New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-08-10

Adams overthrow II, and since that time tho highest
geonerca science and deepest investigation Of Europe
had sustained Adamss view There is no such example
Of disc0rdance between observation and theory. III tho
views of this paper are sustained, an unknown man VIII
be found have overthrow all the European geometers
lie was on this prcudced against the paper, be-
cause Of its magnificent claims III ITS views were sus-
tanned, it would be grand triumph for America. Hc
thought that the Academy ought to examine II thor
oughly by committee IL owed this as OF duty 10 the
author and to science. II the Academy gave an ncom
pete survey 10 the paper and erroneous decision, II
would be dsgraced 1e would add that he had looked at
the paper and that it looked rght-wrtten IN night
spirit and progressing manner e nevertheless felt
bonnd 10 say that he did think IL could be sustained.
Profs PIERCE, Newton and Dr. B. A. Gould were ap-
pointed committee to examine the paper and report
Thenoxt paper the Origin Of the Solar Heat by
Prof PIERCE. He spoke OF the various theories framed
10 account for the maintenance of the suns heat ball
of carbon of that size would burn itself out IN about oOO
yeaB; ball OF molten iron would cool down IN not iar
from the time. We had no knowledge of any sub
stance which by It's combustion could produce for any
geologic period the heating effect which the Produces
very current recent theory accounts for the undnin
ished supply by the constant fall OF meteoT INTO the sum-
producing heat by their impact and loss OF motion. To
refutation Of this theory Prof PIERCE devoted the bulk OF
his paper. The various considerations which he offered
against it, drawn from the gradual increase Of the sun
and its effect tic motions OF the planets and SO
on, were in great part OF too technical and detailed
character 10 be reported but his final reductto dd al
surdum which dismissed the theory with laugh was TO
the effect that the conditions of the meteorc hypothesis
such that the suns heat actually thus kept up
the earth must also derive equal amount OF heat directly
from the impact of its share Of the meteors upon It, 1t must
get from the meteors just much from the sum- He
did not attempt satisfactory explanation OF his own, but
rather suggested than argued at the end that condensation
would answer the purposes if the had been originally
OF the diameter Of Mecurys orbit it would by contracting
have given of its present heat for 900 years. and
being still only quarter solid the EARTH 1t might go
on to contract and give OF the heat for as much
longer.
Prot Frazar by quest ms brought ont some interesting
statements as to the cocity of meteors, ana comets
which were considered 10 be larger meeors. 80
Prof stephen Alexander expressed his gracaten with
the paper and with the overthrow of tho meteor theory
and brought out from Prof Pcce further explanations Of
his views.
The next paper On the Morphologlcal Value and
Relations of the Human Hand" by Dr. b. g. Wilder, one
Of the invited guests OF the Academy
He began by defining mOrphoiogy and ffeooSy rs the
law of forms and the law of ends He however, espe-
cialy applied morphoiogy TO internal forms.
The paper was an interesting discussion OF previous
opinions Of the relations of the human limbs and OF the
authors views Of the subject. The statement OF
former opinions and definitions were most amusing lie
considered the human form to DO geomelIcal ugure,
with two sides and two ends which were polar 10 each
other. Thus the WERE 10 speak, supplementary
10 each other and TO the lower limbs Ihe neurological
value OF the hands and feet he did not consider 10 be
gca because tier were SO liable " change u essI 'nd