For The Tribune
Curious Discoveries in Science--Odours
end Sound.
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end Sound.


Freshnel had proposed an experiment by which
the velocity OF rays Of light might be measured.
II was by mirror contrived TO revolve with lu-
mcnse velocity, and while in revolution rejecting
two rays OF light from 4 common focus, but pass
inc first through medium of different refracting
power, so that the two rays OF light would touch
the revolving mirror at slight differences Of time,
and BY the differences of reflection the velocity of
LIGHT be ascertained But this revolution OF the
mirror must be thousands in a second OF time
This excessive rotation could not then be ascer-
tanned.


Since then, Mons. Arago announced TO the
Academy that Mons. Braguet has resolved this
problem, and placed before the Acadcmcians
wheel constructed by that able mechanic, which
had motion of more than two thousand tunes
per second.


But the realization OF this great rotary velocity
nv lead to other results besides those relative TO
light. 1t may bring into the domain OF science
an entire class OF phenomena hitherto abandoned
to vague chemical and culinary cnds-that Is to
say Sdrours and OdcurS.


In 1882, Mons Babinet communicated to his
Coeg;ans Of St. Louis the result OF his researches
into the nature Of OdOurs. He stated that GER
tain Odorous bcd,es may under certain circum-
stances he uuOGorous and again revived. That
Odors are reflected from mirror in he same
manner as sornd, or light, or heat. Odors are
distinct from the substances which issue them as
much 50 as sound is from the sonorous body, and
are propagated in manner analogous tn the vlo-
rations of light or sound Ii you apply the up
Of the tongue to diapason OCTAVE IN music in
vibration YOU distinctly perceive peculiar Sa-
ror or taste Now that we have the means OF
oivinc 10 wheel some thousands OF revolutions
per second, Let us suppose hollow wheel hav-
ing hollow axis-the wheel pierced with thou
sand holes at equal distances from each other
Ict this wheel rcvolve inside Of drum which is
also pierced with holes exactly corresponding with
,bosc of the whcel-this drum is fixed and when
the wheel inside of il is put in motion, the air is
of course driven by the centrifugal power to the
circumference OF the wheel and is supplied by a
stream OF air entering through the hollow axis
When the wheel is turned once in second 1t will
give a sound due to one thousand vibrations per
second. The above experiment on the dlapason
gives us reason to expect that before the greatest
velocity Of revolutions of the wheel is attained
we shall have Odors instead of Sounds from tho
wheel. So that we can then not only prove the
mature Of Odors but measure hem-and assign
the number Of uibrations necessary for certain
series Of Odors


Translated lor the American Institute. by


HENRY MEIGS, ienber.