New-York tribune., 1870-08-20
MODERN SCIENCE.
SECOND DAYS SESSION.


ALns-sPoTs ON THE SUN. .'-
TROY, N. Y, Aug. 19.-The work of the ses-
sons has been continuous ana uninterrupted that
not been able far get time for running per
sonnel OF the many distinguished scientists who give
character 70 this the most imposing scholastic body In
the country With two sessions daily held by both
ons members and reporters kept brisky employed
In the business of following the proceedings. The
first session yesterday opened with very
large number present, but this morning the
list was almost doubled by osmes from all
parts Of the country representing the highest cul-
ture and learning OF the land This morning the early
deliberations Of the General Assembly were pleasantly
interrupted by the introduction OF a noted German
ssvsn, Dr. Hammond yoge Professor in the University
Of Berlin who is in this country on the invitation OF the
American Photographed Association to examine the
subject of American photography in relation to certain
experiments going in that art The Doctor modest
gentleman in very broken English, Acknowledged the
courtesy OF formal introduction TO so eminent body
OF investigators in science" He recognized with
lively expressions OF gratitude the cordial SYM
pathy that German science had ever received
in this most wonderful country have seen said he'
'ths great country from the Delaware 10 the Mississippi
from the Lakes the ST. Lswrence and have seen In
this time q grand-a wonderful people II s favor OF
the fates that am honored by attending this splendid
assemblage OF learned and distinguished men, men
whose names are known not only In this, your own
America and Germany have long been in scientific union
Your perormances are already estimated by our own
great Won Humboldt while German science and arts
are acknowledged In America"
The dignity and Importance OF the Convention receives
ample recognition from al Sides to-day an invitation
was received and accepted from John " L. Pruyn to
visit the State Library the Capitol and other courte
sizes rendered by the high officials OF the State The gen
era work disposed OF the sections proceeded to the dis
cussons previously announced Taking the proceeding
in alphabetical orde-r
began operations with paper from Prof F. E. stimson
of Boston. Unpublished Experiments OF Prof. W. b.
Rogers the influence Exered by the Presence OF Car
oonic Acid IN Gas on ts Div Po n s and .hor.
abstract appeared in the proceedings OF the British Asso
cistion the Advancement OF Science 1854 The details
are made public for the first time tn these expert
meIts the photomerc value OF known mixture OF car
bOnc scid was compared with the value of pure gas.
Mi g., by means OF a magnesium hight, projected a
representing the comparative values found upon
Messrs Audon and Bersrd showing the relative values
found by using atmospheric air as diuent Instead of
carbonic acid From these two sets Of curves it appears
that The addition Of Ter cent Of carbonic acid
reduced the illuminating power six or eight per cent
reductions OF Illuminating power. Second: The addition
of air produced greater loss than the addition OF car
bOnc acid 10 per cent Of air reducing down the light
70 per cent while the amount Of carbonic acid re-
dueed it only cent 4 per cent Of air DESTROYED al
the result But Mr.. s. remarked that tins series
ought to be repeated before we can consider the proper
itself make great change in photometric results
marSao L. psper on the aSrSrs After
ing the generally accepted theories OF the boreas phe
nomens with special reference 70 the evaporation idea
mted that the slka or salt in water might in dssegre-
cation receive SLIGHT a ens ss az atsT
per annum This reduced gives the enormous amount OF
te anS az then ss
and negatively electrified ana electrometers
positive ia the tension. Abundant evaporation
s3stra beTe Currents According to the testimony Of
all observers borealis is always attended by
haze or vail, which, though allowing the light of the
stars to pass through, gives the sky somber aspect
This haze is found consist OF fne Transparent icy
ated nom vspor highly electrized the electricity be-
free and luminous The aurora Therefore arises
ces which, in millions OF showers communicate with
the earth or moist ar below Inese ICY =, ,se
capitalization OF snow-hakes, from particles OF
ont passing through intermediate liquid state they
are Independently poariZed Thus poarized they pre-
live poles directed toward the negative earth, which
from our view gives the phenomena Of aurora The su
unGuesonsbly in the notiDn that the parsaxes
altitude OF 400 or coo miles for at such nights
il is too rare to sustain clouds Of any kind
ArsO held that the nights more St an than aur15e 5e
ght OF the rainbow An interesting circumstance ap
pertaining & 70 's me at on The sun Tie records show
that the two phenomena have their mamma ana mDmd
sHpamic propertes as Well as magnetic polarity, and
although the forces which act upon magnetic needle
emanate directly the earth and probably in,
duced by the electric circulating around IT, still
the prime Of all such induction is undoubtedly
dynamic and magnetic forces. Now, the auroral
phenomena being Influenced by terrestrial magnet
ism il difficult to comprehend how any such great
disturbance must be produced in the sun eInana-
tions by the formation Of large spots on Its surface may
Prof winchel of Michigan, who so far has produced
some Of the most nos ntsesRs ose sIG se WITH psSd
on the Magnetic Wells OF Michigan aIudlng
particularly to the recently t and pOfes
aSasan sona linen SnI1 ascrbcd % iRsrspsutc prop
critics and magnetic power The wells widely separ
sted position and their waters are derived from differ
ent geological formations Some are supplied rom tne
positions FIVE hundred and one thousand feet lower Nor
is there any greater correspondence IN the con
es Sane and some Of them are saline and chaybese
The speaker enumerated the remarkable claims which
waters and then proceeded to state the methods which
he had pursued in experimenting upon their properties
He had performed than 200 experiments observing
all precautions known 10 be necessary for elimDat
ing effects Of fixed polarity in the iron and steel appa
ratus employed and for obviating the disturbances
likely to be experienced by induction from the earth
imnary chsracter but az they pointed curious
and conclusions he had Thought best 10 make
mote Of them before the section. The chief conclusions
1some of which are not new may condensed fol
lows: l. Nearly all pieces Of iron and steel are iound
3 NeEtral iron is pOlarzed by being placed
the magnetic meridian or IN vertical position I, .;
a permanent magnet 4. The mineral waters OF Mlchi-
gan tend 10 induce south polarity H. e., the same as
the south end the neede In the outer end OF rod OF
soft iron passed through cork into bottle OF the
weeks and months. s. rod OF steel, or knfe-bade,
immersed in the water 80 minutes TO 10 hours &c,
Oures very sensible polarity though practically neutral
before immersion T. No satisfactory evidence exists
that the water itself is polsrzed or that magnetism
can be bottled up in IT, 8. The phenomena are
more likely to arise from some chemical ac-
on between the water and the IRON and this supp0sl
on s siren ghened by the fact that they arise equally
when the rod is simply moisened when II Is Immersed
in water rendered arthcally alkaline or salt and when
The surface OF the steel unposhed and do NOT arise
when pure ran-water is employed SHOULD ~ Dc
shown that magnetism Is not exeted Dy chemesi
os.,on and that the water itself possesses IeeDe