POPULAR MISCELLANY. 



137 



not by the chemist. Without detracting 

 from the present value of biological meth- 

 ods, we can not believe that they can re- 

 place chemical examination for a long time 

 yet ; it must first become certain that all the 

 evil effects of impure water are due to the 

 organisms now so eagerly studied. When 

 the biological examination of water has 

 been placed on a firm basis, it will then be 

 necessary to carry out the work begun by 

 Professor Mallet, of discovering the chemi- 

 cal characteristics which belong to waters 

 which a biological examination condemns, 

 and of making the characteristics the basis 

 of future chgmical analysis. In the matter 

 of the pollution of streams by sewage, there 

 is much chemical work to be done." Chem- 

 istry may be made of service to public 

 health by investigating the actual state of 

 existing evils ; in suggesting practical reme- 

 dies for them ; and in the examination of 

 foods and drinks. The education of those 

 who propose to follow these lines of work 

 requires a thorough knowledge of general 

 and analytical chemistry, and of physics. 

 " There is room in the community for a 

 class of persons knowing a little engineer- 

 ing, a little chemistry, a little biology, and 

 a little of other things, an occupation legiti- 

 mate and honorable, but one which does not 

 justify our calling a person so posted a sani- 

 tary engineer or chemist." 



Professor Prescott gave the results of 

 experiments in fixing the limits of recovery 

 of certain poisons when mixed with organic 

 matter. 



Professor F. P. Dunnington described a 

 method of fixing crayon-drawings, by sat- 

 urating them with a preparation composed 

 of one part of Damar varnish and twenty- 

 five parts of turpentine. The drawings are 

 made on unsized manila paper. When dried 

 after treatment, they are ready for use. 



Professor Mabery, and the Messrs. 

 Cowles, of Cleveland, Ohio, presented a 

 paper on a new electric furnace and the 

 reduction of aluminum and other metals 

 rare in the metallic state, and the formation 

 of a number of new useful alloys by its 

 aid. Experiments were made in the inquiry 

 for the best means of obtaining a contin- 

 uous high temperature on an extensive 

 scale. It was found that by introducing 

 coarsely pulverized carbon, mixed with the 



oxide to be reduced, and applying the elec- 

 tric current, reduction was effected and the 

 temperature was raised to such an extent 

 that the whole interior of the retort fused 

 completely. In other experiments lumps of 

 lime, sand, and corundum were fused, with 

 indications of a reduction of the correspond- 

 ing metal ; on cooling, the lime formed 

 large, well-defined crystals, and the corun- 

 dum beautiful red, green, and blue octahe- 

 dral crystals. Following up these experi- 

 ments. Professor Mabery found that the in- 

 tense heat thus produced could be utilized 

 for the reduction of oxides in large quan- 

 tities ; and it has already been found that 

 aluminum, silicon, boron, magnesium, man- 

 ganese, sodium, and potassium, can be ob- 

 tained from their oxides with ease. Good 

 commercial results have been derived from 

 the application of the process, in the man- 

 ufacture of aluminum-bronze of various 

 grades, and possessing superior qualities of 

 one kind or another according to the grade ; 

 of silicon-bronze, which promises to afford 

 the best material for electric wires ; and of 

 boron-bronze, in which boron appears to 

 have almost the same effect when added to 

 copper as carbon when added to iron in 

 the manufacture of steel. 



The question, " What is the best initi- 

 atory work for students entering upon labo- 

 ratory practice ? " was discussed. Professor 

 II. W. Wiley insisted on the importance of 

 training the novitiates in habits of accuracy 

 — that they should understand at once that 

 chemical science is no guess-work, but a sci- 

 ence of definite proportions. Professor R. 

 B. Warder thought it was better to begin 

 with metals than with gases, and Professor 

 F. P. Dunnington suggested a course of 

 metallurgy and assaying. Mr. Thomas An- 

 tisell remarked that much depended on the 

 object of instruction — whether it was given 

 only as a part of a liberal education, or with 

 the view of making chemistry a profession. 

 Professor Prescott thought that students 

 should, in analytical work, practice first on 

 known bodies before beginning on un- 

 known ; and that too much reliance should 

 not be placed on laboratory work alone, 

 which should be associated with rigid class- 

 work in the lecture and recitation rooms. 

 Professor Mabery would have young people 

 begin with common phenomena, master the 



