it: 1 CHAPTER V THE VISCOMETER A very full discussion has been given of the theory of the trans- piration method. Much matter of great historical interest in regard to the various other methods has been passed over. This has been done in order to present the matter which will be of greatest use to the worker. At present the transpiration method is by all odds the most important, this superiority being based upon the following advantages: (1) It is susceptible of simple mathematical treatment. (2) It is rapid. (3) Only a small amount of fluid is required. (4) It can be used under the widest variety of conditions as regards temperature, pressure et cetera. (5) The preliminary measurements and adjustments are not difficult to make. (6) Finally, it has been tested out most thoroughly and found to be capable of the highest degree of precision. For certain purposes other methods must apparently continue to be used. Thus the pendulum method seems best suited for investigating superficial viscosity and the viscosity of solids like steel. The fall method is of great use also for certain purposes. It is quite impracticable to discuss here the almost innumerable forms of instruments which have been suggested for use, so we propose to consider briefly some of the instruments which have shown the greatest advance toward meeting the conditions of an ideal disposition of apparatus. Naturally all transpiration instruments are based upon that of PoiseuiUe; but for general purposes, his instrument was defi- cient, since the capillary terminated directly into the bath and hence the apparatus had to be refilled after each measurement. This difficulty was overcome hi two forms of apparatus designed by Pribrarn and Handl (1880), which consisted of acapillary placed between two tubes of larger bore. In the better form shown in Fig. 20, the two tubes are vertical, the capillary being bent. The advantage of this arrangement is immediately apparent 62