12 
POPULAR SCIENCE ]S[EWS. 
[January, 1890. 
with four exceptions, by an average of 14.9, — thus 
indicating the approximate general average direc- 
tion for November to be W. I'j^ 17' N., showing 
the past montli to have been a near average. The 
relative progressive distance travelled b\' the wind 
the past month was 56.05 units, and during the last 
twenty Novembers 1,003 such units, an average of 
50.15, — showing less opposing winds the past month 
than usual. 
The direction of the wind the last autumn was 
W. 23° 39' N., and the distance travelled 114 6 units; 
and during the last twenty autumns the average 
direction has been W. 13° 30' N., and the distance 
travelled 2,191 such units, — showing that the winds 
have been lo'-" 9' more northerly, and less opposing 
winds, the last autumn than usual. D. W. 
Natick, Dec. 5, 1889. 
[Specially Computed for The Popular Science News.} 
ASTRONOMICAL PHENOMENA FOR 
JANUARY, 1890. 
The earth is in perihelion on the morning of 
January 2. Mercury comes to eastern elongation 
on the evening of January 13, when it is a little less 
than 19° distant from the sun. At the beginning of 
the month it is about 15° distant, and sets an hour 
later. It can probably be seen any evening during 
the first half of the month, when the sky is very 
clear, low down in the western horizon, soon after 
sunset. During ths latter half of the month it 
rapidly approaches the sun, and passes inferior con- 
junction on January 29. Venus is still a morning 
star, but is too near the sun to be conspicuous. At 
the beginning of the month it is about 12° distant, 
and by the end the distance is only 2'-', It will pass 
superior conjunction on February 18, and will then 
be an evening star until next December. Mars 
rises about 1.40 A. M. on January i, and at about 1 
A. M. on January 31. During the month it moves 
somewhat rapidly eastward through the eastern 
part of the constellation Virgo. It is gradually 
approaching the earth, and will be quite a conspic- 
uous object during the spring months. It will pass 
opposition with the sun on May 27, when it will be 
three and one-half times as near the earth as it was 
on January i. Jupiter is not in good position for 
observation in January, on account of its nearness 
to the sun. It passes conjunction on the morning 
of January 10, and becomes a morning star ; by the 
end of the month it has receded to a distance of 
about 17'^', and may possibly be seen in the early 
morning twilight. Saturn is in the constellation 
Leo, and is moving slowly westward toward Regu- 
lus, the brightest star of the constellation. It rises 
a little before 9 P. M. on January i. and at about 
6.30 P. M. on January 31, and is on the meridian a 
little less than seven hours later. It will come to 
opposition on February 18. Uranus is in the con- 
stellation Virgo, and moves slowly eastward during 
the month. It rises at about i A. M. at the begin- 
ning, and at about 11 P. M. at the end of the month. 
It is in quadrature with the sun on January 16. 
Neptune is on the meridian at about 9 P. M. on 
January i, and at about 7 P. M. on January 31. It 
is in the constellation Taurus, between the groups 
of the Pleiades and the Hyades. As it is only 
of the eighth magnitude, it cannot be seen without 
a telescope. 
The Constellations. — The following positions of 
the principal constellations give their places at 10 
P. M. on January i, 9 P. M. on January i6, and 8 
P. M. on January 31. Auriga is near the zenith, 
the principal star, Capella, being a little north. 
Orion is just coming to the meridian on the south, 
about halfway between the zenith and horizon. Below 
and a little east of Orion is Canis Major, with 
Sirius, the brightest of the fixed stars. Nearly on 
the same level, and east of Orion, is Procyon, the 
principal star of Canis Minor. Near the eastern 
horizon is Leo; above this. Cancer, and above Can- 
cer and near the zenith is (jemini. On the north- 
east is Ursa Major, the two pointers being nearly as 
high as the pole star, and the handle of the dipper 
pointing downwards. The greater part of Ursa 
Minor is under the pole, and the brightest stars of 
Draco are very close to the northern horizon. Per- 
seus is near the zenith in the northwest; below it is 
Cassiopeia, and Cygnus iS' on the horizon. An- 
dromeda is a little north of west, below Perseus, 
and Pegasus is just below Andromeda. Pisces is 
just west of Pegasus; above Pisces is Aries, and 
above Aries and near the zenith is Taurus, with the 
groups of the Pleiades and Hyades. Cetus is in the 
southwest, and Eridanus a little west of south. 
M. 
L-VKE Forest, III., Dec. 2, 1889. 
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 
LETTER.S of inquiry should enclose a two-cent 
stamp, as well as the name and address of the wri- 
ter, which will not be published. 
Questions regarding the treatment of diseases 
cannot be answered in this column. 
K. T., Bombay, India. — Is there ^ny chemical 
substance which, when sprinkled over combustible 
bodies, will cause them to ignite.' 
Ansuter. — Phosphorus can be dissolved in bisul- 
phide of carbon, and when the solution is poured 
upon porous bodies, like paper or wood, it will 
spontaneously inflame as the liquid evaporates. 
This "liquid fire" is, however, an cxtremelv dan- 
gerous substance for inexperienced persons to 
handle, and we would not advise any experiments 
with it. 
F. I. D., New York. — What causes the fatal effect 
of powerful electric currents.'' 
Answer. — The most active cause is, undoubtedly, 
the shock given to the nervous system, but there is 
also a chemical decomposition of the bodily fluids, 
and a direct burning action, all of which may aid in 
the result. Just how electricity causes a nervous 
shock, no one knows, any more than we know what 
electricity really is. 
T. H. W., New Votk. — Is there any fu.'ible alloy 
which will melt at about 140"^ .' 
Answer. — The following mixture melts at a tem- 
peratu.e between 150° and i6o'-\ and is the most 
fusible alloy of which we have knowledge. Bis- 
muth, 50 parts; tin, 12 parts; cadmium, 13 parts; 
lead, 25 parts. Melt the lead and tin together, and 
afterwards add the bismuth and cadmium, stirring 
the mixture with a dry, clean wire. 
G. F. B., Boston. — Please give directions for mak- 
ing a mixture for blowing large and strong soap- 
bubbles. 
Answer. — We have given this recipe several times, 
but repeat it, as there may be others who have over- 
looked it. Take shavings of the best Castile soap, 
and make a saturated solution in warm water. Let 
it stand over night, and the next day pour off the 
clear liquid and add to it from one-third to one-half 
its bulk of glycerine. Shake well and it is readv 
for use. 
LITERARY NOTES. 
Chemical Technoloyy, edited by Charles Edward 
Groves and William Thorp. Vol. I., Fuel and 
Its Applications. P. Blakiston, Son & Co., Phil- 
adelphia. Price, $750. 
This is the first volume of a series of eight on 
chemical technology. It is the most exhaustive 
work that has been issued for some years, including, 
as it does, all our knowledge of chemistry as adapted 
to the arts and manufactures. The magnitude and 
importance of this work deserves a more extended 
notice, at some future time, than the limits of this 
column will allow. It is a complete compendium 
of all the existing knowledge on the subject of fuel, 
which, it may be remarked, is the very foundation- 
stone of nearly all industrial processes. We can 
recommend the work as indispensable to all who 
have control of any industrial establishment where 
the question of fuel is to be taken into consideration. 
The work is profusely illustrated, and the mechani- 
cal execution is of the superior quality of all books 
published by this well-known house. 
Mommsen's History of Rome. Abridged by C. Br\- 
ans and F. J. R. Hendy. Chas. Scribner's Sons, 
New York. Price, $1.50. 
Two English teachers have done an excellent 
work for schools and colleges in condensing Momm- 
sen's six volumes into this comely book of 542 
pages. The task has been performed with skill and 
judgment, and with a constant regard to educational 
purposes which cannot fail to win the favor of 
teachers and students. The 20-page index is a com- 
mendable feature. 
Experimental Science, by George M. Hopkins. 
Munn & Co., New York. Price, $4.00. 
This is a handsome octavo of 740 pages, with 6S0 
illustrations, devoted to experimental physics. It 
comes out very opportunely, when teachers are 
opening their eyes to the value of practical work in 
this department of instruction. It will be equallv 
useful to those who are well equipped with illustra- 
tive apparatus, and those who have to depend on 
such appliances as they can construct for them- 
selves from cheap and simple materials. The hints 
for this latter kind of work are particularly full and 
ingenious. The entire ground of school physics is 
covered by the book: the properties of bodies; rest, 
motion, and force; the mechanical powers; mole- 
cular action; hydrostatics and hydraulics : the phe- 
nomena of gases; sound, heat, light (including 
microscopy, photography, etc.), magnetism; elec- 
tricit3-, in all its forms and applications; lantern 
projection ; and the mechanical operations con- 
nected with the manipulation of glass and metals, 
and laboratory work in general. No brief notice 
can do justice to the merits of the volume, which is 
by far the best in its line that has appeared on either 
side of the Atlantic. 
The J. G. Cui)plcs Co., of Boston, have published 
a full account of Dr. Brown-Sequard's alleged new- 
discovery which has recently created so much 
interest in medical circles. It includes Dr. 
Brown-Sequard's original paper. Dr. Variot's ex- 
periments, and all the more important literature of 
the subject, together with a biographical sketch and 
portrait. Price, 50 cents. 
The J. B. Lippincott Co., of Philadelphia, have 
published a valuable work on Foods for the Fat, 
(price, 75 cents), by Nathaniel E. Davies, of the 
Royal College of Surgeons, England. It gives 
many useful hints in regard to diet, and other 
means of avoiding the evil of corpulency and 
decreasing the bodily weight, together with recipes 
and directions for cooking dishes suitable for per- 
sons troubled with an excess of adipose tissue. 
A Hand- Hook for Sugar Manufacturers and Their 
Chemists, by Guilford L. Spencer, contains all the 
necessary tables and information required in the 
important industry of sugar-making and refining. 
Many of the tables have never before been published 
in this country, and will be found of great value to 
those in charge of such establishments. Published 
by John Wiley & Sons, New York. 
From D. C. Heath & Co., Boston, we have received 
Rick's Natural History Object Lessons ($1.35), Niels 
Klim's Wallfahrt in die Unterwelt, and Victor Hugo's 
Bug Jargal, all school text-books of the highest 
degree of merit,, and worthy of examination by 
teachers and school committees. 
Everybody's Iland-Book of Electricity, by Edward 
Trevert, is a useful and popular little book, which 
everyone interested in the modern applications of 
this wonderful manifestation of energy can read 
with pleasure and profit. Damrell, Upham & Co., 
Boston. Price, 25 cents. 
Pamphlets, etc., received : Temperance Literature 
and Publications of the Woman's Temperance Pub- 
lication Association, 161 La Salle St., Chicago; 
Highway Improvement, by Col. Albert A. Pope, 
Boston ; The Transfer of the United States iVeather 
Service to a Civil Bureau; Graphic Methods ni 
Teaching, and the usual State and National Agricul- 
tural Reports. 
