登陆注册
4620100000082

第82章

WILLIAM Fothergill Cooke was born near Ealing on May 4, 1806, and was a son of Dr. William Cooke, a doctor of medicine, and professor of anatomy at the University of Durham. The boy was educated at a school in Durham, and at the University of Edinburgh. In 1826 he joined the East India Army, and held several staff appointments. While in the Madras Native Infantry, he returned home on furlough, owing to ill-health, and afterwards relinquished this connection. In 1833-4 he studied anatomy and physiology in Paris, acquiring great skill at modelling dissections in coloured wax.

In the summer of 1835, while touring in Switzerland with his parents, he visited Heidelberg, and was induced by Professor Tiedeman, director of the Anatomical Institute, to return there and continue his wax modelling. He lodged at 97, Stockstrasse, in the house of a brewer, and modelled in a room nearly opposite. Some of his models have been preserved in the Anatomical Museum at Heidelberg. In March 1836, hearing accidentally from Mr. J. W. R. Hoppner, a son of Lord Byron's friend, that the Professor of Natural Philosophy in the University, Geheime Hofrath Moncke. had a model of Baron Schilling's telegraph, Cooke went to see it on March 6, in the Professor's lecture room, an upper storey of an old convent of Dominicans, where he also lived.

Struck by what he witnessed, he abandoned his medical studies, and resolved to apply all his energies to the introduction of the telegraph.

Within three weeks he had made, partly at Heidelberg, and partly at Frankfort, his first galvanometer, or needle telegraph. It consisted of three magnetic needles surrounded by multiplying coils, and actuated by three separate circuits of six wires. The movements of the needles under the action of the currents produced twenty-six different signals corresponding to the letters of the alphabet.

'Whilst completing the model of my original plan,' he wrote to his mother on April 5, 'others on entirely fresh systems suggested themselves, and I have at length succeeded in combining the UTILE of each, but the mechanism requires a more delicate hand than mine to execute, or rather instruments which I do not possess. These I can readily have made for me in London, and by the aid of a lathe I shall he able to adapt the several parts, which I shall have made by different mechanicians for secrecy's sake. Should I succeed, it may be the means of putting some hundreds of pounds in my pocket. As it is a subject on which I was profoundly ignorant, until my attention was casually attracted to it the other day, I do not know what others may have done in the same way; this can best be learned in London.'

The 'fresh systems' referred to was his 'mechanical' telegraph, consisting of two letter dials, working synchronously, and on which particular letters of the message were indicated by means of an electro-magnet and detent. Before the end of March he invented the clock-work alarm, in which an electro-magnet attracted an armature of soft iron, and thus withdrew a detent, allowing the works to strike the alarm.

This idea was suggested to him on March 17, 1836, while reading Mrs.

Mary Somerville's 'Connexion of the Physical Sciences,' in travelling from Heidelberg to Frankfort.

Cooke arrived in London on April 22, and wrote a pamphlet setting forth his plans for the establishment of an electric telegraph; but it was never published. According to his own account he also gave considerable attention to the escapement principle, or step by step movement, afterwards perfected by Wheatstone. While busy in preparing his apparatus for exhibition, part of which was made by a clock-maker in Clerkenwell, he consulted Faraday about the construction of electro-magnets, The philosopher saw his apparatus and expressed his opinion that the 'principle was perfectly correct,' and that the 'instrument appears perfectly adapted to its intended uses.' Nevertheless he was not very sanguine of making it a commercial success. 'The electro-magnetic telegraph shall not ruin me,' he wrote to his mother, 'but will hardly make my fortune.' He was desirous of taking a partner in the work, and went to Liverpool in order to meet some gentleman likely to forward his views, and endeavoured to get his instrument adopted on the incline of the tunnel at Liverpool; but it gave sixty signals, and was deemed too complicated by the directors. Soon after his return to London, by the end of April, he had two simpler instruments in working order. All these preparations had already cost him nearly four hundred pounds.

On February 27, Cooke, being dissatisfied with an experiment on a mile of wire, consulted Faraday and Dr. Roget as to the action of a current on an electro-magnet in circuit with a long wire. Dr. Roget sent him to Wheatstone, where to his dismay he learned that Wheatstone had been employed for months on the construction of a telegraph for practical purposes. The end of their conferences was that a partnership in the undertaking was proposed by Cooke, and ultimately accepted by Wheatstone. The latter had given Cooke fresh hopes of success when he was worn and discouraged. 'In truth,' he wrote in a letter, after his first interview with the Professor, 'I had given the telegraph up since Thursday evening, and only sought proofs of my being right to do so ere announcing it to you. This day's enquiries partly revives my hopes, but I am far from sanguine. The scientific men know little or nothing absolute on the subject: Wheatstone is the only man near the mark.'

同类推荐
  • 三无性论

    三无性论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 医方论

    医方论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 紫皇炼度玄科

    紫皇炼度玄科

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 重阳席上赋白菊

    重阳席上赋白菊

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 胎息秘要歌诀

    胎息秘要歌诀

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 李中昊的冰淇淋

    李中昊的冰淇淋

    小小的一次旅游,到了家门口李中昊才发现被一位美少女给跟踪了,来者还是一位韩国MM,可笑的是,这位MM竟然被自己的一杯冰淇淋给打动了,随后二人展开了一场浪漫温馨的爱情故事~~~~~~冰淇淋,也就是本文的女主人翁,完美的诠释了什么样的女生才是男生们所喜欢的类型~~~
  • 财妻撩人:王爷开个价

    财妻撩人:王爷开个价

    有啥别有病,没啥别没银子!人家重生都是金尊玉贵,到她这里就是三餐不继,小命不保。苏清晏表示不服!没银子,我赚!极品亲戚,我打!但这个帅王爷是哪来的?来,来,王爷您开个价!一生一世,用银几何?--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 如渊漂流记

    如渊漂流记

    王歆可头一次因为一件不小不大的事情失态,就被魔头(假)如渊真君中意,试图带她走向一统诸天万界的伟大征程。王歆可证道之时,对诸天万界说:“吾道是为打破虚伪,探求真理。”白如渊补充道:“还要把你们都缝起来。”
  • 彼时花开君不知

    彼时花开君不知

    有些人,终究会是心底隐秘角落里的暗恋;而有些人,才是陪你看完每一场花开花落的等待。花开曾以为,池郁会是她此生唯一的美好,隐藏在心底的角落里,然后随她一起慢慢消失。直到她遇见了周卿言——他几乎是突如其来地出现在她的生活里,还带着无数秘密。他的身份,她的身世,十多年前的灭门惨案与阴谋……真相一点点被揭开,曾经的那些安静美好的生活与她仿佛已隔着一世。当谎言和仇恨缓缓落幕,那颗爱情的种子也已在两人心中生根、发芽、开花。彼时尚有花开,君知否?
  • 孩子他爸给我滚

    孩子他爸给我滚

    都说舍不得孩子套不住狼,只是为什么他连孩子都出动了,还是不能把她留在身边?明明她的彪悍令男人都望而止步,而又是为什么偏偏在他盯上她之后却一大堆男人跑出来瞎搅合?喂,对没错就是你,别以为是国际巨星就很了不起,松开你的进口咸猪手!喂喂,还有你,别以为你是小孩子我就不敢打你,小屁孩一边玩泥巴去,别缠着我的女人!我的天呀,大爷你牙齿都快掉光了吧?这女人有暴力侵向,你这幅老骨头吃不消,这份罪还是让我来受吧。***片段展示***“你不是说我是你唯一的男人吗?”“你不知道善变是女人的特长,说谎是女人的专利吗?”“可是你哪一点向女人?”“那我就爷们一点咯。”下一秒,男人已经被女人很爷们地摔在地上,而且是过肩摔!***“小姐能请你跳支舞吗?”“不好意思我不会跳。”“没关系,我来教你好了。”“那好吧,跳不好别生气哦。”一支曲子还没有完,男人已经被女人“不小心”踩了N次,这女人存心要他的脚报废的吧?***“嫁给我,我会全心全意一辈子只对你一个人好。”“才一个破戒指就想换我的一辈子,你想得美!”女人接过那束娇艳的玫瑰花狠狠地往男人脸上砸,男人不但丢脸还差点毁容。
  • 一品废材妃

    一品废材妃

    【宠文一对一,身心干净,男强女强】天才变废材,死了三天活过来。美貌无双,却温柔善良毫不搭边。男人,犯贱就打出去!姐妹,挑衅就断其手脚!尖酸刻薄睚眦必报,手段狠辣无人敢惹……大学士断言,此女无人敢要,但——某王爷偏拿她当宝。某女:王爷,你是该多重口味?!*他问:怎样才能找到既漂亮温柔、功力又高……的娘子?她答:脱衣、上床、吹灯、盖被……睡觉做梦!后来——他为她脱衣、上床、吹灯、盖被……一起做梦!
  • 博弈学(历代经典文丛)

    博弈学(历代经典文丛)

    对博弈论稍有了解的人,都会知道“囚徒困境”这个名词,这是博弈论中一个基本的模型,也是“非合作性博弈”的典型模式。简言之,这一模式代表了处于相同困境状态下,不同的人面对同样的几种选择,最后必将背叛其他人,作出最利于自己的选择的一种情况。
  • 角天

    角天

    黑暗的中世纪时代,角斗士沐浴着鲜血成长,只为在战场中争出一条生路。强敌阻拦,异兽践踏,贵族弄权,恶魔肆掠……世界的秩序早已分崩离析。卑贱的生命不甘作为困兽,冲出牢笼,就算死也要死在广袤的大地上!角天者,与天相角;角天者,把天锤爆!传奇的开篇,从最底层开始……
  • 总裁的魔掌

    总裁的魔掌

    【简介】:据说,当年她追他的故事,直到如今,依旧是Y大被人津津乐道的传奇。据说,毕业的时候,她终于将他追到手,两人举行了盛大的结婚典礼。逢着同学会时,大家追问那段过往,她总是看着左手无名指上的戒指,淡淡的笑。婚姻,如人饮水,冷暖自知。*韩夜:安宁,我从一开始就瞧不起你,更别说爱上你!婆婆:没出息的女人,要不是我家韩夜帮你撑着,你能继续享福?小三:安宁,你知道他爱的是我,现在我怀了他的孩子,你放手吧!*当爱已成往事。她笑看他漆黑的瞳,给他留下一抹完美的背影。转身之后,摸着肚中尚未成型的婴孩,泪如雨下。她说,”韩夜,你会后悔的。“*女人,从来就不是天生的弱者。三年后,她头顶国际知名设计师桂冠,携手新欢,华丽归来。又过三个月,他的公司,传来破产的消息……【精彩片段】:{一}我用尽全力,才让自己的身子微微挪动,只这一下,却感觉到身下,冰冷的器械!大脑在刹那,变得无比清晰。有人,想要掠夺走我的孩子!冰冷的大腿,感受到器械的冷意,慢慢哆嗦起来,我躺在手术台上,一片茫然。韩夜,你回来了?是你么?你也不相信我,想要拿走属于我们的孩子?还是说,因为柳岩有了孩子,我便必须舍弃这个孩子?*{二}三年前,韩夜将最贵的戒指套在我手上,见大小正合适,嘲讽道,“看来这戒指,就是为你定做的!”婚后,我从来没有取下过它,三年的日日夜夜,它已经与我的肌肤合为一体,如今强迫取下,带下血肉一大块,就那么血淋淋的躺在韩夜纹理清晰的大掌内,好似张开血盆大口的生物,冷冷嘲笑着我。“韩夜,我们离婚吧!”*{三}韩夜从始至终,都没有低下过头,黑瞳静静看着我,说不出的绝望。可我,不敢看他,一眼也不敢!我怕,我会冲上去,杀了他,然后自杀!韩夜的母亲来了,见到血肉模糊的韩夜,心疼的拉起他,就往外走。韩夜被迫走了几步,停在我的身边,眼神静静凝望着我。走啊,你走啊!我在心里喊,嘴中却是“扑”一口,吐出一大口血来。女孩儿吓坏了,连连呼唤我,“姐姐,你没事吧?我去叫医生!”我拉住她,踉踉跄跄站起来,冲着韩夜笑,“韩夜,你满意了?你现在终于满意了吗?所有的人,都被你毁了!你现在总该满意了?”*{四}“anne姐,听说他破产了。”佳颖小心翼翼的说道。“是吗。”我垂手而立,站在落地窗前,神色冷寂的望着窗外的世界。
  • 听厉以宁讲经济学

    听厉以宁讲经济学

    本书选取了厉以宁今年来所发表的文章。