The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1858-03-17

trained as a teacher in the Normal School of Mr.. Stowe
in Glasgow. While in that establishment, he attended
the chemical lectures of Professor Penny, and used to
sit up until three o'clock in the morning to write out
his notes. On leaving the training institution, he re-
ceived an appointment as master OF a school from W.T.
Akroyd, in Halifax, Yorkshire. The schocl-room,
though spacious and lofty, was badly ventilated. The
health Of Mr.. Watson, with that of the teacher, suffer
ed seriously. 1t was thought that he would not be able
to continue in his vocation as teacher, from the distress.
ing effects produced on his system by the foul ar OF
crowded school-rooms. He called to recollection some
and after numerous experiments applied the principles
he had arrived at to a new mode of ventilation. l quote
a passage from the National Magazine that may give
you some idea of his invention =
sMr. Watson's apparatus is so remarkable tor Its
simplicity, and its mode of operation is 80 subverslve OF
preconceived notions as to the nature OF ventla'lon' 'na'
some theorists have been inclined to look upon Its mar
vellous effects with as much suspicion as the churchmen
of the seventeenth century regarded the heretlcal teie-
scope Of Calico. His discovery Is nevertheless a great
fact, and IN our opinion, forms au epoch In the history
of ventilation. The principle on which 1t - founded
may be illustrated by a simple experiment. Mr. Wat
son employs for this purpose a glass vessel resembling
the receiver of an air pump, about seven luches III
diameter, and ten inches high, with a tubular neck ABOUT
six inches long and two inches wide. The lower edge
is placed in a shallow groove, which passes round me
circumference of a thin plate, aud which may be Tiled
with water IN order to prevent the ADMISSION OF air irom
below. When a lighted taper is introduced into this
vessel, it very soon exhausts the comhustible principle
of the included air; and notwithstanding the COMPARE
lively large opening in the top Of the receiver, ceases to
burn. If, however, before the taper Is quite expired,
the funnel is converted into TWO selni-cyllndrical tubes
by means Of a thin division, a double current, in OPP
posite directions, is Immediately established, q copious
supply Of pure air flows in by the one, and the effete
pro ,ucts are expelled by the other; the dying taper
meanwhile speedily revives, and soon acquires a full and
steady brilliancy. When the tubes slightly differ 10
height, as in Watson's Syphon V%cntilator, the cold ar
is invariably found to enter BY the shorter one. ihe
experiment may be satisfactorily performed even with a
common water. bottle, and a Slip of p~asteboard as a
diaphragm. The existence Of the opposite currents Is
rendered visible by holding a smoking paper over the
divided funnel, when the smoke is seen to pass down
through the one channel, and to ascend and escape by
the other.
Mr.. Watson rightly inferred from this experiment
that if he could establish these spontaneous double cur,
rents to and from the open air through the ceilings OF
our schools, churches, dwelling houses, and halls, be
would revive the dropping spirits of their half-sufocated
inmates in the same manner that brilliancy was restored
to the expiring taper. He has perfectly succeeded IN
this and no small part of the merit of his principle IS
that these currents, while shown to exist, operate quiet
ly and constantly, and maintain a sweet and wholesome
state of the air without those dangerous and disagree
able draughts that render most other modes Of artlhcla
ventilation 80 Objectionable