New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-26
NRW ELECTRIC FURNACE.
Imwoued apparatus for Chemical
Laboratories.
Laboratories.

Baltimore Dec . (specieD.-Professor Harmon
W Morse professor OF analytical chemistry al
Johns Hopkins University and adjunct director OF
the chemical laboratory. has invented and per-
fected an electric furnace which. Il is believed VIII
revolutonizs practical laboratory work in cherais
try. The is the rssalt OF a Ious period OF
hard work on the part Of Professor Morse. and his
invention Is OF the most Important scientific
achievements OF the year
Professor Morse has been congratulated By
President Remsen and the entire faculty On the
success Of his labors.
Heretofore gas has been the only source OF heat
for scientific work IN the chemical laboratory Fer
a long time scientists have been endeavorfng 10
devise some sort Of economical electric heater but
no avail In order that satisfactory results may
be obtained IN the many forms OF heating in laoo-
ratory practice four conditions mgf.t be satisfied
First. the heat must be developed economically.
second. 1t must be possible 70 obtain definite tenn
peratures; third. it must be possible to maintain
constant temperatures for long periods; fourth.
products of combustion must not be allowed 70
come in contact with the substances heated
Chemists have that the solution OF this
problem be looked for in the application OF
the electric current. which yields products OF
combustion and which can be developed at a con-
slant and regular rate. THIS far. however. no one
except Professor Morse been able 70 bring
to bear sufficient skill and ingenuity TO make L a
practical substitute for gas
In brief Professor Morses electrical heater II a.
follows: The ordinary copper oven is encaSed N a
box doubly lined with asbestos with air space be-
tween. the wooIe covered with aluminium paint.
which is not affected BY high temperatures. a 3
very poor heat radiator ard preserves the ashes
tos from shreddng- The arrangements practically
prevents any loss OF heat BY radlaton-
The source or heat Is the stove. WnIcn Is placed
within the copper The construction OF THIS
stove ingenious part OF tho apparatus and re-
QuireS highest type or experimental SAIL II
is constructed Of a zsu-nDer or parallel slabs o.
Soapstone coated with graphite tne SoalSrone Bang
unaffected BY the heat The graphite must %
evenly distributed the slabs OF soapSI0ne, IN
order that the heat may be developed uniformly
over the surface. The itself not diulcrtr
OF construction but the making OF the heating ap
paraIus within. Through which the electric current
is passed. has formed the great stumbling block
IN the wa OF former investigators. The use OF
soapSJons in strueGing the heater Is me result
OF the inventive genus of Professor Morse. Tor
which he is well known. Recently he brought &c
a successful conclusion his researches IL Osu1otio
pressure which brought him 10 the attention q the
Carnegie institution and elected from II & con-
siderable sun Of money TO provide assistant IN
MS laboratory
rnirably and be operated al cost OF less than
one cent a day. y constant temperature OF l10 de-
grees can be obtained for eight hours ar stretch
at a cost OF three-fou-ths. OF cent II IS PROB
able that Professor Norse's electrical furnace VIII
entirely replace the Old furnaces now IN general
use. and It is certain that II VIII add much 10 the
exactness with which chemical processes may
be carried out