394 _Franklin Institute.

numbers is so irregular. This will bc more clearly see,~ by reference to the diagram.

The two lines Ac and ~e meeting at c, represent the opening of an angular gauge. The divisions on the line ac, show the size of wire by the common gauge, those on tile line ]~ C by the new standard.

Wire to be measured by such a gauxe, is passed into the angular opening till it touches on both sides, the division at the point of con- tact indicating the number. Thus, No. 15 old gauge would be No. 13 by the new. The angular principle is used in the above cut, as it shows the difference between the old and new standard to the best ad- vantage ; it is proposed, however, to make gauges of different forms, but all to correspond with the sizes of the new standard.

The divisions on the line A c, it will be observed, are very irregular, Mille those on ]~e increase by a regular Geometrical ]?regression. This principle is thought by many who are conversant with the sub- jeer, to be the true one for the construction of a gauge, and when generally adopted by the manufacturers in this country, an eflbrt will be made to introduce it in England.

The tbregoing tables show the actual dimensions of the old and new standards in deeimM parts of an inch, U. S. Standard Measure, and also the difference between consecutive sizes of each gauge."

It is stated that favorable action was taken upon the propriety of adopting the new gauge and the following preamble and resolutim~ adopted by fourteen companies located in New York andNew Eng- land States engaged in the manufacture of brass plate and wire :

"Whereas, it seems desirable that some steps be taken to arrive at a more complete uniformity in the wire gauge used by the brass makers, and, whereas, J. ]k Brown & Sharpe, of Providence, R. I., have pre- pared, at considerable expense, a gauge with a new grade of sizes, plan which is by us approved ; therefore,

"Resolved, That we will adopt said gauge, and be governed by it ~n rolling our metals, and will use our exertions to have it come into gene- ral use as the standard U. S. gauge."

It is very desirable that some standard should be adopted, and ad- hered to, so that manufacturers and purchasers would mutually under- stand each other in making contracts for boilers ; and, as :Brown & Sharpe's gauge has been partially adopted, no reason appears why it should not be entirely so.

If the boiler plate makers have taken any action upon the matter, or will take action upon it, an account of their proceedings made pub- lic through the Journal will be acceptable. J.

FRANKLIN INSTITUTE.

-Proceedings of the Stated }([ontldy Meeting, May 17, 1860. John Agnew, Vice-President, in the chair. Isaac ]3. Garrigues, Recording Secretary. Tile minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. A letter was read from Thomas Oldham, Esq., Superintendent of

_Proceedings of the ffranMin Institute. 895

the Gcologlcal Survey of India and of the Geological Museum, Cal, cutta, India.

Donations to the Library were received from the Royal Geographi, cal Society and the Statistical Society, London ; the Governor-Gene- r~l of India, Calcutta, India; the Smittlsonian Institution, Washing- ton, D. C.; the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York; and from Messrs. Jones & White, John E. Wootten, Prof. John F.

'Frazer, Prof. ]]. H. Rand, and tlte Board of Trade, Philadelphia, Donations to the Cabinet fl'om Mr. Joseph Kaye, of Pittsburgh, Pa. The Periodicals received in exchange for the Journal of the Insti-

tute, were laid on the table. The Tree,surer read his ~t~tcment of the receipts and payments for

the month of April. The Board of Managers and Standing Committees reported their

minutes. Ten resignations of membership in the Institute were read and ac-

cepted. C~ndidates for membership in the Institute (4) were proposed, and

the candidates proposed at the last meeting (9) duly elected. Mr. Wood exhibited some specimens of wood, embossed by his pa-

tent process. The wood is soaked in water, and then subjected to pres- sure under a metal matrix heated sufficiently to burn away the super° fiuous material. The weed is not finished at one operation, the matrix being removed several times in order to brush off the charred wood' The specimens possess more softness than is usual ia wood carvings; and when varnished have a beautiful appearance. The design is first nlodeled in clay or wax and a plaster east t~lken from it ; this serves as a pattern from which the matrix is moulded. The saturation by water prevents the burning or charring of the material not immediately in contact with the metah

Mr. John E. Wootten exhibited and explained a working model of P. C. Clark's Patent Reciprocating Propeller. Two engines rotate

shaft, having at each end cranks to which are connected the upper ends of bars whose lower ends are paddles ; the bars are connected to the boat by a vibrating link, which permits the points of attachment to ttfe bar to have vertical but not horizontal motion ; thus, the pad- dies describe an ellipse. A sliding-box at the upper end permits the bars to bc moved so as to give more or less dip to the paddles, as may be re- quire([ to suit the draft of the boat. This plan has been submitted to the Committee on Science and Art whose report may be published in this Journal.

Mr. Joseph Kaye presented a piece of the metal from the sinking head of the Floyd gun lately cast and bored at Pittsburgh, by Knapp, Rudd & Co. Mr. H. Howson and Mr, D,: S. Williamsoa gave tl~is description. The gun was cast upon a core through which a stream of cold water was constantly passing,the object being to produce metal of a uniform texture from the equal cooling and contraction of the mass. This plan has been patented by Lieut. Kodman, To exemplify the advantage of this mode.of casting and cooling, a specimen of east

396 .Bibliographical Notice.

iron cut from a shaft was placed on the table. In the middle of the piece, where the iron had retained its heat and softness for the longest time, the contraction of the surrounding parts caused the metal to assume an open, loose character, whilst the central portion was thrown into groups of spiny formation resembling frost-work. The bore of the gun is 15 inches ; length 16 feet ; total weight 24½ tons ; weight of ball 420 lbs.

Nr. II. P. Morgan explained a working model of a wagon intended either for rail or ibr common roads, in which the usual flat tyer wheels were caused to track upon raits by the guidance of supplementary wheels which are lowered by mechanism and sup ply the place of flanches. An ingenious arrangement of links causes each set of supplementary ~heels to retain their parallelism with their principal wheels when the curves are being passed. The plan is submitted to the Committee on Science and Art.

A hose coupling designed by Mr. Joseph Singer was laid upon the table for inspection. It is simple in construction and instantaneous in in its operation, by the movement of a jointed lever, whose forked ends abut upon the joined coupling at opposite points, whilst its two pivots are held by lugs attached to the coupling in such a way that adjustment may be obtained. A ring of leather forms the water- joint. This plan has been submitted to the Committee on Science and Art.

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL :NOTICE.

The Dental Cosmos: A Monthly Record of Dental Science. Edlte4 by J. D. WnrrE, M. D., D. D. S., J. H. NCQUI~LE~, D. D. S., an4 GEORGE J. Z~EaL~R, M. D. : Philada., Jones & White, Publishers.

This spirited Monthly is an improved continuation of a well-estab- lished and long-known Quarterly, The _Dental News .Letter, under new name more in accordance with the aims and objects of its pub- lishers and editors, viz : " t o present its readers with a faithful ex- hibit of the dental world."

The 2Dental News Letter was established in 1847 under the editorial supervision of Dr. J. R. McCurdy, who alone conducted it for the first six years of its existence whilst, for the remaining six years, his labors and responsibilities were shared by Dr. J. D. White, one of the editors of the present Journal, and its value was much enhanced dur- ing the latter part of this time by the addition of a :Periscopic depart- ment managed by Dr. S. S. White. Doubtless, this issue has had much to do in cementing the scientific bonds of the dental profession, in this State and elsewhere, by affording a special medium for the communi- cation of important practical results, and by stimulating that generous individual rivalry which elevates the profession as a mass, while il; benefits the public in the same proportion.