Polytechnic Association Proceedings. 881 



precipitated by nitric acid. It is altered by light more rapidily 

 than chloride of silver. The ordinary soluble fluoride of silver 

 known to chemists is, according to Prat, an oxy-fluoride. 



CARBONIZED PAPER. 



Mr. J. E. Hover, of Philadelphia, has invented a new kind of 

 writing and printing paper. The improvement consists in charg- 

 ing the paper with an earthy carbonate. Common writing ink, 

 of the palest description, when applied to it becomes intensely 

 black. The mineral surface given to the paper prevents " greasi- 

 ness," and allows the ink to flow freely. It also takes printing 

 ink more readily and produces a black and smooth impression. 



FUNGI IN THE HAIR. 



Mr. John Bishop described, at a meeting of the Edinburgh 

 Botanical Society, a case of fungoid disease of the beard, in which 

 the hair broke off short, curled up and appeared as though singed. 

 The microscope showed a cellular fungus growth within the hain, 

 causing its disruption. Similar cases of beard disease have been 

 reported in this country. It seems impossible to extirpate the 

 fungus with ordinary remedies, and the only course left is to 

 resort to the razor. 



THE AMERICAN TUBE AVHEEL. 



The simple and expeditious plan for obtaining "vvater, by driv- 

 ing into the earth an iron tube having numerous small holes near 

 the bottom, closed by an inverted cone of steel, which was used 

 with great success by the Union army during the late rebellion, 

 has been put in operation in France, under the Emperor's personal 

 supervision- The British Government, after testing them at Alder- 

 shot, have sent a special brigade, having charge of these portable 

 wells, with the Abyssinian expedition. 



IMPROVED COKING PROCESS. 



Messrs. Carver & Co., of St. Etienne, France, have successful!/ 

 utilized the gases given off in converting bituminous coal into coke. 

 The gases are collected, drawn off through pipes, and cooled. 

 From the liquids condensed, benzine, napthaline, sulphate of 

 ammonia, and several dye-stuffs are made, and the uncondensed 

 gas is used for illuminating purposes. The process is said to give 

 a profit of fifty cents per ton, and if applied to all the coke made 

 in France would effect a saving of $2,000,000 annually. 



(Inst.] 66 



