106 TEAR-BOOK OP FACT3. 



COLLODION IN WATERPROOFING. 



Mr. J. Macintosh has patented certain improvements in the 

 manufacture of Waterproof and other fabrics, and of moulded or 

 formed articles. The patentee takes a batt, or fleece, or thin and 

 loose layer of cotton or other fibre, and spreads over the surface of 

 the same a thin coating of collodion, which, in hardening, cements 

 the fibres firmly together, and produces a fabric more or less water- 

 proof, according to the quantity of collodion employed. The cotton 

 or fibre which he employs is not chemically prepared, and therefore 

 is not acted on by the solvent of the collodion as it hardens. Articles 

 may in this manner be made of any desired shape : .as, for instance, 

 tubes may be produced by lapping the batt, or fleece, or layer of 

 loose fibre around a form, and then applying the collodion ; in this 

 way gloves, shoes and boots may be produced. — Mechanics' Maga- 

 zine. 



IMPROVED DISINFECTANT. 



M. D. S. Agata has patented the process of this preparation. 

 He collects the common cockle and other shells found on the sea- 

 shore, and calcines them in a furnace until they are reduced to a 

 friable condition, and readily broken and powdered. To this powder 

 he adds, first, half the quantity of sulphate of iron, thus producing 

 a fine yellow inodorous powder resembling ochre. The material is 

 inexpensive, and it is quick and economic in its action, as it requires 

 but about one part of the Disinfectant to one hundred of the matter 

 to be treated. It is more especially intended for all kinds of feculent 

 matter, &c. ; when used as a disinfectant for urine, about two per 

 cent, of common tar is to be added. — Ibid. 



THE WARMING OF ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL. 



DURING the past winter, the Cathedral has been successfully 

 warmed by the London Wanning and Ventilating Company, with 

 the assistance of the architect, Air. F. C. Penrose. 



The cubic contents of this vast building are. in round numbers, 

 5,000,000 feet, the dome itself containing 2,000,000 feet, about 

 equal to the whole capacity of Westminster Abbey. By means of 

 the present plan of warming, there has seldom been a variation of 

 temperature in any part of the interior of the Cathedral gre ater 

 than - ' Fahrenheit, the average temperaw^re being about 



As a proof of tl of the present plan, it may be men- 



tioned that on one oooasion the temperature was raised, in ten 

 hours, from 40° to 58°, or 18°, and this without relatively incn 

 by more than 2° the beat of the upper portion of the dome. The 

 whole apparatus is under easy oontroL and the bygrometrio con- 

 dition of the air is always maintained in a healthy state. 



This is effected by the use of the well-known "Gurney stoves," 13 

 of whiohare placed in the orypt, and have hu over them, 



through which the warm air ascends ; while others are provided 

 withd or the cold d current to be warmed. 



