486 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



the Seeley & Robbins processes, is cheaper and more effect- 

 ive than any other, this consisting essentially in impregnating 

 the timber by boiling it in coal-tar with carbolic acid. Re- 

 port. 



IMITATION MARBLE. 



Mr. J. Terwer, of Trier, announces that he has succeeded 

 in making a most perfect imitation of marble in a new and 

 very simple manner. He uses carbonate of lime, without 

 any cement or high pressure, and the product is as hard and 

 easily polished as the best marble, and is readily colored in 

 any shade, even to the most intense black. As the mass, 

 while in a plastic state, is readily worked into any shape and 

 form, its applicability for ornamental walls, floors, furniture, 

 etc., is very great ; but the inventor especially directs atten- 

 tion to its value in furnishing material for the finer mosaics, 

 which often consist of 150 pieces to the square inch. Con- 

 venient forms, brilliant colors in all shades, greatest durabil- 

 ity, even in the thinnest stratum of inlaid work, etc., are 

 promised. 5 (7, xvl, 126. 



FIRE-PROOFING COMPOSITIONS. 



A Vienna chemist enumerates and criticises several meth- 

 ods recommended and employed for rendering woven fabrics 

 less inflammable. He considers tunsgate of soda, as proposed 

 by other chemists, as quite efficient, but entirely too expen- 

 sive ; and he assures us that most satisfactory results are 

 obtained by the simple solution of four parts of borax and 

 three parts of Epsom salt. The only precaution necessary 

 is, that the solution (which is easily made by adding three or 

 four parts of warm water to one of the mixture) be used im- 

 mediately, since the active principle, the insoluble borate of 

 magnesia, soon precipitates. 14 G, March, 1872. 



NEW FIRE-ENGINE. 



The English Mechanic publishes the description and figure 

 of a fire-engine on an entirely new principle. This consists 

 in charo-ino- the water used with carbonic acid and nitrogen. 

 A special merit is in the remarkably cheap method of ob- 

 taining the carbonic acid, which is made by drawing atmos- 

 pheric air through a charcoal fire, and forcing it into a tank 



