The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-03-22
insensibility OF the Human Body TO
Molten Iron.
From the Engineering and Mining Journal.


ton whether there existed a connec-
ton between the spheroidal condition
and the singular fact that if the hand
be wet, it may be passed through a
stream of molten iron or lead without
harm. Many months elapsed before
the inquisitiveness of the French in
vestigator was satisfied by witnessing
such an experiment himself. In ask
ing once among the workmen of a
foundry in Paris, whether one of them
could toss with his fingers the fused
me tai, be was not only ridiculed but
shown the door. But, finally, he be-
came acquainted with a metallurgist in
the f anche-Comte, who promised to
investigate the matter. On the Doth of
March, lS49, this person was able to
write: "The workmen generally
laughed at me when | asked them
whether they could dip their fingers
into molten iron without injury but at
last workman in the foundry Of Mag.
ny told me that he considered nothing
more easy, and, to prove it, he passed
finger through a glowing stream as it
was flowing from the furnace. One en-
ploye repeated the experiment, and
thereby encouraged, ! did the same.
None made the finger wet"
Boutigny row hesitated no longer to
try those experiments on himself, and
he was not only able to perform the
same feat, but he passed his hand
through a stream of cast iron of two
inches thickness, when it shot from the
tapping-hole, and Immediately after
ward dipped the hand into ladle
filled with molten iron. If it is asked,
he writes, what precautions are to be
taken to protect ourselves from the
fiery glow, answer: Danish the fear,
and proceed confidently to experiment.
The hand is to be immersed quickly,
but not too precipitately, into the fluid
metal. This is all that is to be OBJ
served. The wonder of antiquity has
thus been explained, and shown to be
only physical phenomenon. 1t is well
to have the hands moistened, yet the in
voluntary fear that will overcome any
one at the thought of such bold UNI
dertaking nearly always gives rise TO a
perspira ton, by which every part OF the
body will become sufficiently moist.
But, if one will get perfectly invulnera-
bic, the hand is to be rubbed with
soap, so that it obtains smooth sur
face, or it is dipped into a cold solution
of sulphurous acid in sal-ammoniac, or
into water containing sal.ammoniac, or
simply in cold water.
If the finger is first dipped into alco-
hol, tolerable warmth is felt, if mois
tened with ether, a pleasant GOODNESS.
Yet, being very infammable, these
| fluids should not be made use Of IN eX-
perimenting with iron. Still, they will
not ignite in the molten lead. The non
immersed part of the hand will turn
red and experience a painful feeling on
account of being exposed to the radi-
ant heat.
Though great deal has been related
of such wonders, it was not till they
was placed before the public as naked
truths that they commenced to excite
sensation. When Boutigny repeated
his experiment before Professor Plucker
in Bonn, the latter, by his own confess
sion, left with the impression that
some yet undiscovered laws of nature
came here into play. Soon after it was
reported that mechanic in a machine
shop in Cologne had made the trial
with molten iron. and had offered him
self TO repeat ii. In consequence
thereof, Fucker, accompanied by seve-
raj persons, started for that city, where
| the workman, in their presence,
touched quickly with the dry ends Of
! his fingers the surface of a metal fur
mace. Encouraged thereby the by.
ISLANDERS themselves began TO manipu-
late. One dashed the fiat and previ-
ously.moistened hand with such vehe.
mence against the molten iron that a
portion of it was splashed around an
other ladled the metal with the hollow
hand. Fucker himself dipped the in
dex finger of his right hand into the
fluid, Withdrawing it again uninjured
after moving in it for a few seconds.
He felt how the iron fed from the
| finger, but experienced no sensation OF
heat. He would not have estimated the
temperature Of the metal at IS degrees
/ F., albeit il must have been at about
2,75O degrees f. The little hairs had
disappeared from his finger, but the
nail had not suffered in the least. FL
nallv, an experiment was tried which
properly ought TO have preceded any
other. The finger Of kid glove, mois-
tened inside, was drawn around a
wooden stick, and then kept for one
minute in the fluid metal. On with
drawing it the glove only indicated a
temperature of l5S degrees f.
The testimonials in behalf OF these
pulling accounts increased from all di.
rections. Professor Rose stated that
thirty years ago, during visit in q
metallurgical establishment in AYES
tad, Sweden, he saw workman who,
for small remuneration, threw molten
copper against a wal, which be skim
med off from crucible with his hand
Dumas called attention to very ole
usage, ordinarily performed in glass
works. A molten mass Of glass is pourec
into vessel filled with water, il
which, although glowing it is kneadec
with both hands.
In lecture which Boutigny delivered
in the Academy of Sciences, in Paris
on the l4th of May, lS49, he said "Af
ter lapse of ten years, it was permitted
to me to produce ice in a white glowing
furnace, and to battle myself with i'm
punity in glowing cast iron. The grea
importance which a thorough study o
the spheroidal condition possesses MAY