The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-03-14
without injury but at last workman in

without injury /; but at last workman in
the foundry of Magny told me that he con-
sldered nothing more easy, and, to prove it,
he passed finger through aglowing stream
as it was flowing from the furnace. One
employe repeated the experiment, and,
hereby encouraged, l did the same. None
made their finger wet.o
Boutigny now 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 stream Of cast
iron of two inches thickness, when it shot
from the tapping hole, and Immediately
afterwards dipped the hand into ladle fill
ed with molten iron. If it is asked, he
writes, what precautions are to be taken to
protect ourselves from the fiery glow, L
answer: Danish the fear, and proceed con-
fidently to experiment. The hand is to be
immersed quickly, but not too precipitate-
ly, into the fluid metal. This is all that is
to be observed. 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 involun-
tary fear that will overcome anyone at the
thought of such bold undertaking nearly
always gives rise to a perspiration, by
which every part of the body will become
sufficiently moist. But, if one will get
perfectly invulnerable, the hand is to be
rubbed with soap, so that it obtains a
smooth surface, or it is dipped into cold
solution of sulphurous acid in sal-ammoni-
ac, or into water containing sal-ammoniac,
or simply in cold water.
If the finger is first dipped into alcohol,
tolerable warmth is felt, if moistened
with ether, a pleasant coolness. Yet, be-
ing very infamrnable, these fluids should
not be made use of in experimenting 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 radiant heat.
Though great deal had been related of
such wonders, it was not till they were
placed before the public as naked truths
that they commenced to excite sensation.
When Boutgny repeated his experiments
before Professor Plncker in Bonn, the lat
ter, by his own confession, 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 it. In consequence thereof,
Plucker, accompanied by several persons,
started for that city, where the workman,
in their presence, touched quickly with the
dry ends of his fingers the surface of
mass of fluid metal thar had just left the
furnace. Encouraged thereby the by-stan-
ders themselves began to manipulate. One
dashed the fiat and previously-moistened
hand with such vehemence against the mol
ten iron that portion of it was splashed
around another ladIed the metal with the
hollow hand. Plucker himself dipped the
index finger of his right hand into the fluid,
withdrawing it again uninjured after NOV
ing in it for few seconds. He felt how
the iron fled from the finger, but expe-
rienced no sensation of heat. He would
metal at S5 degrees f., al beitit.. must have
been at about 1850 degrees +. The lit
tie hairs had disappeared from his finger,
but the nail had not suffered in the least.
Finally, an experiment was tried, that pro-
perly ought to have preceded any other.
The finger of kid glove, moistened inside,
was drawn around wooden stick, and
then kept for one minute in the fluid metal.
n.with drawing it, the glove only indicated
temperature of 15S degrees r.
The testimonials in behalf of these puz-
zling accounts increased from all directions.
Professor Rose stated that thirty years ago,
during visit in metallurgical establish
ment in Avestad, Sweden, he saw work
man who, for small remuneration, threw
molten copper against q wall, which he
SKINNED off from crucible with his hand.
Dumas called attention to very old
usage, ordinarily performed in glass
works. A molten mass of glass is poured
into vessel filled with water, in which,
although glowing, it is kneaded with both
hands.
In lecture which Boutigny delivered in
the Academy Of Sciences, in Paris, on the
14th of May, 1S49, he said: "After
lapse of ten years, it was permitted to me
to produce ice in white glowing furnace,
and to bathe myself with impunity in glow
ing cast iron. The great Importance which
thorough study Of the spheroidal condi-
ton possesses may be denied, if one
chooses to do SO; the part which it will
sooner or later play in science may be de-
MED, but that shall not care for. have
formerly stated that mention Of this condi-
ton is made in the Bible, and many other
accounts seem also to prove that the an
clients possessed more extended know
ledge Of calorics than is generally supposed.
They were, perhaps, ignorant Of little
things, as, for instance, Of q thousandth
part Of degree, but they were certainly
aware of the great effects. A certain
number of historical statements, which are
still considered as being fabulous, may be
true. The ancient philosophers knew, per-
haps, many facts, of which we have no
knowledge. A little more esteem for them
would not be out of place.