New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-03-26
SCIENCE AND ART.
American ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Associn-
ton,

A regular meeting was held on Thursday
evening March II, the Chairman S. d. TILIMAs esq.
presiding During the time devoted TO inventions
Mr.. G. BARTLKTT illustrated on the blackboard and
described newly invented barometer which is formed
Of thermometer tube open ut the upper end, with
drop Of mercury near the middle the space below being
filed with air At the time Of making observation
the bulb IL placed in tho Observers mouth to bring the
air of the bulb to the constant temperature OF the body
when the hight of the mercury viii indicate the weight
Of the atmospheric column. Quite an animated discus
sion to the feasibility Of bringing the tempera
mcthod in which Messrs sTTfsdS BAirfYfq.
SaRp MI,IUogSR ROOF DR. PARMELRR and the Secre-
tary Mr.. GARvEY. participated. The prevailing opinion
appeared TO be thai for observations where strict accu
raCy not required the instrument would be cohVe'
The CIAII,MAN read the following summary OF
scientific intelligence;
MAGNETIC STORMS.
Mr. Airy tie Astronomer Royal Of Greenwich Ob-
servatorv In a paper read before the Royal Society
prOpOunds theory 10 account Tor magnetic storms
The phenomena represent the movements Of magnetic
ether which he supposes TO orerspread the whole sur
face Of the earth impapabe fluid envelope, sev
eral feet in thickness. II We conceive this magnetic
ether be subject to occasional currents produced py
some action or cessation OF acton OF the sun Wloh
currents are liable TO interruptions and peryersons OF
the same kind those OF air and water We have
theory by which the disturbances that occur III tefres
trial magnetism may be explained.
The CHAIRMAN remarked that this hypothesis may
assist the student in cOmprehending the action Of extra
ordinary magnetic perturbaiions. IL should be- re
garded. however as conditional structure, only 70
remain until tie true foundations OF the science are laid
by the broader CONGRATULATIONS Of some future 6AUss III
may be suggested in this connection that the implied
cOexstence of several distinct others. MS the nedi
II the forces Of hight, heat acunlsm, lnagheunn
and electricity Is quite Objectionable as the corpus
cuar hypothesis. May not all these manifestations
arise from the varying density and diverse motions OF
the same elastic, subtle. apermeating, aperyading
"setAF' which fills the interstellar spaces. and In
more compact state, envelopes both atom and orbi
DECOMPOSITION OF IODIDE OF MERCURY.
H. Rosr in PoRgendorfs AHnaieH, states that lodide
of Mercury is easily decOmposed by Cyanide of Potas
stun. 10 estimate the amount OF Mercury in the
odide the Cyanide Of Potassium is first rubbed In
mortar, with twice It's weight OF qnlckllme. little
carbonate Of magnesa is then placed in tube closed at
one end the 0ddc is mixed with eight or ten times Ms
weight Of cyanide layer Of lime Is next introduced
then layer of cyanide and lastly carbonate OF mag
nesa is placed on the tOp the tube is now drawn out
and bent its extremity Being made TO dip into receiver
containing water. Heat is now applied TO The mixture
beginning at the top and the mercury distils over
Other mercurial compounds may be deeomposed In
According to CARIus, iodide OF mercury is CON-
pleeiy decomposed by digestion with nitrate OF silver
not very acid. Iodde of silver like iodde Of mercury
is slightly soluble in nitrate OF mercury.
Tie led iodde Of mercuIy may be reduced by solu
ton Of proo chloride Of tin when hydrOchlorc acid is
added and the mixture Is supersaturaied with IT,
tac zinc completely docOmposes iodide Of mercury in
the presence Of water forming iodide OF zinc
PURIFICAT1oN OF sULPHURlC ACID.
Il. NJ. LYLE gives III me L0HaOH Chemicot NtNs
the method praoticed by him. IL the acid contains
nitrous compounds 1t is heated in porcelain capsule
to about ll0o G., with small portion 10 per cent, Of
oxalic acid previously added till the latter is decom
posed and eefyescence has ceased The acid Is then
allowed 10 cool down b. about 1909 {, and bchrOmae of
potssh in fine powder, in solution with sulphuric
acid is then added until the green color at first
duced by the formation Of susquioxde OF chromium il
replaced BY yelowish green, indicating mixture Of
chronic acid in a free state The acid so prepared
being now distilled passes fom the first perfectly free
from all impurities.
ON The sECULAR COOLING OF TIE EARTH.
Tie Rev Prof IlAUGHToS OF Trinity College Dublin
IN p1pcr read before the Dublin Geographical Society
exuressed s belief that the tine during which organic
iii. has existed the earth is practically Infinite be-
ceuse il can be shown 10 be great as to be incon
cevabe by beingsof our limited Intelligence The com
mencement of organic life on the globe cannot be
placed further back than the time when the tempera
ture OF the Polar Regions was 1920 Fah nj which de-
gree albmen coaguates. He directs attention 10 the
subsequent period by 50 much later that the lapse Of
time is beyond our conception, when Great Britain
had cooled TO that temperature, and from calculations
and data given, he proves that the time which elapsed
before the mean temperature OF the Island had fallen TO
no In consequence OF the GOODNESS OF the earth to be
600 600 Of years This is the London clay tertiary
epoch during which mollusks inhabited the seas Of
Great Britain.
TaE CHAIR directed attention tn the interesting fact
lust stated. that albumen an essential element in ami
mai organization, coagulaies at l2o f., or 500 Cent?
grade which is inst midway between tho freezing and
boiling point of water although In solution az In the
blood for instance, the coagulaiing point is much
higher.
Mr. MAYYARD said from experiments be had made
with milk he concluded that II cOaguatcd at higher
Temperature than now stated,