The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-09-07
duced BY The nductiye ation q an electrical discharge

oueeu ~ ne nductive Of electrical discharge
eE.s a. > series OF oscillations
=, - nding this general account Of an extended Sc
ie ~ experiments, which occupied considerable POI
mo, si my leisure ior anumber Of years II may nc
~ Ight iii that should give my opinion OF the pricuch
arng OF the results upon protection afforded ~ ths
lightning rod
during the passage OF explosive electrical discharge
through metallic rod any given point up
us surface is charged for ms ant with
succ eson Of plus ana minus waves aud that epnss.
quenty it erds to give of spark the intensity OF whin
will be in proportion to the suddenness and Intensity C
The explosion with which the discharge falls upon the
Iod. That lightning rods struck exposively provs1
by the the points frequently melted thou n
appears the intensity of the discharge much re
| duced when received upon point
have been in building on two occasions when tbs
lightning descended the rod and in both cases the time
Of the discharge prolonged and attended with hiss
ing d. think it probable that large number Of
pointed lightning rods in city tends considerably TO
mollly the severity OF the discharge.
had lately opportunity of observing the effect Of
tie lightning the rod of the principal tower OF the
Smiths oman building During of the most severe
storms have had this summer. and while there wa
short cessation the delugc of rain which FELL as
top Of the tower which the lightning
rod extended about ten feet The exhibition grand
in the The lightning appeared to be play IN
every direction amoa within reach the top OF the rod
constantly tipped with bright star, and AZ every
ash il gave OH Kissing noise.
Prof HARE made remarks on his theory with re
rrof NcCrIIocH moved tina. time be appointed for
Professor Hare to be heard the subject Carried.
The following papers were then read IN their order =
On the atomic weight OF tnium, by ]. W. MAIIEr, OF
Alabama
of the OF the simple substances OF
chemistry, Indicated by their atomc weights, by STE
On the modification Of Nuremberg's apparatus by
| about four or FIVE miputes, BY sANpKRsos SMITH
ON silorescence from brick masonry, by b. b. HUNT.
The next paper in order was
SOME rxrrsiMFNTs ON "yisrAI DrREcnoS'-sy
JOHN BRoCKIESBy, TRINITY COLLEGE, HARTFORD, CT.
Some years ago met with brief aiu.ion to the oxst
cree Of an Essay Sir Gle Vision,o published by Dr.
Woodhouse, in the /" Philosophical Magazine IN this
treatise 1t seems, the author endeavors to PROVE from
certain experiments and Psychological considerations, that
one eye wholly occupied with vision, while the other
nearly entirely passive Ny attention arrested
by this Inference, and, the essay with its detailed
peIments, not accessible, was led TO make somo
nvesueatohs upon this point and at others kindred TO IT,
These investigations and the conclusions to which theg
lead the subject OF the present paper Is well
known that il, while looking at remote object with both
eyes open, nterpose second at short distance from
u.s. The latter will appear double; the image formed by
the eye being towards the left hand and that
formed by towards the right hand the proximity
OF the images depending the magnitude Of the inter
posed body and its distance from the eyes As
not the time range both the separate images of
the object wth the remote one-aud yet mat
do way range objects thus situated
when both eyes are open-it follows that solution Of
this point touches the in question. In order TO
ascertain in what manner was enabled to range objects
at different distances by double vision nsti uted the
following personal experiments. How far the results
obtained are TO be regarded general will appear in the
Of tie Rasgs Of a Point near the Eyes cih an Object
less Remote.-K with both eye, open bring be-
fore me, beyond the limit OF distinct vision, small point
like that Of pencil and endcavor TO range with
object more or lees remote as he figure wall or the
/
appear that the image by right eye
diaely and Involuntary selected as that which ranges
if the lett eye Is closed the range still preserved but
If the tight eye CLOSED and the en remains OPEN the
the distant object Moreover it. reversing the expert
ment first bring the point and object in line with the
Tign. eye alsne the lief. being closed, |. is found
opep but that il the range is first taken with the
left eye only, and the objects are then viewed
point being seen 10 the left OF the remote object
These changes in visual direction marked when
the point is brought within the limit Of distinct vision ami
the second object few feet distant. Upon taking two
more points instead Of one, and ranging them with
some object at distance the results the
The optical effect, however, striking
than when one point used and the power OF the right
number material points placed behind
as 10 touch may be regarded As forming straight line,
prcn. the phenomena in respect to VISUAL direction
az point or any number OF points Experiment shows
this 10 be correct for up 70 ranging line as the
edge OF rule with q second object both eyes ;ing open
he range upon clorng the lett eye sull maintained,
but lost when the right alone is closed tue edg,
the last not being in the direction OF its length
but obleuely II also, as before, the range INST
taken whh The right eye II il preserved when both eyes
viewed with both eyes.
Ronse # a Surface If similar experiments 70 those
detailed made with surface OF small extent the
prevailing power Of the right eye control the vi
ual direction is still manifested, but i most s,rikngy
hb ted when several surfaces made TO range with
liked object. Thus, II number Of bright objects
taken as the flames OF several candles the ruling
OF the night nney revealed by ranging the
flames IN line NTH both eyes, and then beholding them
Bonse q Solid by the union Of numerous material
surfaces equal each 10 cs ch and having their centres Va
the same straight line, solid cylinders and prsms may be
formed aud The same law OF visual direction that be
orgs 10 these surfaces belongs also 10 the solids that
they compose; for small straight rod Is sighted
the direction OF It's length with second object, in the
various ways that have been mentioned the range the
when is vic sed succession by the right eye
and by both eyes but different when the LEFT is used in
stead OF the right.
Range f an oTning.--n a ring is taken, or a card
with an opening in II, and the card Is SO
d,sap, Object, both eyes beng Open the two images
Of the opening formed by the eyes are readily
perceved but il is only through that which belongs
The right eye that the object for the e IL closed
the object tt visible through the opening bat if the
right closed and the e is opcp l. no longer
the tight eye there no shifting Of the visible direction
OF the object when both eyes are employed in vonthe
the taken with the left eye, aud the right T. then
opened the influence Of the left upon the ange Is
very feeble and seems almost destroyed by the po~er
Of the right IT. inftsd of perforated card two
three smpoyed at the same Time the obiec, being
viewed through the cards placed behind the other
the Influence Of the right eye Is rendered ovIdent
for when the object frat through the open
rss With both eyes open, upon closing the right not only
does the object become invisible but Of the open
rps ALSO For instance, may tarou Oh the opening
Of The frat card the unbroken face Of the sccond-he orr
ice IN the latter being out OF sight
Ecrge u nte-A tube may be regarded as con.
posed 81 number Of material rings. II might there
foe be expected presen, tho visual phenomena
upon kokng through tube Of distant object, IN the DIFF
eltrt that have been mentioned. BY directing
ppecia attention 10 the left eye may be made TO control
the range instead Of the rgt and objects can be seen
by IN the sane direction as when viewed by both eye
but this control with the particular effort OF the
will that calls the eye TO discharge unusual duty ON
the other tard In the normal condition OF vision, when
objects viewed without any special exertion OF the
will find nom the experiments detailed that account
Of habit Otherwise, invariably neglect the IMAGE
formed by the left and take that belonging TO lie
right ana thai the visual direction Of points, lines
aces and Soils near TO the Observer is always deter
mined by the right eye.
But question arises s this dominant power OF tie
right eye peculiarly Ct the individual like Daonsm
or Ia generally ruey In reply would state that
been accustomed, for length OF time, 10 propose
OF the preceding experiments to different ndvidu
ale and the results have Almost invariably shown that,
when both Eyes orsn the right the visual
direction Of near objects Out OF many seventy
eighty rot than three four exceptions tom
this rule have been detected IL Of these exceptions
the right eye weaker titan the e and the latter dis
charged the functions OF the former n the Aforesaid