FIG. 10.

Crown

ference to receive sediment, thus forming a core to that height. The marked crown (fig. 12) was then prepared by fixing across it, near to the lower edge, a stout bar, on the under side of which were three strong steel points, arranged in a straight line on the marked diameter. One steel point was placed on either side of the centre, at a distance therefrom of 5 inches, the third being at 4 inches from the centre. This served to distinguish one of marked Dameter end of the bar from the other. The crown was placed over the hole at the ground level, with the points of the three punches in a line between the two fixed pointers, and was lowered without rotation. The

Line

Scale, 1 in. to 2 ft.

Cutter

weight of the rods was allowed to come on the points, forcing them a short distance into the stone, after which the crown was raised, again without twist, the proof of this being that it returned with its line of points exactly in their starting position. The core, when broken off and

Scale, 1 in. to 2 ft.

brought up, exhibited distinctly the three punch marks, indicating the line whose bearing was known. The boring was then continued 2 feet deeper, and an attempt was made to take a wax impression of the markings, but the attempt proved only, that the smooth surface, to which the

stone had been planed off in order to its being marked with punches, prevented its yielding a proper recognisable impression, owing probably to adhesion between the two surfaces. The core was therefore detached and drawn up. It came to the surface in several pieces, but, as the lines of fracture extended below the bottom of the shallow groove which existed when the punch marks were made, it was evident that no fracture had taken place before the rock was marked.

It then remained, in the first place, to measure the angle between the direction of dip and the diameter marked on the crown or tube; secondly, to ascertain, by a compass placed beyond the influence of the ron of the boring machinery, the angle between the direction of the fixed pointers to which the marked diameters were set and the magnet meridian; and, thirdly, to learn from an authentic source, the angle then obtaining between the magnetic and the true meridian. By this process it was easily determined that the direction of the dip of the Silurian Rock at Ware, at a depth of 828 feet below the surface, and 31 feet below the top of the stratum, is about one degree west of true south. This is a mean between the angles derived from the two distinct experiments, the variation between them having been 1° 12'. The angle of dip is 41° from the horizon, as was clearly shown by layers of fossils, along which the stone

easily fractured.

At Turnford, the general arrangement of the boring apparatus was much the same as at Ware, the only difference of any consequence being, that the rods were connected up in 20 feet instead of in 30 feet lengths. The means employed in determining the direction of dip were somewhat similar to those already described, but greater difficulty was encountered in obtaining reliable results. The complete success that had attended the experiments at Ware warranted the belief that there would not be the Same necessity for repetition as when the methods were first tried; but at the same time it was recognised that every result must in some way be corroborated before it could be accepted as correct.

The

In the first instance, three cutters, for making vertical lines on the outside of the core in the way I have already described, were used. precautions which had been successfully adopted to guard against the angular motion of the marking tool in its descent and ascent were again employed. But while the said tool was being lowered, an inconsiderate handling of the apparatus by one of the workmen gave rise to the fear slight disturbance of the true adjustment of that apparatus had been thereby caused. The marker, on being raised to the surface, came it went down, but showed a rotation of 12 of an inch at the circumference, up, not, as had hitherto happened, in the same position as that from which equal to an angle of 5° 50'. Considering the circumstances attending interference that had taken place during the lowering, it was considered a fair inference that the core had been marked with the tool

that some

the

it before it was sent down.

An endeavour was then made to obtain a cast in wax cement in much

that had broken away from the top of the core having fallen against the

side of the hole,

still it. Although no information was to be looked for in this instance, so that the tube carrying the wax could not be got down umalas a test of the accuracy of the operation, the rods were guided as ascent, and when they came up were found not to

during their

have twisted in the least.

The 'extractor' was then lowered to break off and draw up the core. A length of 18 inches only was brought to the surface, and this was in three pieces. Upon each of these pieces the vertical marks of the cutters were found, and the lines were seen to be so cut as to show that when they were made, the parts of the core were yet in their relative positions. The force, moreover, which had to be applied to break the core before it could be raised, as well as the unrubbed condition of the lowest of its pieces, sufficed to prove that all the parts were in situ at the time at which they were marked.

A length of core still remaining fixed at bottom, the wax was sent down again. This time, the bottom of the marking tube lodged for an instant during its descent on the top of a lining tube some 800 feet down, but at once swung off, giving a shock to the rods that caused the radial arm to strike against the staging and turn slightly round on the rod to which it was clamped. The lowering was then completed, the impression taken, and the tube brought up again. It was found to have turned through an angle of 3° 11' from the direction in which it stood before being lowered. Taking into consideration the fact that when no accidental disturbance occurred no variation was observable, and that the direction of the displacement corresponded with what would be caused by the blow on the arm, it was clearly justifiable to assume that the angular movement observed was entirely attributable to the shifting of the descending pointer at the time of the lodgment on the side of the hole. By taking the bearing of the marked diameter as it returned to the surface instead of as it commenced to go down, the error due to the misfortune was corrected. When the core was brought up there was no difficulty in fitting the wax cast to the rock and transferring the diametrical line.

The two experiments gave identical results, and from this it was computed that the direction of the dip of the Devonian Rock at Turnford at a depth of 994 feet below the surface, and 14 feet below the top of the stratum, is about 17° west of true south. The angle of dip is about 25° from the horizon, as shown by numerous layers of fossils.

It thus appears that at both places these ancient rocks dip in directions lying between south and sou'-sou'-west, and by placing on a geological map of the south-eastern portion of England lines to show the ascertained bearings (fig. 13), it is at once seen that the greatest inclinations of the strata are, roughly speaking, at right angles to the directions of the chief axes of the Weald. Soon after the completion of the borings a statement seems to have been made, without due authority, that the general direction of the dip had been found to be towards the south-east, and, unfortunately, the mistake does not seem to have been publicly refuted until now. It is time that this misconception were removed, for geologists who are interested in the search for coal in the eastern counties evidently attach considerable importance to a correct knowledge of the disposition of these Paleozoic rocks.

Mathematical accuracy could not be expected in operations of this nature, but I believe the bearings of the lines of dip at both places, as herein given, may be looked upon as practically correct, the maximum possible error being not more than one degree east or west. Before the various appliances were perfected there occurred numerous failures to which no reference has been made, but the details given tend to show that no trouble was spared to attain satisfactory results. More than a month was entirely devoted to this ascertainment of the direction of the dip at each place, and in some cases several days were spent in a single operation of lowering and

raising the rods. It will be admitted that all was done with due delibera tion and care, whilst the composition of the Committee was a guarantee that the methods employed were the best adapted for the purpose.

With regard to the still more important question that the New River Company undertook to solve, viz., that of the existence or the non-existence of the Lower Green Sand beneath the district north of London, it will be generally felt that, although very large sums of money were spent, there is no reason for regretting the expenditure, inasmuch as it decided a question of the greatest importance to the Metropolis.

I am glad to have had the opportunity of making known some of the facts connected with this inquiry, and hope that sufficient evidence has been brought forward to prove that the statements now made with respect to the lie of the Palæozoic rocks at Ware and Turnford may be accepted as perfectly trustworthy.

Physiological Applications of the Phonograph.-Report by the Committee, consisting of Professor JOHN G. MCKENDRICK (Chairman), Professor G. G. MURRAY, Mr. DAVID S. WINGATE, and Mr. JOHN S. MCKENDRICK, on the Physiological Applications of the Phonograph, and on the True Form of the Voice-curves made by the Instrument.

THE work of the Committee, up to the present time, has devolved almost entirely upon Dr. McKendrick, who has embodied the results of his researches in the paper published in the number for July 1895 of the 'Journal of Anatomy and Physiology,' of which the following is an abstract :

1. Increasing the Volume of Tone.-The Committee have succeeded in accomplishing this (1) by the use of conical resonators, of great size, and made of tin or aluminium; and (2) by combining with the phonograph Alfred Graham's transmitter and loud-speaking telephone.

2. Study of the Marks on the Cylinder of the Phonograph.-The physical nature of the marks on the wax cylinder have been investigated in the following three ways: (1) Taking a cast in celloidin of the surface of the cylinder; (2) taking micro-photographs of portions of the surface of the cylinder; and (3) recording the curves on a slowly moving surface. The best results were obtained by methods (2) and (3), and these will be found fully described and illustrated by three plates in the 'Journal of Anatomy and Physiology' for July 1895, vol. xxix. (new series; vol. ix., part iv.), p. 583.

The Committee desire reappointment and an additional grant of 251. It is proposed to carry out the following work during the year 1895-6:1. To continue the investigation of phonographic curves, especially those of the voice, and to submit these to harmonic analysis.

2. To obtain phonographic records of dialects, with the view of ascertaining how far such records could be made available for philological purposes. It has been suggested that such a series of records, deposited in the British Museum, might in after times, long after dialects had become altered or had disappeared, be of great value to philologists.

3. To endeavour to obtain phonographic records of cardiac and respiratory sounds.