Dampness
The requisite degree of dampness in moulding-sand is a matter of great importance to the moulder. If too moist, steam is generated by the hot metal quicker than the vents will allow it to escape, and scabs will inevitably ensue. If not damp enough, it lacks consistency and fails to preserve its shape in the mould, being easily disturbed during the ordinary operations of moulding, and yielding too readily to the abrading action of the molten metal. See VENTING; SCABBED CASTINGS.
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Damps
a name given to certain poisonous gases formed in mines. Miners distinguish two kinds--choke damp and fire damp . Choke damp is composed largely of carbonic acid gas, and is found in the lowest levels. It will extinguish the flame of a candle. No one can live in it for a long time. Fire damp also contains carbon, combined with hydrogen and mixed with atmospheric air. It explodes in contact with a flame. Miners going to their work with lighted candles or lamps not infrequently run into fire damp before they are aware of it. Violent explosions result in the death of many men. As early as 1815 Sir Humphry Davy invented a safety lamp which consisted essentially of a cylinder of wire gauze surrounding the flame. Fire damp passes through the meshes of the gauze and burns within with a feeble blue flame. The flame of the lamp cannot pass out through the gauze without being cooled to such a degree that it cannot ignite the dangerous gases. See Davy ; Sir Humphry; Safety Lamp
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Dan
one of the sons of Jacob by his concubine Bilhah. At the time of the exodus the Danites numbered 62,700 adult males, being then the second tribe in point of numbers. Samson was a member of this tribe.
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Dana, Charles A.
Charles A. (1819-1897), an eminent American journalist. He received his education at Harvard. He became a member of the famous Brook Farm Community, and was associated with George Ripley and Parke Godwin in the editorship of the Harbinger. In 1847 he was made managing editor of the New York Tribune, a position which he held up to the time of the Civil War. In the meanwhile he colabored with Ripley in projecting and editing Appleton's American Encyclopedia in sixteen volumes. During the Civil War he was for a time assistant secretary of war. His was a busy, useful life, but he is remembered chiefly as editor of the New York Sun from 1868 onward. He belongs to the group of noted New York editors, including Greeley and Bryant. His editorials were noted for brilliancy; but toward the end he fell into a bitter partisan, pessimistic vein, seeming to think the world going wholly wrong. He failed on that account to retain his influence.
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Dana, James Dwight
James Dwight (1813-1895), an eminent American geologist. He was born at Utica, New York . He was graduated at Yale in 1833. In 1838 the United States government sent an expedition under Lieutenant Wilkes to explore and survey the southern seas. Mr. Dana was fortunate enough to be appointed the official mineralogist and geologist. Later he became Silliman professor of natural history and geology at Yale. Professor Dana contributed many articles to scientific journals. He was the author, also, of a number of textbooks, including a Manual of Geology, Textbook of Geology, The Geological Story Briefly Told, and Manual of Mineralogy. He also wrote a volume on Coral Reefs and Islands. He applied the term "Archaean" to the oldest rocks and proposed that the Archaean Age be recognized as the earliest geologic period. His classification has been adopted very generally by American geologists.
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Danaans, The
The people of the goddess Dana, often mentioned in Irish medieval romance. They were one of the three Nemedian families who survived the Fomorian victory, and returned to Ireland at a later period. By some it was said that they came out of heaven," and by others that they sprang from four cities, in which they learned science and craftsmanship, and from each of which they brought away a magical treasure. From Falias they brought the Stone of Destiny (Lia Fail) (q.v.); from Gorias an invincible sword; from Finias a magical spear; and from Murias the Cauldron of the Dagda. They were believed to have been wafted to Ireland on a magic cloud, carrying their treasures with them. After a victorious battle they took possession of the whole of Ireland, except Connacht which was given to the vanquished. The Danaans were the representatives of power and beauty, of science and poetry, to the writer of the myth; to the common people they were gods of earth. In their battles they were subject to death, but it was by magical powers that they conquered their mortal foes. 66 E
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Danakil
(singular Dankali), the Arabic and now general name for the numerous nomad and fisher tribes inhabiting the coast of N. E. Africa, from Massowah S. to Tajurrah Bay, and from there S. W. to Shoa. They belong to the Ethiopic Hamites, and are well built and slender, with features indicating an intermixture of Arab blood. In a country of waterless plains, they are generally nomads, living partly by caravan traffic and the slave-trade, but mostly on the milk of their flocks.
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Danaus
dan'a-us, in Greek legend, a grandson of Poseidon. He was the founder and king of Argos. According to the legend, he was a native of Chemnis in Upper Egypt. Fearing that his brother Aegyptus and his sons were in league against him, Danaus with his fifty daughters left his native land and, after various adventures, settled in Greece, becoming king of Argos. See Danaides
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Danbury
a city and one of the county-seats of Fairfield co., Conn.; on the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad; 62 miles N. E. of New York. It is the greatest hat-making city in the United States. It has also extensive manufactures of iron, brass, and silverplated ware, bicycles, paper, foundry and machine shop products, etc. There are a court house, public library, State normal school, high school, public parks, electric street railways and lights, Soldiers' Monument, 2 National banks, daily and weekly newspapers, etc. A temporary settlement was made here in 1684, a meeting-house was erected in 1696, and for many years the place was known by the Indian name of Paliquioque. In 1776 the place was made a depository for army stores, and when General Tryon, the British governor of New York, was informed of the fact he headed a force of over 2,000 men, landed at Norwalk, marched immediately upon Danbury, and set fire to the town and stores. Pop. (1910) 20,234; (1920) 18,943.
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