New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-01-07
The Atmosphere, and Its Effects upon Animal
Life.
By JOHN II. GRIscoM, NJ. D.

By JOHN III. GRISCOM, NJ ID.
On Tuesday night, DR.. JOIN II. GRiscoa
delivered lecture the Mechanics Institute, the
influence OF Air In connection with Animal Life
The lecturer commenced by saying that he supposed
some Of them would be surprised TO hear that they iy
ed at the bottom of immense ocean of air fifty miles
deep yet 1t 60 and the color of this ocean, which
/. called the atmosphere, is deep ceruean blue. To
perceive this color ii necessary 10 be able to see at
once the whole volume and also on calm and clear
day for no. color could be perceived n seen in small
quantities, that there either wind or hasness.
In like manner the color Of water could not be seen in
small quantities, and was only perceptibe where there
was vast expanse OF ocean The air was ALEC sub
stance capable of condensation and expansion. It's ex
pension was seen in the winds, by which ships were
made TO traverse the ocean, and also in windmis
The tornado was another phase Of It's expansion, by
which uprooted and houses overturned, and
almost equal to the power OF steam The greatest
weight of the atmosphere was fifteen pounds to the
square inch, and this weight presses on every
way, both upward and downward To explain
the pressure upwards the Lecturer exhausted the air
cut of large vase which then remained fast TO the
plate on which stood but the air being let in It
was easily removed remember, said he, asking the
question if there pressure of fifteen pounds 10 the
square lncn, the reason why we "ttc nut Ut onSS
crushed by the weight; but this is, as | before ex
planned, because the air presses in all directions with
: the same force and hence there is equilibrium
This Is most important element, and one which re-
qure to be known and also tina, the air presses
more than fifteen pounds to the square inch. The
tornado is produced by sudden heat in any one par.
ticular place which causes the air TO expand, and
leaves behind it Vacuum and is the air rushing 70
a. tbaf tho wind- and tOrna
does but yet air never presses with than fifteen
pounds to the square inch and ii is only the velocity
with which the body of air that its force
and no, by any increase Of its gravity or power The
next quality of the air Is elasticity Press 1t 90 as TO
make il occupy smaller space than ii otherwise
would, and then take away the weight and il come.
back and occupies its original space. This the Lee
turer explained by placing a bladder half hed with
air in a vase and then exhaustiDg the air from
the vase when the air in the bladder ex'
banded and the air being let in IT again contract
ed Water can also be condensed and expanded, and
there il any substance that does not contain wa
ter: and if this expansion was 10 be continued ON
great scale al air and water would 90 away, unless
fluids came supply the place OF what was exhausted
and but for this esh supply we could not I've AR Is
aso expanded by heat and is by the heating OF air
that there is to be new motive power WHICH II sue
cessfu will entirely supersede steam. new ship has
been built to sest this principle and in few days the
experiment will be made. | mention this to tell you
that il l. merely the heating Of air IN order that ~nen
you read description of it you may understand me
principle The lecturer then explained that In the az
there are Two gases one oxygen, which that part Of
the atmosphere by which chiefly we live, and waicn
the one 18th part and the other nitrogen, which Is
four fths Of the atmosphere If the oxygen was s'os
tie atmosphere cur lives would wear out In very
short time Tie other Il Of advantage, that we have
yet discovered but correct the effects OF the ca;
gen and prevent il burua. cut TOO soon. ia cani-
is put into a vessel OF pure oxygen would DUE
Gu, q, once, and steel wire would eoasame N
as es.y and speedily as cotton thread in the common
air Oxygen supports life, snd combustion and Saro.
gen restraints it. effects and dulls fs operAon- ana
hi. ia the only effect which the latter has II asked
how /. thi, or WHY Is IT, we cannot explnn, bm Ne
know both are necessary and mixed in the proper pro
portion for sustaining life The lee urer then explained