610 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



zle is generally wound with cord to give better holding surface, 

 and again the solid body is replaced by a flexible pipe made of 

 cotton-lined rubber wound with wire. This device enables the 

 fireman to change the direction of the pipe when at close quarters. 

 Spray and shut-off nozzles are used that can instantly reduce the 

 size of the stream or change it into a fine spray. The ball nozzle 

 is one of the latest inventions in this direction. A funnel-shaped 

 opening contains a ball that, when not in use, is held in place by 

 a light staple. When the stream is playing, however, the ball is 

 forced into the opening by outside pressure and an extensive 

 spray is the result. The cellar pipe is a modification of an ordi- 

 nary nozzle. Being bent and in some cases formed in the shape 

 of a letter S, it can be thrust through the floor and the stream 

 easily delivered in any direction. A similar contrivance is used 

 to extinguish a blaze between the ceiling and roof of a flat-roofed 

 building. The distributing nozzle consists of a metal globe pro- 

 vided with several nozzlelike outlets. This globe is attached to 

 the end of a line of hose, and the force of the stream causes it to 

 revolve and distribute a number of small powerful streams in 

 every direction. This is especially efficient when hung in a sub- 

 basement that is filled with smoke. There are also small sprin- 

 kling nozzles used to clear a smoky room. 



The enormous force of a fire stream renders it a difficult mat- 

 ter to retain control, and many are the accidents reported of fire- 

 men who have been disabled by failing to hold the nozzle. The 

 Perfection nozzle holder, manufactured by Samuel Eastman & 

 Company, of East Concord, N. H., is composed of two bars be- 

 tween which the nozzle lies securely strapped. Two handles are 

 on each side, and a removable bar is carried, that can be let down 

 to the ground as a brace. An inner ring at the end of the nozzle, 

 called the Hopkins patent, destroys the twisting tendency, and 

 the ground brace carries off; any electric current with which the 

 stream may come in contact. One man can safely direct a stream 

 that ordinarily would require two or three to hold it. 



Breaks in hose are mended by strapping a prepared sleeve to 

 the injured part, or inserting a convex brass plate under the break 

 and clamping to it a corresponding concave plate from the out- 

 side. To facilitate pulling hose up a ladder, through a window, 

 or over the edge of a roof, a simple hook-shaped frame, provided 

 with rollers, called the Bresnan hose hoist, is used. 



The absolute shut-off nozzles can not be used without bursting 

 the hose, unless the engine or hydrant is provided with an auto- 

 matic relief valve that will open and allow the water to run back 

 into the suction pipe. The valve can be regulated to suit the 

 pressure that the hose will stand. During the sixties several 

 valves were tried, the first very successful one being that invented 



