C6 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



y 



force applied, than any other pump, whether reciprocating or 

 rotary. 



5. When it is desirable to empty the conducting tube, as when a 

 cask has been filled, it is only necessary to reverse the motion of 

 the pump, and the excess of wine is returned to the reservoir. 

 This manoeuvre, so simple and so advantageous, is impossible 

 with any other system. 



6. The tube is easily and promptly filled. 



7. It serves to agitate the wine at the moment of sizing, by 

 forcing through the siphon a powerful current of air. 



8. Finally, this new wine-pump requires no care to keep it in 

 order ; it can be cleared with facility, or repaired, if necessary, 

 without having recourse to a special workman ; the replacing of 

 the rubber tube, after very long use, being all that is necessary. 



This pump was invented by MM. Mackintosh & Guibal, the 

 celebrated rubber manufacturers. It has been extensively used 

 by wine and beer manufacturers, who testify to its advantages. 

 By using porcelain rings for ends and joinings, it may be used in 

 pumping vinegar. If prepared rubber be substituted for the 

 natural product, the pump will be very serviceable in raising pe- 

 troleum and similar oils. Van Nost. Eng. Mag. 



A CONCRETE FROM GAS-LIME. 



It is well known that gas companies turn out of their works a 

 quantity of lime which has absorbed certain impurities from the 

 crude gas. Hitherto, the only use found for this offensive smell- 

 ing gas-lime has been the very limited one of spreading it on the 

 land and at the roots of trees for killing insects hurtful to vegeta- 

 tion. Of course this is out of the question in the case of the large 

 city gas-works, whose plant is too far removed from fields and 

 orchards, and, although it is acknowledged that gas can be better 

 purified by lime than by any other material, the trouble of re- 

 moval of the waste product has forced the adoption of other meth- 

 ods which do not involve so much expense in carriage. 



According to the London "Builder," Mr. Thomas Prideaux, of 

 Sheffield, has been exhibiting blocks of concrete, mouldings, arti- 

 ficial stone-slabs for hearthstones, and other objects, all made 

 from this refuse gas-lime ; and as it is now the subject of a patent, 

 and promises to furnish a useful material for building purposes, a 

 short account of the results obtained up to this time may be use- 

 ful. The gas-lime is ground under edge-stones, and presents at 

 first a uniform green color. In this state it forms the raw mate- 

 rial for making plaster or cement of various qualities and capabil- 

 ities. According to the purpose required, it is used in this state, 

 or it is calcined and reground and mixed with silicons matters. 

 A wall may be covered with a smooth coat, which hardens free 

 from cracks, for interiors ; basements may be covered with a dry 

 coat of cement, impervious, it is asserted, to damp, and quite 

 obnoxious, be it remarked, to cockroaches. A hearthstone may 

 be formed, and sets in a few days into a hard block of stone, as 



