easily be
Observed and it appeared that the fluid was only
formed as occasion required, and when it was
required. He procured some of the fluid from
this stomach to experiment upon, and found
that by placing it in wne-glass, at temperature
Of 1913 degrees, piece OF mutton would dissolve
in it about as fast as in human stomach. Wa
ter was not only the solvent Of all food, but
was also alimentary. When people are placed under
circumstances that they cannot obtain food, water
will sustain life twenty thirty, and even fifty days
All plants except resnOuS contain waterthe tear IN
the peach and plumb tree is no more than mixture
Of gum and water Thus, animal and vegetable sub
stances dependent upon water and food could not
digest without it. 1t is next in importance to air.
and as indispensa ble-just what is needed by men
animals and plants to sustain vitality. He advised
young men to abide by water, as it was the only
| thing that would tend to prolong life, give them
| clear minds, and vigorous old age Water covers
threefourths Of the globe; it rises in vapors,
forms into clouds, and again descends in refresh
hausted. II regulates the temperature, softens the
rgor Of cold and neutrazes the heat forms oceans,
and connects continents Great naves ride upon its
pillows, which, by the aid Of condensed vapor, make
/ distant countries near neighbors. AS motive
power, it is the cheapest mechanical agent, and
| tributes to the comfort and convenience of man.
There rivers deep in the bowels of the earth as
is proved by the artesan well at Paris which emts
large body of water liz feet above the surface from
depth OF 500 feet under ground The well at
Luxembourg another instance where water isforced
up from depth Of 5000 feet by subterranean
| pressure Water, in the form Of steam is fast
changing the nature OF things. Space is lessened,
| and dangers are diminished. The Atlantic compare
lively is now only thousand miles wide, in consc-
quence of this agency, which is entirely independent
of wind and current; and ships, bearing these small
volcanoes within them, dash along needless OF oppos-
ing winds adverse currents. The lecturer dwelt
upon the formation o. snow and ice, and described
aIpne glaciers Of Switzerland, when after refer
ring to excursion from the valley of Geneva the
valley Of Chamouna in that country, he closed amid
the appreciation OF the audience.