Polytechnic Association Proceedings. 627 



improvement op starch. 



A small quantity of epsom salts (sulphate of magnesia or magma- 

 soi), added to starch increases considerably its stiffening powers, 

 and renders the articles on which it is used, to a certain degree, 

 fire-proof. 



THE MUSKETO. 



Each female lays annually about 30Q,000 ova. Being deposited 

 on the surface of water they are devoured, by fish and other 

 aquatic animals, in such quantities, as to greatly lessen the evils 

 which follow their propagation. 



STEELE COOKING UTENSHLS. 



It has been proposed to use Bessemer steel for cooking in place 

 of copper, which is easily acted upon by acids. Steel vessels can be 

 made very thin to rapidly conduct heat, and may be brought 

 into any form without the use of rivets. 



NEAV SILICUai COMPOUND. 



Friedel and Ladenburgh, have prepared a body containing one 

 atom of hydrogen, one of silicon and three atoms of chlorine. It 

 boils between 34" and 37° 5 C, the vapor of which mixed with 

 air, explodes on contact with an ignited body. The gas is not 

 spontaneously inflammable at ordinary temperatures. 



STEEL RAILS. 



On the London and Northwestern Railway, at Chalk Farm station, 

 is a rail, made of Bessemer steel, which has outlasted twenty-five iron 

 rails successively placed next to it on the same line. The economy 

 of the steel rails is so apparent, that several prominent roads in 

 this country have commenced substituting them instead of the ordi- 

 nary iron rail. 



JUPITER MOONLESS. 



On the 21st of August next, an event will occur which has been 

 only twice recorded in the history of celestial phenomena; Jupiter 

 will appear without satellites. Three of them will then be passing 

 across the planet's disc and the other will be immersed in its 

 shadow. The apparent absence of moons will not last more than 

 two hours. 



TO CEMENT BRASS ON GLASS. 



Puscher uses a cement, particularly adapted for fastening brass on 

 glass lamps, which consists in a rosin soap, made by boiling three 



