: 
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OCTOBER 23, 1913] 
In the course of an article, ‘** The Transmutation 
of the Elements,” in the October number of Bedrock, 
Dr, Norman Campbell deals with the apparent syn- 
thesis of neon out of helium and oxygen by Messrs. 
Collie and Patterson, which was described last 
February, as well as with Sir J. J. Thomson’s ob- 
servation that helium, hydrogen, and neon can be 
obtained from many solids by kathode-ray bombard- 
ment. Dr. Campbell takes the view that to apply the 
word ‘transmutation ”’ to these processes is rather an 
unfortunate step, although it might be described as 
mere quibbling to say that the kathode rays do not 
produce transmutation when the results of transmuta- 
tion can only be made evident by means of kathode 
rays. If gold could be ‘“‘liberated’’ from lead by 
such bombardment, the amount so liberated would 
only be the amount accumulated by long ages of 
spontaneous disintegration, and would utterly fail to 
materialise the traditional idea of ‘* transmutation.” 
Vots. ix. and x. of the Collected Researches of the 
National Physical Laboratory maintain the high 
standard of excellence we have come to look on as 
natural in the work which issues from that institu- 
tion. The present volumes cover the twenty-three 
papers published in the scientific or technical Press or 
in the proceedings of learned societies during the 
year 1912. One of the most important of the papers 
dealing with engineering problems is that on the 
properties of welded joints in iron and steel. It is 
found that acetylene welded joints are not so good 
as hand or electrical welded, and that while hand 
welded are somewhat better than electrical for alter- 
nations of stress, they are not so uniform in the 
results they give. Another important contribution 
to engineering knowledge is made in the report on 
the properties of alloys of aluminium and zinc. An 
extended series of tests leads to the general conclu- 
sion that the alloy containing 20 per cent. of zinc 
is the most promising. In electrical engineering the 
valuable papers on the properties of insulating mate- 
rials and the circumstances which affect them supply 
much trustworthy information in a field in which un- 
certainty has reigned for too long a period. Other 
important facts are brought out in papers on the 
visibility of faint lights like those of vessels at sea, 
on photographic lenses and shutters, on the elec- 
tricity emitted by carbon at high temperatures, and, 
lastly, that on a determination of the ohm by alter- 
nating-current methods, which has led to a result 
slightly less than the value at present accepted. 
Messrs. C. A. Parsons anpD C€o., Lrp., have 
despatched from their Heaton Works at Newcastle- 
on-Tyne the largest turbo-generator yet completed. 
An illustrated account of this machine appears in 
Engineering for October 17. The machine has been 
built to the order of the Commonwealth Edison Com- 
pany of Chicago, a Corporation owning probably the 
greatest collective power-station in the world, and 
has been designed for a continuous load, at 750 revolu- 
tions per minute, of 25,000 kw., at a power factor of 
0-95, the periodicity being 25 complete cycles per 
second. The steam consumption § guaranteed 
NO. 2295, VOL. 92] 
is 
] 
NATURE 239 
notable, and marks an epoch in steam plant. With 
steam at 200 Ib. per sq. in., superheated to an extent 
of 200° F., and an absolute pressure in the condenser 
equivalent to 1 in., the guaranteed steam consumption 
at 20,000 kw. is 11-25 Ib. per kw. output from the 
alternator; at 25 per cent. over or under the normal 
load, 11-65 Ib. per kw. output; and at half-load, 
12-5 Ib. per kw. output. The steam consumption 
guaranteed for this turbine set—the largest ever fitted 
to a single shaft—is equal to 8-1 Ib. per shaft-horse- 
power per hour, a result not hitherto attained in 
marine practice. Were oil fuel used in the boiler 
furnaces of a marine plant having this steam con- 
sumption, the fuel used would amount to 0-6 Ib, per 
shaft-horse-power per hour, a result nearly compar- 
able, from the point of view of radius of action in 
warships, with that attained by internal-combustion 
engines. 
THE ninth half-yearly volume of the Journal 
of the Institute of Metals contains the presi- 
dential address of Prof. Huntington and some half- 
dozen papers of considerable scientific and  tech- 
nical interest, read at the spring meeting of 
the institute. These include a paper by Mr. Alex- 
ander Siemens on metal filament lamps, papers on 
corrosion by Mr. Arnold Philip and by Dr. G. H. 
Bailey, a paper on the microstructure of German 
silver, by Mr. O. F. Hudson, and papers on the heat 
treatment of alloys by Mr. G. H. Gulliver and by 
Messrs. H. S. and J. S. G. Primrose. The excellent 
photomicrographs which illustrate the presidential 
address and three of the papers are a noteworthy 
feature of the present volume. 
Messrs. NEWTON AND Co., Wigmore Street, 
London, W., have issued new catalogues giving full 
particulars of the optical lanterns, kinematographs, 
and projection apparatus which they able to supply. 
The sectional catalogues now published separately by 
this firm will prove a great convenience, as it will be 
possible easily to keep each up to date. Among these 
catalogues those describing the new science lanterns 
and the are lamps deserve special mention. These 
instruments are the result of many experiments, and 
deserve the careful attention of lecturers and science 
teachers. 
72 
Tue October issue of Mr. C. Baker’s list of 
second-hand scientific instruments contains particulars 
of more than two thousand pieces of scientific appa- 
ratus. Each instrument is guaranteed to be in work- 
ing order, and the majority are in new condition. 
Especial attention may be directed to section 1 of the 
catalogue devoted to microscopes and accessories, of 
which a fine collection is available for selection. 
At the head of the review of ‘‘ The British Parasitic 
Copepoda ” in Nature of October 16 (p. 193) the price 
of the work was erroneously given as 15s. The 
secretary of the Ray Society writes to point out that 
this is the price of vol. i. only; and that the price of 
vol. ii. is 25s. The price of the complete work is, 
therefore, gos. net. 
