If of two vessels standing on a pedestal one be full of wine and the other empty, whatever quantity of water be poured into the empty vessel, as much wine shall flow from the other.
The following is the
construction. On any pedestal, A B (fig. 23) let there be two vessels,
C D, E F, having their mouths closed by the partitions G H, K L. Let
the tube M N X O pass through the pedestal and bend upwards into the
vessels, reaching very nearly to the partitions at M and 0. In E F
place a bent siphon, P R S, the bend being near the vessel's mouth, and
one leg, shaped like a water-pipe, passing outside. Through the
partition G H let a funnel, T U, descend almost to the bottom of the
vessel, its tube being soldered into the partition. Into the vessel E F
pour wine P through a hole, Q, which must afterwards be carefully closed
again. Now, if we pour water into the vessel C D through the funnel, the
contained air will be forced out, and pass through the tube M N X 0 into
E F, and, in its turn, force out the wine contained in E F: and this
will happen as often as we pour in the water. It is evident that the
air forced out has an equal bulk with the water poured in, and that it
will force out as much wine. If no bent siphon be used, but merely a
pipe at 5, the effect will be the same, unless the force of the water be
too great for the pipe.