Nature's Teachings: Human Invention Anticipated by NatureWood, J. G. (John George)
History
Nature's Teachings: Human Invention Anticipated by Nature
Wood, J. G. (John George)
Inventions; Natural history
When, however, we look upon the upper surface of a recent tooth, we see
it present the appearance which is shown in the illustration. The
elongated oval marks are the edges of the hard enamel plates, while the
spaces between them are filled with the soft bony matter. It will be
evident, then, that if two teeth such as these be in opposite jaws, and
perform the task of grinding food, their surface will always be well
“faced.” Owing to the different hardness and density of the enamel and
bony substance, the latter will wear away with comparative rapidity,
leaving the former to project slightly, and thus to preserve the facing
of the natural mill.
This is, indeed, but a modification of the beautiful animal mechanism
which keeps the teeth of a rodent animal always sharp, and always
bevelled off at the proper angle. If we could invent some plan whereby,
in our millstones, we could make the facing of much harder material
than the stone, we should make an advance in the miller’s art that would
render the millstones of the future as far superior to those of the
present as are our present millstones to the hand “quern” of the Kafir
women.
Yet another improvement has to be made. Would it be possible to
construct a millstone which should not only retain its facing, but
possess the power of renewing itself in proportion as it is worn out?
This property is found in the Elephant’s tooth, and the illustration
will give a tolerably good idea of the simple and beautiful mechanism by
which it is brought into operation.
The tooth, instead of being one solid mass, consists, as I have already
stated, of a series of plates set side by side. These plates are so
constructed that they are more worn away in front than behind. In
proportion as they are worn, a new tooth is built up behind the old one,
and gradually pushes off the old one. Now, if we could only construct
millstones with such properties, we should possess an absolutely perfect
instrument.
PRESSURE OF ATMOSPHERE.
There are many useful inventions which depend on the weight of the
atmosphere and the creation of a more or less perfect vacuum. There is,
for example, the common Pump, which raises water simply by the action of
the atmosphere. A pipe passes into the water, and in that pipe an
air-tight piston is inserted. When the piston is drawn upwards a vacuum
is formed, and the water is at once forced into it by the pressure of
the atmosphere.
Then there is the graceful and useful Napier Coffee-making Machine,
consisting of a glass globe, and vase of the same material.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account