The Tempest Prognosticator would in all probability pull peachy evaluation for weather condition reporters . Like a haunted carousel living accommodations leeches in glass bottle , its inventor George Merryweather ( do n’t you just lovenominative determinism ? ) trust it could warn of great storms . In truth , the leech barometer has n’t been found to be all that dependable , but it sure is cool than some modern attempts to get people delirious about the weather .
The Tempest Prognosticator was invented in 1850 by Merryweather who was a physician and artificer from Whitby , England . As the honorary conservator of the Whitby Literary And Philosophical Society ’s Museum , it ’s said he was pep up by a crease from the poemSigns Of Rainby Edward Jenner , which spurred on his curious design .
“ The leech disturbed is newly risen ; Quite to the pinnacle of his prison house , ” – Edward Jenner ( 1749 - 1823 ) .
A replica of the Tempest Prognosticator.Image credit: By Badobadop - Own work, cropped, viaWikimedia Commons(CC BY-SA 4.0)
Merryweather started to work on ideas for his invention , ab initio given the more conservative title of “ An Atmospheric Electromagnetic Telegraph , channel by Animal Instinct ” . Eventually , he settled on a design that localize a group of12 leeches inside chicken feed bottles , on top of which was a baleen .
In the middle of the rotary contraption was a bell surrounded by 12 hammers that would surround it when the whalebone was knocked out of the bottle neck opening by a climb leech . The idea was that when low atmospheric insistence – a precursor to severe atmospheric condition – upset the leech , they would worm up in their bottles just like in Jenner ’s poem .
As they twist up , they ’d actuate the hammer , meaning a wicked storm ( storm ) was “ augur ” . Merryweather reportedly mention to the parasite as his " panel of philosophic councilors " .
So , did it ever work ? According to a correspondence in the medical news show surgical incision ofNeglected Scienceby J Jeken et al . , the Tempest Prognosticator successfully detected an oncoming and calamitous storm more than two days before it made ground .
" The disastrous storm of the month of October , 1850 , was foretold by the Tempest Prognosticator , and communicate by missive to the president of the Whitby Philosophical Society , fifty - one hours and a one-half before it take office . We interpret that Dr Merryweather signify to confine the manufacture of these pawn to the journeyman of Whitby.- Illustrated London News . ”
Merryweather wanted to demonstrate the Tempest Prognosticator at the Great Exhibition of 1851 and so its Indian synagogue - like design was inspired by Crystal Palace where the consequence would be throw . Unfortunately , the original exemplar from the exhibition was fall back and despite having created several design , the innovation never rent on .
People who are n’t buff of bloodsucking parasites might not be keen on the thought of keeping a gang of weather - predicting bloodsucker in their dwelling house , of course of action , but we recollect it ’s pretty cool . Perhaps it ’s a pity Merryweather was n’t also inspired by another transmission line from Jenner ’s memorable verse form :
“ The frog has lose his yellow vest , and in a muddied suit is dressed . ”
Now there ’s a project we can all get behind .
