The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-05


lars. complete dinner set tor a party OF
twenty-four COSTS $4,000. The price OF a nice
tea set can easily run into $4,000. We noticed
one small vase, six or eight inches high, eXqui-
sltelY chased on two sides, which Mr.. WIlkin.
son assured us cost the Company about 500 to
produce. There are, as yet but two or three
persons in all America who would be likely to
become purchasers of the articles in silver
which rank in Europe as works of art, aud
which are strictly entitled to that distinction.
The wonder is who buys the massive utilities
that are stacked away In such profuston ia
Maiden lane. The GOrham Company have
always In course of manufacture about three
tons o! silver, and usually have ton OF finished
work for sale.
An important branch of the business is one
recently introduced-the manufacture of n very
superior kind of plated-ware intended to COM
pine tbe strength Of baser metal with the
beauty of silver. The manufacture of such
ware mas attained great development in Eng
land OF late years, owing chiefly TO the apph
cau9n OF the mysterious power of electricity TO
the laying on of the silver We must discourse
llt'le upon this admirable application OF sci
ence to the arts.
Hamlet" amused his friend "Horatio" by
tracing the noble dust OF Alexander till he found
1t stopping bunghole. If we trace the course
OF discovery that resulted in this beautiful art,
we shall have to reverse "Hamlets" order; we
must begin with the homely object and end with
magnificent ones. Electroplating, electrotyping,
the electric telegraph, and many other arts and
wonders, all go back to that dish frogs which
the amiable and fond Professor Galvani was
about the year 1887. 1t was q curious reflection
when we we're Illuminating our houses TO cele-
brate the laying of the first Atlantic cable, that
this bewlldering and unique triumph OF man
over nature had no more illustrious origin than
the legs of an Italian frog. We are aware that
the honor has been claimed for NeapotaD
mouse. There as story in the books of mouse
in Naples that had the impudence, in 1885, 10
bite the leg of a professor OF medicine and was
caught in the act by the Professor himself
who, punished his audacity by dissecting him.
While ooing so, he observed that when he
touched q nerve of the creature with his knife
its limbs were slightly convulsed. The Pro-
lessor, struck with the circumstance, was
puzzled by it, mentioned it, aud it was
recorded; but as nothing further came of It, no
connection can be established between that
mouse and the splendoTs of silver-plated ware
and the wonders of the telegraph. The claims
OF Professor Galvani's frog rest upon q sure foun-
daton of TACT SignoTa Galvaui-so runs one
version of the stOry-lay sick upon a couch in a
room IN which there was that chaos of domestic
utensils and philosophical apparatus that may
still be observed sometimes in the abodes of
men addicted to science. The Professor himself
had prepared the frogs for the stewpan, and
lett them upon table near the conductor Of AN
electrical machine. A student, while expert
menting with the machine, CHANGED to touch
with steel instrument one of the frogs at the
intersection OF the legs. The sick lady observed
that as often as he did SO the legs convulsed,
or as we now say, galvanized. Upon her hus-
bands return to the room she mentioned this
peated the experiment..
From 1850 to 1890, as the reader is probably
aware, all the scientific world was on the qUi
UiUe with regard to electricity. The most bril-
liant regulations of that century had been won
by electric discoveries. Franklin was still
alive, to reward with his benignant approval
those who should contribute anything valuable,
after his own immense additions, to mans know
ledge of this allunng and battling element. 1t
was, therefore, as much the spirit of the time
as the PeniHs OF the man that made Galvani
iynf NAV fonN Unit nVndf fW,uo
gate 1t with untiring enthusiasm. 1t was sad
5sy for the frogs of the Pope's dominion. When
signora Galvani observed those two naked legs
fy apart and crook themselves with SO much
animation. There was slaug hter in the swamps
of Bologna for many month thereafter. For
mankind, however, it was day to be held In
everlasting remembrance, since it was then that
was taken the first step towards the galvanic
bateryl
As fortune favors the brave, so accident aids
the ingenious. After Professor GalVani had
touched the muscles and nerves of many frogs
with the spark drawn from the electrical
machine, another accident occurred which led
directly to the discovery of the galvanic battery
Having skinned frog, he CHANGED to hang it
by copper hook upon an iron nail; and thus,
without knowing Vt, he brought together the
elements of battery-two metals and wet
frog. His object In hanging up the frog was TO
see if the electricity of the atmosphere would
those produced when the spark OF the machine
was applied to the creature. 1t did not. After
watching his frog awhile the Professor was
proceeding, TO take 1T down, and while in the
act of doing so the legs were con-
yulsed. Struck with this occurrence, he re-
placed the frog, took 1t down again, put 1t back,
took it down, until he discovered that, as
often as the damp frog (still hanging upon
its iron hook) touched the iron nail, the con-
traction of the muscles took place, as If the
frog had been touched by a conductor con.
nected with an electrical machine. This expert
ment was repeated hundreds of times, and
varied in as many ways as mortal ingenuity
could devise. Galyani at length settled down
upon the method felowing;-He wrapped the
nerves taken from the loins of a frog In a leaf
of tin, and placed the legs of the frog upon a
plate of copper; then, as often the leaf of TIN
was brought in contact with the plate ofcopper
the legs of the frog were conVulsed,
People regard Charles Lambs story of the
discovery of roast pig as a most extravagant
and impossible fiction; but, really, Professor
manner of that great discoverer. 1t was no
more necessary to employ the frogs nerves in
the production of the electricity, than it was
necessary TO burn down house in roasting pig
for dinner. The poor frog contributed nothing
to it but his dampness-as as every boy in tele-
graph office now perceiyes. He was merely the
lGe. in the small galvanic battery. Professor
Galvani, however, exultiDg in his discovery,
leaped to the conclusion that this electricity
was not the same as that produced by friction.
He thought he had discovered the long g-sought
something by which the muscles move obedient
to the VIII. "All creatures, he wrote, "haYe
an electricity inherent in their economy, which
resides specially in the nerves, and is by the
nerves communicated TO the whole body. 1t is
secreted by the brain. The interior substance
OF the nerves is endowed with conducting
power for this electricity, and facilitates its
movement and its passage from one part OF the
nervous system to another; while the oily coat
ing of these organs hnders the dissipation OF