430 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



on the electric current, which, of course, will last as long as 

 the machine is kept in motion. 



By this invention of Lacliguin it is claimed that one ma- 

 chine, worked by a small three horse-power engine, is capa- 

 ble of lighting many hundreds of lanterns, thus exhibiting an 

 enormous advantage and profit from its use. It promises to 

 be especially valuable from the absence of any damage aris- 

 ing from explosion or the emission into the atmosphere of 

 the products of combustion, or the accidental escape of gas. 

 It is asserted that an equal amount of light for the purpose 

 of house or street illumination can be obtained at one fifth 

 the cost of gas. 22 A, 1873, 552. 



GAS-BURNER WITH PLATINUM ATTACHMENT. 



A large part of the illuminating power of gas is lost in 

 using an ordinary burner, because the temperature of the 

 interior of the flame is too low to effect the complete com- 

 bustion of the carbon. It is claimed that this can be reme- 

 died, according to a recent Belgian patent, by introducing a 

 strip of platinum between the openings of a common fish-tail 

 burner, against which the gas plays, and which, w T hen heated, 

 causes the complete combustion of the gas, and at the same 

 time diminishes its flow. Careful photometric experiments, 

 it is said, fix the illuminating power at double that of the 

 same amount of gas consumed with an ordinary burner. 

 The accidental bending of the platinum is prevented by four 

 copper wires attached to the burner. 



A similar object is accomplished with the ordinary fish-tail 

 burner by slipping or screwing a cap, with a slit in the top, 

 over it. The gas is discharged into the very small cavity 

 thus formed, and is ignited after passing through the slit. 

 13 C, September 15, 1873, 1161. 



PURIFICATION OF EXPENDED LUBRICATING OIL. 



To accomplish this, procure a tub of about sixteen gallons' 

 capacity, supplied with one spigot at the bottom and one 

 about four inches above, and, placing in it 6^ quarts of boil- 

 ing water, introduce 2000 grains of chromate of potash, 1540 

 of soda, 1920 of chloride of calcium, and 3840 of common 

 salt. Then add fifty quarts of the oil to be purified, stir well 

 for five to ten minutes, allow to remain perfectly quiet for a 



