390 transactions of the american institute. 



Supposed Satellite of Jupiter. 



M, De Gasparis, of Naples, saw on the 22d of July last, at 1:59 p. m., a 

 bjack, well defined point on the planet's disk. In a quarter of an hour the 

 point, moving in the direction of the planet's rotation, passed its margin 

 and disappeared. M. Flaininanon, in commenting onthis phenomenon in the 

 Cosmos, says it could not have been a little planet in conjunction with 

 Jupiter, for in that case its motion would have been in an opposite direc- 

 tion, and as the four known moons of that planet were all visible at the 

 time, he suggests that the new body may be a fifth satellite, very much 

 smaller than its companions. 



Uniformity in Screw Threads. 



Mr. J. K. Fisher directed attention to the importance of having uniform 

 standards for the sizes of screws, it being well known that at present in 

 this country each manufacturer has his own peculiar dies. The Franklin 

 Institute of Philadelphia had moved in this matter, and wished the co- 

 operation of this Institute in endeavoring to introduce a iiniform system. 



The Chairman remarked that he had several months since read a com- 

 munication on this subject, and then endeavored to show the importance 

 of this reform. He was glad to find others now present agreeing with 

 him. 



On motion of Dr. Rich a committee was appointed to examine the sub- 

 ject. J. B. Rich, J. K. Fisher, and W. Rowell were named as such com- 

 mittee, and by general request the name of the Chairman was added to it. 



The selected subject for discussion was then taken up. 



The Manufacture and Use of Furs. 



Dr. J. B. Rich opened the discussion of this subject by saying the mode 

 of preparing furs for general use is very complex. One is really astonished 

 to learn by what simple processes such beautiful results are obtained. The 

 ordinary method of preparing fur skins is first to rid them of their fleshy 

 matter. This is done by passing them over very sharp knives, which are 

 set so as to shave close to the skin. They are next anointed with butter. 

 After remaining in this condition long enough to allow the butter to pene- 

 trate, they are placed in a vessel having a bottom shaped like a reverted 

 cone, and after receiving layers of sawdust are thoroughly worked together 

 by treading. Afterwards they are placed in a smaller cone and worked 

 over by mahogany sawdust, by which means the oily matter is abstracted 

 from the fur, and the skin made soft and flexible. There is some deviation 

 in this mode when applied to skins intended to imitate each other; in which 

 case the preservative qualities are imparted to the skin by means of alum 

 and salt. The sable, silver fox, ermine, and all the martins are prepared 

 in this manner. Various persons have claimed to have peculiar methods 

 of preparing skins. A manufacturer had informed him that thirty j'ears 

 ago there was a workman in this city who could produce more " life" in 

 the fur, as it is termed, than others. His process was a secret, and he died 

 without revealing it. By a strange coincidence he (the Doctor) knew this 

 man, for he occupied an apartment in a building belonging to a relative. 



