390 Indelible Red Colour, — ArtificiallVood.-^Electr icily. 



ents, of which pipe-clay was the best, equalizing in intensity 

 the whin-trap itself. The latter, however, when in a state of 

 complete decomposition, will probably prove to be the best ma- 

 terial for the refrifferatinii' process. This elegant discovery of the 

 Professor promises to prove ec|ually interesting to the philosopher, 

 aiid important in its application to the common purposes of life, 

 in every climate. Whether required as a luxury in health, or as 

 a necessary in sickness, ice may at all times be readily procured. 



A gentleman at Blackbeath has found that alcohol and snow 

 or ice mixed together form an absorbent of such capacity, that 

 the temperature of snow when the alcohol is not very strong is 

 reduced from 32' to 17°. 



INDICLTBLE RED COLOUR. 



A solution of dragon's blood applied with a pencil to white 

 marble penetrates deeply, and the outline traced remains perfect, 

 as the colour docs not r-pread. This solution is found to harden 

 marble to such a degree, that if a piece partially stained be ex- 

 posed to the action of a powerful acid, so that the surface is 

 eaten away to a considerable depth, the tinted part will stand 

 out beyond the rest. The Greeks, in consequence of its pos- 

 sessing these durable qualities, were in the practice of employing 

 it to point the mouldings of their cornices. The cymatium of 

 the temple of Nemesis, at Rhamnus, is all around ornamented in 

 this manner. Where the colour has been a])plied the parts are 

 prominent ; the corrosjion of the surface having been by this 

 means prevented. The outline appears to have been lirst traced 

 with a sharjj instrument while the niarl)le was soft. — Unedited 

 ylntiqiiities oj Attica bij ike Society of Diletlcmli. 



ARTIFICIAL WOOD. 



M. Menke, of Berlin, has discovered a process for transforming 

 the saw- dust of mahogany into a soft paste, which, on exposure 

 to the air, becomes hard and solid as stone, and is therefore sus- 

 ceptible of taking and retaining the forms given to works in mar- 

 ble, wood, and bronze. It may be made to assume the colour 

 of that metal, or gilt. The articles made of it, .such as candela- 

 bra, lustres, lamps, vases, statues, ornaments of all kinds for fur- 

 niture, &c. vie in elegance with the finest works in bronze, and 

 cost only one-eighth of the present price. 



ELECTRICAL PHENOMENA. 



Cover a piece of tinfoil with any hard resinous coating about 

 l-64th of an inch thick ; place it between the rims of the uni- 

 versal discharger, and send the charge of a large jar or a battery 



through 



