164 TEAR-BOOK OF FACTS. 



non-conductibility in an insulator of such cables, and that even if a 

 substance could be found insulating perfectly in dry air, it still 

 might in practice be of questionable utility for submarine lines, 

 owing to its porosity, as was the case with gutta-percha. There is 

 now no difficulty in covering wires with India-rubber. 



ELECTRICAL CONDITION OF THE EGG OF THE COMMON FOWL. 



The structure of the egg suggested to Dr. John Davy the idea of 

 its exerting Electrical Action. This was confirmed on trial. Using 

 a delicate galvanometer and a suitable apparatus, on plunging one 

 wire into the white, and the other, insulated, except at the point of 

 contact, into the yolk, the needle was deflected to the extent of 5° ; 

 and on changing the wires, the course of the needle was reversed. 

 When the white and yolk were taken out of the shell, and the yolk 

 immersed in the white, the effects on trial were similar ; but not so 

 when the two were well mixed ; then no distinct effect was percep- 

 tible. 



Indications also of chemical action were obtained on substituting 

 for the galvanometer a mixture consisting of water, a little gelatinous 

 starch, and a small quantity of iodide of potassium, especially when 

 rendered very sensitive of change by the addition of a few drops of 

 muriatic acid. In the instance of newly-laid eggs, the iodine liberated 

 appeared at the pole connected with the white ; on the contrary, in 

 that of eggs which had been kept some time, it appeared at the pole 

 connected with the yolk, answering in both to the copper in a single 

 voltaic combination formed of copper and zinc. 



The author, after describing the results obtained, declines specu- 

 lating on them at present, merely remarking, that in the economy 

 of the <*gg, and the changes to which it is subject, it can hardly be 

 doubted that electro- chemical action must perforin an important part, 

 and that in the instance of the ovum generally, i.t., when composed 

 of a white and of a yolk, or of substances in contact, of heterogeneous 

 natures. 



IMPROVED MAGNETO-ELECTRIC MACHINES. 



Mr. W. E. Newton lias patented c Main improvements in Mag- 

 neto-electric Machines, relating — 



1, to anovel construction of magnets, mid consisting in constituting a wheel oT 

 magnets of ■ series of radial plates or bars connected at the inner ends by a don- 

 as nn;;, therein forming s compound magnet. Secondly, to a new com- 

 bination of helices, which are so arranged that shay may be readily sdjucted to 



the magnets, and consisting in forming the sj i beads i ilongated with holes 



through them, outside of the helix, for the passage oi a boll or spindle, by 

 which the] are secured to s ring or holding plate placed outside of the compound 

 magnets, so thai each helix oan be swan the securing bolts or spindle 



into any position required, and then secured. Thirdly, to an arrangement of 

 fixed bands or rings tor reoeiring the induced electric Impulses, and consisting 

 to oombining with rotating coinponnd magnets ono or mori' pairs of insulated 

 rings of Don-magnetic metal placed outside the circle of rotating magnets), and 

 with which the terminal wires of the helioesare t" be oonneoted, whereby the 

 oonnection and disconnection oan be reedilj made and changed, whether tho 

 machine bo iii motion or still. Fourthly, to what ii termed a pole changer, 

 that id to any, a mechanism fur changing tho direction of the currouta which 



