The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-22
SCIENTIFIC WONDERS
Professor Edison Explains His
Latest Discoveries.
THE TASINETER And ELECTRIC GOVERNOR.
How the Secrets of the Sun Are
To Be Ferreted Out.


"tasimoter, or instrument for tho measurement Of
pressure, VIII CHI Professor Edison has just COMPLETED
II Is TO be used IN tho scientific experiments 10 DO
made by astronomers from all parts OF the world ~
Denver, Co.. next month during the total eclipse OF
tho sum- visible at that place Professor Edison starts
for tina. Stale the sth OF July, accom-
panied by Professors Draper, Barker and
other scientists IRON this section Of the
country. Tue results thus far obtained from
tho taslmeter have been almost Incredible Used In
connection with tho galvanometer Of SIR William
Thompson, II has been found to record the pressure
OF one five hundred thousandth part Of an inch.
Hitherto the most delicate instrument known
| to scicnce for determining the heat the
| different parts OF tina solar spectrum has
been the thcrmopile. rho great Improve
mont OF the tasimetcr over tho thcrmopie
is illustrated simple manner by Professor Edi-
SON. lew inches from the former ne placed hot
| iron 1t detected the needle OF ordinary galvaD-
onetcr aegrec then no held his itio finger four
inches from the tasimcter with the gaivanom-
etcr, and II swung the needle around six degrees 10
explaining the workings OF his new invention TO
HERALD reporter his laboratory NJ MEMO PARK yes
/ tcrday, the inventor said :"We now study chemistry
| by means Of tho sun. We have found oy tho aid OF
the spectroscope that there are metals in tho sun
which are unknown on earth, as we'll AS metals mere
the existencs oi which IN the sun nave thus far not
| been discovered
| CURIOUS ExpERIxgsrs
| Tho Professor tneu made number OF curious ex
perimen.s See nera." said ne taking up thin
strip OF vuicanized rubber anu placing u petwoen
small upright iron posts IN tasmcter .'this is
highly sensitive 70 neat-a little causes II to expand.
| Al ths end | place my carbon l tound out that
sk coated with conducting ianpblacK, pressed in the
form OF button was wonderfully sensitive
TO tho passage Of the electric currenl. Put upon II
tho pressure OF ono half miiionth Of an inch anu IL
Win allow tns passage OF current strong enough TO
delcct Sir William fhompson's galvaGometcr one
| degree. VI course greater pressure defects the
needle more Professor Edison then an or
t,ata.
his tas,meter and held has nAnd four inches away
from the vulcanite strip instantly the needle OF
lighted gas JET five ieet away, and the needle
four degrees. Then he held match distance OF six
| gavanomcier. breathing slightly on the rubber ex-
panded sufficiently to mark thirty degrees These
results The Professor produced without tue improved
| gaivauomcter, which no explained was infinitely more
| sensitive.
| MEASURING MOISTURE
Professor Edison Introduced between the posts
u ship OF gsatluc, III order 10 measure moist
he neid II three inches away. Inc delectou WAS
eight degrees. breath on The gcatine moved the
end o. his finger held nve inches away, Indicated
moisture OF eleven degrees. lghted cigar, at u
acieny 10 detection OF seven degrees. Water
IA bottle held near by made the needle viorate.
TmE sun.
The professor next explained the method proposed
TO be adopted IN tho astronomici experiments to be
made with his tasmeter Instead OF vaicanzed rub
Der plana Will be used the latter having been found
| 10 gain and loso neat much more reaahy than the
former. The tasncter, unlike The QUE experimental
as above, 10 10 be smaller and of dnsrcnt material,
brass being used throughout II VIII be Enclosed IN
a recep'ical OF tin. which IN turn IS placed
In a second recepticle Of the same metal Between
the will be kept boiling for the purpose oi
preserving evenncss OF temperature, as botns water
utlains TO higher temperature than 2l2 degrees
Fahrenheit. The spectroscops will thea be made
ceutrts the hoat into small opening IN the tasimcter
where, falling the plana, II will Cause expansion
and corresponding pressure Of the small carbon
button allowing the OF the electric current IN
degree CONNIE nsurats with the press ure Attacned
| q
for measuring tue degree oil expansion or contraction
OF different metals under similar pcralurcs Pro-
lessor Edison found the noal OF his nand expanded
tho patiaa one nve-thousanath part OF an inch
ICEBkRGs MADE HARMLESS.
The great inventor has already taken steps 10 use
hts new discovery Tor the protection Of vessels
range tho carbon button highly sensitive
ter, and iIciosiny y In case connect II with
the keel Of ship. ! then run a wire
vanomctcr. Any change OF temperature, AS you
see, u at once indicated. Coidness OF inc water
W II contract ana warm IA expand and the correspon
dIng denections be placed once before the cye OF
the captain The approach OF an iceberg VIII. there
lore 1e known long before there IS danger u col
l,son. IL may DO used indicate any aDnor NAL
heat In part OF the ships hold, thus giving timely
notice VI the breaking out oil ire.
DISCOVERY rELEGRAPHY.
In experimenting mis- tasinstcr Professor Edison
made highly valuable discovery IN teegraphy.
Ever since the first line successfully worked by
Professor Morse the great and apparently nsurmQunt
aDe obstacle 70 constant aud UNINTERRUPTED cominup
cation was the effect produced the electric current
by changes ~ mo atmosphere Ram arrays made the
| lines Work with hnd ireqlcntIy heavy
storms escape OF tho subtle Hun The moist
mado The wires practically useless.
The Professors discovery Is what he calls an "eec
trio governor" acting on the Telegraph line
steam governor does on an engine. II cbviales tho
necessity OF adjusting the MAJ along
the Inc. One placed IN tho circuit regulates the en-
tire Ine, preserving an cveDDcss Of current through
OUT, The loss o. my per cen. Of the bat
spending gain. Diminution In the strength
the battery from any cause, atmospheric other
wise, Is prevonted ny tie governor from having
any perceptDle effect the instrument any part
OF iho me. rne Professor desired m to DO under
stood that tho discovery was bascd on u suggestion
Ny a practical teegraphsr
i WHAT NgxrY
Proft Edison has also found by his expcrimontS
with tho ,asimeter that 1t will weigh inanit esima
articles Us vol as thor moisture For Instance,
no took u hDre OF paper aud by plac, ny
DO quito heavy. Then he experimental
on Enas connecting the instrument at .ns Jane time
the dsfec,ion Of tho gaIvanomcter TO indicate tho
weight oi the d'minutve insoci, while tho telephone
echoed tho sound made by the insects fcet tho
disk.
BY arranging It with an anamomcter and cup
and causing the lever to press the tasinietcr
corded the pressure OF iaint gust OF wina.
| MEGArHoSg.
Notwithstanding the heavy drains on his intellect
by the numerous wonders IN process OF construction
In hts LABORATORY the Professor continues daily at
work pcrIccing his megaphone Yesterday lac placed
tho Hold mcsaphonc front OF laboratory and gave
the rubber tubes 10 the writer SO that ne might per-
sonaly test s strange power Then lao hurried
lots nearly mile, ana standing tue brow n mil
whispered, "Do you hear thisfY The words
dsti0cty notw outstanding quito breeze was blowing
~ tue time When he spoke IA MS ordinary tone. the
words reached their destination distinctly N tho
distance intervening were . foot instead OF milo.
Again nc whispered, giving the legend OF Mary
her little amU. Every word heard ny the writer
with perfect distinctnsss
LDisox's LITERATURE
While tho megaphoUc was telling tho story OF
Mary tho pos, man came WIN bundle OF letters anu
III: Professor married back 10 his office Several OF
those mssives IRON deal people In all parts OF
tho counsry. somo were very amusing oao writer
iron q western town sald that lao
lawyer, but that no experienced much difficulty
In lylng cases IN court W reason OF his being
partially Deaf .send one along ne wrote. n Know
ect long ana "A bulky object, but that DON'T
make any difference; 50 iong as c,n hear with u
satisfied AS he laid away the missve Professor
Edison aughingiy remarked, I'll that lawyer ievcicd
one OF the inegapnonos at Western judge no would
nee ntm Tor contempt oi court"
you nave great many letters from deaf people, |