56 ELECTRIC LIGHTS. 



Quite recently, numerous improvements have 

 been made in the construction and operation of 

 magneto-electric machines, for a more general 

 utilization of the electric light. 1 



The principal difficulty in the practical use of 

 the electric light is the regulation of its dazzling 

 brilliancy, which is painful to the eyes, and at- 

 tended with a contrast of very dark shadows. 

 To obviate this objection, experimenters have 

 attempted to soften the brilliancy by reflection 

 from white ceilings, resembling daylight. An- 

 other difficulty occurs in the gradual wasting 

 away of the particles of the carbon points, used 

 at the break in the circuit; which the electric 

 flame must leap across, to transmit the vibrations 

 of light through the electric ether pervading the 

 particles of air. These points require , to be 

 moved nearer together by automatic apparatus, 

 to compensate for their gradual wasting away ; 

 and when the current is stopped, it is necessary 

 to reinstate the circuit by a new contact of the 

 points, and to make a new separation, for a vol- 

 taic and magneto-electric circuit are alike checked 

 by a very small interval of space. 



In attempting to avoid these difficulties, ingen- 

 ious experimenters have devised self-regulating 



1 A machine exhibited at the Fair of the American Institute in New 

 York, is described as " producing a single electric circuit for operating 

 four lamps, each equal to the light of three thousand candles, or two 

 hundred five-feet gas-burners, requiring for its maintenance a force of 

 seven-horse power." 



