Vol. XXV. No. 12.] 
POPULAE SOIEI^CE NEWS. 
179 
rises, the liquid grows thicker, and its color 
deepens, until, at 200°-250°, it is nearly black, and 
so thick that the dish containing it may be in- 
verted and none of the paste will run out. Then 
it begins to grow thin as the heat increases, form- 
ing a brown gas at 440°, the boiling point. 
Sulphur may occur in three allotropic forms, 
which are distinguished by their crystalline forms 
and solubility in carbon bi-sulphide. The ordi- 
nary form is the rhombic, which may be got by 
evaporating carbon bi-sulphide in which sulphur 
is dissolved. The crystals are in the form of 
rhombic octahedrons, yellow and gliissy. The 
second kind takes the form of oblique prismatic, 
slender, needle-like crystals, which are made by 
melting sulphur and allowing it to cool, so that a 
surface crust is formed. ITie crust is broken, and 
the liquid beneath poured off, leaving transparent 
crystals. These are not permanent, but in a few 
hours, grow dull and fall into minute rhombic 
forms. The third form is black sulphur, which is 
m.ade by pouring liquid sulphur at about 280° into 
cold water. A soft, gummy mass is formed, 
which may be drawn into strings. These grow 
darker as the temperature is raised. When left to 
themselves, they change in a short time to the 
rhombic form, becoming yellow, opaque and 
brittle. Hence, the only permanent form is the 
rhombic. 
Sulphur combines with numerous other ele- 
ments. With hydrogen, it forms sulphretted hy- 
drogen; with oxygen, sulphur dioxide and sul- 
phuric anhydride ; with carbon, carbon bi-sulphide. 
It is also found in minerals, where it forms sul- 
phides and sulphates. In manufacturing, it is 
used extensively in matches, gunpowder, sul- 
phuric acid, and other things. 
«♦» ■ 
SCIENTIFIC BREVITIES. 
To make cloth that is used in lining shoes water- 
proof, use oiled silk, or heat the linings in melted 
paraffin. 
Allotropic Forms op Sulphur.— According 
to Industries, two novel modifications of sulphur 
have been recently discovered by Engel. The 
first, like that proved to exist in Wackenroder's 
solution, is soluble in water and very unstable. 
The other is crystalline, soluble in carbon disul- 
phide and chloroform, and polymerizes slowly in 
the cold, and quickly at a temperature of 100° C. ; 
but, unlike prismatic sulphur, which changes on 
keeping into the oct.ahedral variety, it becomes 
converted into the white insoluble form which 
commonly constitutes so large a percentage of the 
material known as "flowers of sulphur." 
Native Iron of Terrestrial Origin Dis- 
covered IN the Gold-washings Near Bere- 
zovesK. — The metal is very magnetic, but mani- 
fests no polarity. Its specific gravity, determined 
on a specimen weighing 33.821 grms., is at 
17°=7.59. A surface cut and polished is brilliant 
and of the ordinary color of iron. If treated with 
an acid it is attacked uniformly without giving 
the well-known Widmanstett figures characteristic 
of meteoric iron. ITiis fact, taken along with the 
absence of nickel, leads to the inference that this 
iron is not of extra terrestrial origin. Small quan- 
tities of platinum are present, probably from a mix- 
ture of ferriferous platinum with the native iron. 
Sun Spot Phenomena. — A luminous outburst 
in the sun was observed by M. Trouvelot at 10.16 
A. >I., Paris mean time, on June 17 last, and has 
now been fully described by him to the French 
Aca46mie des Sciences. First, a luminous spot 
appeared on the disk of the sun near its western 
limb. It was of a golden yellow tinge, and shortly 
afterward a companion spot appeared a little 
above it. The spectroscope showed the first spot 
to consist of a central eruption, from which vol- 
canic bombs were thrown to heights above the 
chromosphere, where they seemed to rest as daz- 
zling balls. A few minutes later these were re- 
placed by brilliant jets, or filaments. Ou the 
next day, June 18, at 9.30 A. M., the eruption was 
seen to be diminishing, and it finally ceased at 
2.45 P. M. 
Pressure by Electrolysis.— According to 
Nature, an interesting experiment has been lately 
made by M. Chabry of the Societie de Biologic, 
with regard to the pressure which can be pro- 
duced by electrolytic generation of gas in a closed 
space. While the highest pressure before realized 
in this way was 447 atmospheres (Gassiot), M. 
Chabry has succeeded in getting as high as 1,200; 
and the experiment was broken off merely because 
the manometer used got cracked (without explo- 
sion) . The electrolyzed liquid was a twenty-five 
per cent, soda solution. Both electrodes were of 
iron : one was the hollow sphere in which the gas 
was collected, the other an inner concentric tube. 
The current had a strength of one and a half am- 
peres, and was very constant during the experi- 
ment, which was merely one preliminary to a re- 
search in which very high pressures were desired. 
Rapid Photography.— The Protoyraphic News 
says that the great progress that has been made 
in the methods by which rapid movements can be 
analyzed is well seen in a series of photographs 
lately taken by Anchutz of hissa, who has already 
given to the world some of the best iustant.aneous 
pictures ever taken. The subject of the pictures 
under consideration is a dog jumping over a small 
bush. In the act of making one jump the animal 
has been photographed twenty-four separate 
times, and each picture is not a mere silhouette, 
as was the case with Muybridge's first attempts of 
this kind, but a little picture, showing half-tone 
aud detail. Some of the attitudes are, of course, 
comic in appearance, for they represent phases of 
a movement which the eye is unaccustomed to, 
and cannot possibly appreciate. Notably is this 
the case in the commencement of the jump, when 
the dog's hind toes only touch the ground; and 
again at the finish of the jump, when his legs are 
gathered together in a heap. 
Ammonite, a New Explosive.— A new explo- 
sive, called "ammonite," invented by Sir George 
Elliot, has recently been tested in England. It 
consists of pure ammonium nitrate aud nitro- 
naphthaline, both of which substances are in 
themselves inexplosive, but in intimate combina- 
tion form a highly explosive compound. The 
ingredients are dried and separately ground, and 
are afterward incorporated in edge-runner mills 
under a moderate heat. The resultant is a yel- 
lowish powder, which is sifted and filled into me- 
tallic cartridges. The method of exploding am- 
monite is by means of a fulminate of mercury 
detonator, which is not contained in the cartridges 
as supplied'by the company, but is inserted by the 
person using the explosive at the moment of fir- 
ing. The experiments seemed to show that the 
new substance would not explode by concussion ; 
it does not freeze, and can be detonated while 
chilled; it is in no way affected by variation of 
temperature ; its power is equal to that of robu- 
rite. It is stated that ammonite has been in suc- 
cessful use at the Risca collieries. South Wales, 
for a considerable time past, and that no flame has 
been seen or accident occurred. The company 
exploiting the new invention claims that no fumes 
are caused by the use of the new explosive. 
©he ©tit-®oop ^orld. 
Edited by HARLAN H. BALLARD, 
President of the Agassiz Association. 
[P. O. Address, Pittsfield, Mass.] 
OFFICIAL BULLETIN. 
The following official bulletin has recently 
been mailed to all Chapters of the A. A., but 
some of them — through changed address or other- 
wise—have failed to receive it. All Chapter Sec- 
retaries who now see these questions for the first 
time, or who may have neglected to answer them 
hitherto, are earnestly requested to forward their 
answers in fu*at the earliest possible moment. 
Name and No. of your Chapter. 
No. of Members, Active and Honorary. 
No. of Members gained or lost in 1891. 
Addresses of your present officers. 
Permanent Cliapter Address. 
No. of Meetings held in 1891. 
Did you celebrate Agassiz's Birthday? 
No. of Subscriptions secured for POPULAB Science 
News in 1891. 
9. Would you prefer to have POPULAR SCIENCE NEWS 
continued as our oiUcial organ, or to have a paper entirely 
devoted to M>e A. A., like the Swiss Cross? 
10. It such a special monthly should be published, 
would you prefer the name "Swiss Cross" or "Out-Door 
World"? 
11. In case it should be a 32-page magazine, at 11.50 per 
year, how many Subscriptions do you think your Chapter 
could secure? 
12. If Popular Science News is retained, how many 
neiB Subscriptions could your Chapter secure? 
13. Please inclose a special report of the proceedings of 
your Chapter since January Ist, 1891. 
1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 
6. 
7. 
8. 
ADDITIONS TO THE LIST OF COUNCIL- 
LORS. 
We are gratified to add to the list, published in 
the October number, of those who will aid our 
members by answering questions in their several 
departments. 
Prof. Frederick LeEoy Sargent, Box 2,774, Boston, Mass.; 
lichens. 
Mr. H. Rles, Columbia College, New York, N.T. ; geology. 
Mr. Theodore G. White, School of Mines, Columbia Col- 
lege, New York, N. Y. ; botany. 
We need some one to help in microscopy. Shall 
we have a volunteer? 
*♦♦ 
DOES THE AGASSIZ ASSOCIATION EDU- 
CATE? 
It gives us pleasure to print the following testi- 
mony to the value of our Association as an educa- 
tional power. We have already published many 
similar letters, but each new one carries with it 
too much encouragement to be lost in the waste- 
basket. 
Hanover, N. H., Oct. 7, '91. 
Chapter A, of Cleveland, O., has made no report for sev- 
everal years. We were always limited to five or six work- 
ers. At last came a time for separation. A. E. Allen went 
to Southern California for his health, but died not long 
after; A. W. Burwcll made a specialty of chemistry, and, 
after teacliing a while in a medical college, went to Germany 
to study; Philip Cobb went to Lehigh University to com- 
bine mining engineering and botany; Fred Coleman went 
to Lehigh University to study civil engineering; and I have 
spent several summers as assistant with a geologist. And 
now as we look back to the time when we used to meet in 
"A. A. 147," we know that we owe much to the Association; 
for we spent several years in good, faithful work together, 
with the result that now each living member Is pursuing 
some branch of natural science as a vocation ; and we still 
aid one another by correspondence. S. P. Baldwin. 
DIAMONDS IN METEORIC IRON. 
This journal, as well as nearly every daily and 
weekly paper in the United States, has had no- 
tices ol the discovery of diamonds in meteoric 
