MECHANICS AND USEFUL ARTS. 115 



every vacant space between the walls and ceilings, and at last found exit in 

 the cellar. 



It may be here stated that the quantity of gas so liberated can exert no 

 injurious effect upon the house or its inmates indeed the result is rather 

 beneficial than otherwise upon the general health. In the case hi question, 

 the odor was not noticed to any extent in the body of the house, but after a 

 while was veiy perceptible in "the cellars. In a concentrated condition, 

 chlorine, it is well known, is most offensive, irrespirable, and destructive of 

 animal life. It, at the same time, neutralizes and destroys all other odors 

 and infectious matters. EDITOR. 



PATENT DKESS FASTENING. 



An English patent has just been issued for a style of fastening very similar 

 to the studs often employed in shirt bosoms, but much easier to operate. 

 One head is smaller than the other, and is rounded, so that it may be easily 

 thrust through round holes or metallic eyelets in the cloth, and hold until it 

 is pulled with considerable force to remove it. To facilitate both the apply- 

 ing and removing as also to insure the staying hi its place until the hole 

 becomes worn considerably too large the smaller head and also the shank 

 which connects it with the other is split into four parts, which spring slightly 

 by ttyeir elasticity, so that it contracts on entering or leaving the holes, but 

 extends to its full size when fairly in place. It would seem a very desirable 

 improvement for shirt bosoms, as it would dispense with much of the crum- 

 pling and soiling now unavoidable in fixing the ordinary studs. 



IMPROVED FISH HOOK. 



Mr. J. T. Buel, of Whitehall, N. T., has invented a new fish hook, the 

 improvement in which consists in having the upper part of the shank of the 

 hook, which is made solid or in two parts, terminate in a small barb, whereby 

 a " minnie" can be secured upon the hook more permanently, and hi a position 

 to insure the capture of the fish as surely as he bites. Also in having the 

 hook thus constructed, made in two parts, so as to allow of the lower barb 

 being turned out of line with the upper one, and so constructing the upper 

 barb that an elastic eye shall be formed by it and the shank, whereby an arti- 

 ficial minnie may be conveniently placed on or removed from the shank, and 

 a natural minnie substituted for it and twisted spirally, and thus caused to spin 

 similar to an artificial bait when hi the water. Also combining with the lower 

 barb of the improved hook, one or more minnie barbs, in a manner to form a 

 "minnie gang," and having one of the minnie barbs turn free of the lower 

 barb of the improved hook, so that, when desirable, a spiral twist may be given 

 to the natural minnie. 



IMPROVED SUGAR PAN. 



A new sugar pan has been invented in England of which the improvement 

 consists in introducing into the body of the vacuum pan a series of vertical 

 tubes, through which steam is admitted to facilitate the operation of evapo- 

 ration and crystallization. The tubes are inclosed within a cylindrical casing, 



