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The Seven Follies of Science To Which is Added a Small Budget of Interesting Paradoxes, Illusions, Marvels, and Popular Fallacies. A Popular Account of the Most Famous Scientific Impossibilities and the Attempts which Have Been Made to Solve Them. With Numerous Illustrations By John Phin Author of "The Evolution of the Atmosphere" "How to Use the Microscope" ; "The Workshop Companion" ; "The Shakespeare Cyclopaedia M" ; Editor Marquis of Worcester's "Century of Inventions," etc. Third Edition, Greatly Enlarged New York D. Van Nostrand Company 25 Park Place 1912 Copyright 1906, 19X2, by D. Van Nostrand Company Preface In the following pages I have endeavored to give a simple account of problems which have occupied the attention of the human mind ever since the dawn of civilization and which can never lose their interest until time shall be no more. While to most persons these subjects will have but an historical interest, yet even from this point of view they are of more value than the history of empires, for they are the intellectual battlefields upon which much of our progress in science has been won. To a few, however, some of them may be of actual practical importance, for although the schoolmaster has been abroad for these many years, it is an unfortunate fact that the circle-squarer and the perpetual-motion-seeker have not ceased out of the land. In these days of almost miraculous progress it is difficult to realize that there may be such a thing as a scientific impossibility. I have therefore endeavored to point out where the line must be drawn, and by way of illustration I have added a few curious paradoxes and marvels, some of which show apparent contradictions to known laws of nature but which are all simply and easily explained when we understand the fundamental principles which govern each case. In presenting the various subjects which are here discussed, I have endeavored to use the simplest language and to avoid entirely the use of mathematical formulae for I know by large experience that these are the bugbear of the ordinary reader, for whom this volume is specially intended. Therefore I have endeavored to state everything in such a simple manner that any one with a mere common school education can understand it. This, I trust, will explain the absence of everything which requires the use of anything higher than the simple rules of arithmetic and the most elementary propositions of geometry. And even this I have found to be enough for many lawyers, physicians, and clergymen who in the ardent pursuit of their professions have forgotten much that they learned at college. And as I hope to find many readers amongst intelligent mechanics, I have in some cases suggested mechanical proofs which any expert handler of tools can easily carry out. As a matter of course, very little originality is claimed for anything in the book, the only points that are new being a few illustrations of well-known principles, some of which had already appeared in "The Young Scientist" and "Self-education for Mechanics." Whenever the exact words of an author have been used, credit has always been given; but in regard to general statements and ideas, I must rest content with naming the books from which I have derived the greatest assistance. Ozanam's "Recreations in Science and Natural Philosophy," in the editions of Hutton (1803) and Riddle (1854), has been a storehouse of matter. Much has been gleaned from the "Budget of Paradoxes" by Professor De Morgan and also from Professor W. W. R. Ball's "Mathematical Recreations and Problems." Those who wish to inform themselves in regard to what has been done by the perpetual-motion-mongers must consult Mr. Dirck's two volumes entitled "Perpetuum Mobile" and I have made free use of his labors. To these and one or two others I acknowledge unlimited credit. Some of the marvels which are here described, although very old, are not generally known, and as they are easily put in practice they may afford a pleasant hour's amusement to the reader and his friends. Paterson, N.J., July 1906. John Phin Preface to Second Edition The notable favor with which the first edition of this work has been received has encouraged the author to enlarge it by the addition of some new problems and the discussion of an entirely new department of popular misconception and error. The numerous personal letters which he has received convince him that a book which gave a simple and popular view of the old so-called "scientific" impossibilities was needed, for very many of those who had heard of the problems discussed in these pages had the most erroneous ideas as to their real nature, although the principles involved in most of them are the foundation of almost all our scientific knowledge. And so the author hopes that the subjects which have been added to this edition will be as useful and as interesting as those already presented. Paterson, N.J., March 20th, 1906. John Phin Contents Preface The Seven Follies of Science Introductory Note I Squaring the Circle II The Duplication of the Cube III The Trisection of an Angle IV Perpetual Motion V The Transmutation of Metals Alchemy VI The Fixation of Mercury VII The Universal Medicine and the Elixir of Life Page 9 30 33 36 79 92 95 Additional Follies Perpetual or Ever-burning Lamps 100 The Alkahest or Universal Solvent 104 Palingenesy 106 The Powder of Sympathy A Small Budget of Paradoxes, Illusions, and Marvels (With Apologies to Professor De Morgan) The Fourth Dimension 117 How a Space may be apparently Enlarged by merely changing its Shape 126 Can a Man Lift Himself by the Straps of his Boots? 128 How a Spider Lifted a Snake 130 How the Shadow may be made to move backward on the Sundial 133 How a Watch may be used as a Compass 134 Micrography or Minute Writing. Writing so fine that the whole Bible, if written in characters of the same size, might be inscribed twenty-two times on a square inch. 136 Page VIII Illusions of the Senses Taste and Smell Sense of Heat Sense of Hearing Sense of Touch One Thing Appearing as Two _______________________________________last_pages_______________________________ Redhoeffer's perpetual motion. 72 Rice paper 223 Rosicrucius 100 Rule, exception proves 213 Rutherford 16 PAGS Sanchoniathon 189 Schott, Father, and palingenesy. 107 Schweirs, Dr. 52 Scott, Michael, and his slave demons 6 Scott, Sir Walter, bastard editions. Legend of the great Wizard Michael Scott 6 Powder of sympathy 112 Sealing wax 223 Self-moving railway carriage... Sense possibility of a new 123 Senses illusions of Taste and smell Heat and cold Hearing Touch Sight size of spot Length of lines Direction of lines Objects seen through hand Looking through a brick. Serpent, forked tongue not a weapon Serpent, has no sting in tail. Shadow going backward on dial. Taste and smell illusions Tides clock moved by 40 Will be the great source of power of the future 40 Tidy, Professor 185 Time it would take Archimedes to move the world. 171 INDEX PAGE Tongue of serpent Touch, sense of, deceived Transmutation of the metals Ancient fables Hermes Trismegistus Treatises not allegorical Seven metals Metals named after planets. Methods of cheating "Brief of the Golden Calf." Story of unknown Italian. Possibility of effecting Sir William Ramsay Effect of such discovery on our 200 15 79 79 80 81 82 82 83 84 87 88 89 currency system "Tribune," New York Trisection of angle Tube and balls $6 Tube and rope 59 Tyndall, Professor John Universal medicine. See Elixir of Life Van Ceulen, Rudolph Vinegar, Hannibal's use of 197 Virgil on raising bees Volcanoes not burning mountains. Wallich, Dr. Walton, Isaac Watch that is wound by walking. Used as a compass Watt, James, and the steam-engine Wax, sealing Webb micrographs Whalebone not bone Whetstones why oiled Whewell's refutation of 3* ratio. Wilkins, Bishop Witchcraft or magic Worcester, Marquis of Words, changes in Worms bred in decaying carcass. Worms shall not eat us Wormwood Writing, fine 35 178 39 134 182 223 14* 224 185 28 4 "3 74 219 207 204 224 *39 Young, Dr. Thomas Return Circulation Department TO 202 Main Library F7598 254318 U.C. 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