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1817*1 Wind of a Ball.-were fractured without any mark of contusion externally.With respect to the cause, it was the opinion of Dr. Blane that it proceeded, “ perhaps, from compression and tremor of the air, in consequence of its resistance to the motion of the ballbut, from the bones being sometimes broken, he considers that there must be some contact, which he explains as follows:—“It has i been ascertained that all balls and bul-5- lets, except those from rifled pieces,I have a rotary motion in their flight.| It is evident, that this motion on one [ side of the ball will coincide with the I direction of its flight, and the other will [ be in the opposite direction. Now, if f the latter part should come in contact | with any part of the body, it is conceivable that in place of carrying it away,| it would roll over it, as it were, and only I make a contusion/'[ Mr. Ellis, however, is of a different * opinion, and,observes, “that the effects usually ascribed to the wind of a ball may be considered as in their nature truly electrical, and as really caused by the agency of the subtile matter developed by the condensation of the air, during the projectile's rapid motion/' and, in support of his opinion, adduces the analogy between the phenomena observed in these cases, and in death from lightning. When we consider, however, the wonderful effects produced by the compression of air, and the excessive impulse given to the surrounding medium by, the centrifugal force of bodies moving with such velocity, we are led to adopt conclusions diametrically opposite to those of Mr. Ellis, who says, that “no force impressed upon the air, nor any motion communicated to a ball, can enable these agents, in a mechanical manner, to impair vision, paralyze the bladder, break the bones, and even to destroy life, without inflicting any visible external injury or breach of the parts/'Independent of Jhe improbability that any conductor as a metallic body could be so converted, so as to act the part of a non-conductor, and afford electric matter by friction in Its passage through the air, the theory of its being produced ; by compression appears to us to be the j most philosophical.. ; :\ Need we be surprised at the effects above-mentioned, when we turn our eyes to many familiar examples of the excessive power of compressed air? -A t-mosplieric air, when suddenly condensed, produces such a' considerable-Powers of Horses. 35extrication of caloric, that cotton, and even heated charcoal, have been set ou fire by it. The air-gun, ,and compressing pumps for kindling tinder by means of violent compression of air from a single quick stroke of the piston, are also examples; and many others might be adduced of the same nature. It appears to us, therefore, that the death of Captain Downie was owing to the wind of a ball, or to the air being so forcibly compressed by the direct and rotary motions of the bail, as to give a shock which the vital powers could not withstand, and without producing any contusion externally. Philos.London ; July 2, 1817.To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.SIR,fN reply to your correspondent T. No. 298, respecting the power of horses drawing up planes of different inclination-—I crave leave to state, that the experiment, as communicated by Mr. Wilkes to the Board of Agriculture, in the year 1800, shews that, a horse did repeatedly overcome the vis inertia, and that he did of course possess the power of drawing five tons weight up an inclined plane, rising five-sixteenths of an inch in each yard; and three tons up a like plane, rising one inch and three-quarters ,* and that without any mechanical assistance whatever—for it would be setting at nought all view of the sciences to imply, that the wheels possess any mechanical powers.The account communicated by T of stage-coaches driving at a round trot up a paved hill, with an elevation of one in twelve, say three inehes in each yard, must be received with great caution, as Holborn-hiil is rarely travelled at that rate—although it only rises two inches in each yard.If any gentleman of science shall think proper to communicate information on this subject, he will confer a peculiar obligation on all those who wish to reduce the great existing evil in forming roads in this country.A. B.To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine•SIR,IN your sixteenth volume (pages 221 and 304), occurs a dissertation entitled , Who wrote the Wisdom ? Another dissertation by the same hand, entitled, Who compiled the Ecclesiasticus? occurs in your thirty-ninth volume, page 308; and in your fortieth volume, page 407.
Newspaper Details
Monthly Magazine
London, Middlesex, GB
Fri, Aug 01, 1817
Page 67
Full Page
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