1845.J 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL 



3fi9 



inbefore described, and I may here add that by this mode of manufacturing 

 dials and other graduated plates, the same may be produced at coniiderably 

 less expense and more correct, than by the mode hitherto practised of engrav- 

 ing anil dividing or dividing and engaving. Having thus descrilied the first 

 part of my invention, and the manner in uhich the same is to be [lerformed, 

 I would have it understood that I lay no claim to any part of the apparatus 

 known by the name of voltaic or galvanic battery, neither do t claim ilie 

 eleclrotyiie process, unless the same be employed for the purpose hcreinUfore 

 described, but what 1 claim with regard to this the first part of my in>ention 

 is the production of graduated plaU's for malhematical. nautical, optical and 

 astronomical instruments by means of the electrotype proccs!', instead of the 

 ordinary process of engraving or dividing as heretofore. 



The second part of my invention which relates to improvements in mathe- 

 matical, nautical optical and astronomical instruments consists in a new 

 mode ol manufacturing the compass box or case containing the magnetic 

 needle. I would also observe with regard to this part of my invention that 

 the objections to the present mode of manufacturing compass boxes, or cases 

 containing the magnetic needle, arises from local attraction, caused in most 

 cases by small particles of iron, which in the present mode of cas'.ing or ma- 

 nufacturing such boxes, become amalgamated and uneijually distributed, whicli 

 have the eHect of causing a variation io the needle. In some instances I have 

 observed the needle to vary from one to four or more degrees, in consequence 

 of small particles of iron having been contained in the metal from w hich the 

 compass box or case has been constructed; under sucli circumstances it is 

 necessary to drill a small hole or holes in tliat part of tlie ease supposed to 

 contain the particle or particles of iron in order to remove the same, which 

 hole or holes are afterwards to be plugged up and finished off so as to form 

 a perfect box or case, the object of this part of my invention is therefore to 

 obviate the above process, which is not only expensive but attended with un- 

 certainty, by the application of tlie electrotype process, whereby I am enabled 

 to obtain a oompa>s box or case of pure and unalloyed metal free from any 

 particles which may h.ave a tendency to attract the magnetic needle. These 

 boxts or cases I produce by the electrotype process in the following manner — 

 that is. I prepare a mould of the required size of wax or other suitable cim- 

 position and deposit upon it by means of the electrotype process copper or 

 other suitable metal capable of being deposited, until I have obtained the re- 

 quired strengh aud thickness, which case is afterwards to be finished in the 

 ordinary manner of making such cases or otherwise. I would here remark 

 that I sometimes make such cases by first depositing pure copper in the form 

 of a shot or block and afterwards work the same into the form required, my 

 object being to obtain a compass box or case of metal free from any magnetic 

 attraction, which I do in the manner hereinbefore described. 



Having thus described the nature of my invention, and the manner in 

 ■which the same is to be performed, I would have it understood that 1 do not 

 confine myself to the precise details herein mentioned so long as the peculiar 

 character of my invention be retained, but what I claim as my invention is, 

 the application of the electrotype process forthe purpose of producing certain 

 parts of mathematical, nautical, optical and astronomical instruments as 

 hereinbefore described. 



MA NtJFACTURE OF NAPHTHA. 



Thomas Drew, of St. Ausiell, Cornwall, chemist, and Edward Stock tR, of 

 the same place, merchant, for " Certain improrements in the production and 

 manufacture of Xapiiiha, pyroligtieous acid, or oilier inflammable matter." — 

 Granted March 18, 1845 ; Enrolled .Sept. 1845. 



The improvements consist in obtaining the above matters by distillation of 

 peat, peat moss, or bog earth, previously dried, or deprived of the greater 

 portion of its moisture, in iron, stone, fire-brick, or clay retorts. Each being 

 connected by a short pipe, with a series of pipes, which form the apparatus 

 employed for condensing the volatile products driven off from the retorts. 

 The heat applied may vary from a low dull red to a bright red. In the re- 

 frigeratory apparatus, the patentees preferred, where locality will allow, not 

 to pass the volatile products from all the retorts into one pipe, but to conduct 

 them separately through one line of pipes, naving at certain intervals (com- 

 mencing at about ten feet from the retort), descending pipes, through which 

 the condensed products may pass into a receiver beneath. Eaoh line of pipes 

 should be placed in " shutes," about two inches wider and two inches deeper 

 than the diameter of the pipe at the joint ■, the pijies should have a fall of 

 about one inch in five feet, in the direction from the retort towards the end 

 of the condenser ; the shutes should have an inclination to the same extent 

 in the opposite direction ; by this arrangement, on cold water being caused 

 to run through the shutes, it will meet with the coolest part of the pipes first, 

 and will therefore be most advantageously employed for absorbing the heat. 

 The product of this distillation will consist of water mixed with naptha or 

 pyroxolic spirit, acetic, or pyroligneous acid, ammonia, tar, oil, charcoal, and 

 an incondensable inflammable gas ; these matters may be separated from each 

 other as in llie treatment of the like products of the destructive distillation 

 of wood. The patentees do not claim tJie distillatioa of peat generally ; but 



they claim the manufacture of naplitha or pyroxolic spirit, acetic or pyrulig- 

 neous acid, ammonia, and the other inflammable matters, by distilling peat, 

 [icat moss, or bog earth, in retorts or vessels made of stone, or iron, or of 

 fire-brick, or clay. 



UIPROVEMENTS IN PRESIRVIXG SUBSTANCES FROM DECAT. 



(iiAcoMO .'^IL\ESTR1, of Naples, physician, for " certain Imprmemenis in pre- 

 screitif! animal and eegctable substances from decoy."— Granted, AprU 7 ; En- 

 rolled October", 1845. 



The object of this invention is to preserve human bodies, »o as to give thetn 

 the appearance of marble, which is effected by immersing such bodies, or in- 

 sects, fish or reptiles, for a certain time in a solution composed of the follow- 

 ing ingredients : that is, 100 parts of bichloride of mercury (corrosive subli- 

 mate). 100 parts of powdered silex, 100 partr of subcarburalc of lime, 25 part* 

 of liydrochlorate of ammonia, IT parts of chloride of lead, and 17 parts of 

 chloride of zinc ; these ingredients, alter lieingwell pounded, are to be passed 

 through a silken sieve, afier which they are to be put into a basin, or other 

 suitable vessel, and a sufficient quantity of water added to form them into a 

 syrup ; the body intended to be operated upon i.s to be placed into this bath, 

 care being taken tliat the body is always covered with the solution, for which 

 purpose it will be necessary occasionally to add a little water to supply the 

 place of that evaporated during the oiieralion. The inventor here observes 

 that the vessel made use of should be lined with platinum enamelled, ot made 

 of strongly varnished earthenware, so as not to be acted upon by the above 

 substances. In order to obtain a more complete mixture of the above sub- 

 stances, the same may'be|sliglitly heated, which may afterwards be left to the 

 atmospherical influence according to the progress of the operation. The 

 effervescence of the bath may be increased occasionally by adding a few drops 

 of sulphuric acid. The time required for the operation will vary according to 

 the size, nature, and essence of the bodies, as some will absorb the conserva- 

 tive matters with greater facility than others ; thus those bodies which con- 

 tain grease are more disposed for absorption, and the human body will also 

 require more time than an insect, therefore, if 5 or C months which are ge- 

 nerally required to obtain a general solidification of the first, as many days 

 «ill be sufficient to obtain the same result on the latter ; 15daysare required 

 for fish, one month for mollusques. and 2 months for reptiles. 



To preserve the natural shape of a fish the inventor introduces into its in- 

 terior some solid substonce in powder, such as sulphate of lime or other like 

 substance with which the conservative liquor is disposed to enter into combi- 

 nation. 



Another mixtuie consists of 50 parts ef hydrochlorate of soda, 50 parts of 

 phosphate of soda, 100 parts of pounded silex, to which may be added some 

 salt of alum to prevent the fatty matters of the body passing through the 

 skin, and in order to prevent discolouration of the bodies some cinnabar or 

 other colouring matter may be introduced into the first or second bath hcrein- 

 efore described. 



RESISTANCE TO SUSTAIN BANKS OF EARTH. 

 Sib, — In page 242 of the August number of the Journal, there is given 

 a construction and an equation for finding the resistance to sustain banks 

 of earth. As the construction is without a demonstration, would the in- 

 ventor, or one of your correspondents, give one ! 



A YOCNC £^GINBER. 



Dublin, October 20, 1845. 



ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BUITISII ARCHITECTS. 



Session lb40.4(l.*Ordui&rT Meeliuga. 

 Chair to be taken at Eight o'clock on t!ie following Monday evenings .— 

 I.-M.j November . . 3 17 IMlt March . . 9 23 



Dtcember .. 1 l.'i April .... 20 



IW; January .. J2 L'ti May .. M Jl 2» 



February 9 -■> June ■• •• » 22 



* Annual General meeting of Members onlj. 



The town of Montband is about to erect a bronze statue to BufTon. 



The King of Naples and the sovereigns of Northern Italy are actively eoa 

 couraging the spread of railway communication through their respective 

 dominions. It is expected that ere long all Italy, except the States of the 

 Church, will be covered by a network of railways, but no one line is allowed 

 to cross the hallowed frontier. The most strenuous endeavours have failed 

 tg overcome the Pope's resistance to the railway system. 



