Nov. 8. 1 883 J 



NA rURE 



43 



process of preparing the illuminating portions of the 

 new incandescent lamps with high resistance exhibited 

 by Siemens and Halske, and lighting beautifully Witz- 

 mann's restaurant and the exhibits of this firm, is still 

 kept secret. The stall of the Societe Anonyme d Elec- 

 tricity is lighted by several Gerard incandescent lamps of 

 high candle-power (300 candles). These lamps have large 

 ovoid glass bulbs pierced at their broad part by a narrow 

 glass tube containing the two terminals of the conducting 

 wires. The five straight and comparatively thick carbon 

 rods forming the illuminating part of the lamp are ce- 

 mented together at their ends by means of a carbonaceous 

 paste in such a manner that, by the two pairs of longer 

 rods being connected by a short intermediate carbon rod, 

 two long-sided, acute-angled triangles crossing one an- 

 other are formed, which, if brought to incandescence, 

 make the appearance of a single flame, giving an agree- 

 able and bright light. This chain of carbon rods is fas- 

 tened to the supporting terminals by two short cylindrical 

 pieces of carljon. An interesting historical collection 

 of incandescent lamps is exhibited in the Prussian 

 Section, showing the lamps made by Florensoff, Buliguine, 

 and Khotinsky in the years 1S72 and 1873. The latter 

 had already used exhausted glass bulbs, but the carbon 

 rod used having a diameter of r5 mm. 10 a length of 

 i^ cm. could not give a good result. 



Most of the incandescent lamps exhibited have 

 transparent bulbs, and very disagreeable after images of 

 the glowing carbon filaments are caused if they are 

 looked at only for a moment or two. 



.An interesting and practical regulator for single incan- 

 descent lamps has been exhibited by the International 

 Electric Company. By turning a handle the intensity of 

 incandescence can be raised or lowered. This regulating 

 apparatus consists of a hollow perforated brass bulb 

 mounted below the lamp, containing a number of carbon 

 disks, which, when the handle is right over in one direc- 

 tion, are highly compressed, a metallic circuit being 

 established at the same time. By turning the handle, the 

 metallic circuit is broken, and the current passes through 

 the carbon disks, while the pressure on them being 

 gradually relaxed causes a steady increase of resistance 

 to the current, thus diminishing its intensity, and in the 

 final position the circuit is broken, and the carbon 

 filament of the lamp ceases to glow. 



Vienna, October 16 



NOTES 

 We have received the following announcement from the Royal 

 Society : — On the last day of the present month the Fellow s of the 

 Royal Society will hold their anniversary meeting, and elect Council 

 and cflicers for the ensuing year. The following list has been 

 nominated: — President: Prof. Thomas Henry Huxley, LL.D. ; 

 Treasurer: John Evan-:, D.C.L., LL.D.; Secretaries: Prof. 

 George Gabriel Stoke.s, M.A., D.C.L., LL.D., Prof. Michael 

 Foster, M. A., M.D. ; Foreign Secretary: Prof. Alexander 

 William Williamson, LL.D. ; other Members of the Council : 

 Capt. W. de Wiveleslie Abney, R.E., Prof. W. Grylls Adams, 

 M.A., F.C.P.S., the Duke of Aro;yll, K.T., D.C.L., John 

 Gilbert Baker, F.L.S., Thomas Lauder Brunton, M.D., Sc.D., 

 William Henry M. Christie, Astronomer-Royal, William De la 

 Rue, M.A., D.C.L., Sir Frederick J. O. Evans, K.C.B., Prof. 

 George Carey Foster, B.-A., Francis Galton, JLA., F.G.S., 

 James Whitbread Lee Glaisher, M..\., Sir William Withey Gull, 

 Bart., ^LD., Hugo Midler, Ph.D., Prof. Joseph Prestwich, 

 M.A., F.G.S., Prof Osborne Reynolds, M.A., Osbert Salvia, 

 M.A., F.L. S. It will be a subject of congratulation to the 

 scientific world at large to learn from the above announcement 

 that Prof. Huxley has consented to alio" himself to be nominated 

 for President. 



A NOTICE of some importance has just been issued by St. 

 John's College, Cambridge. Inasmuch as it indicates an 

 advance on the old examination in mathematics and classics 

 only, which has hitherto obtained at this college, we are 

 glad to welcome the change. It will tend to place science 

 candidates still more on an equality with those who pursue 

 the older studies, and it will directly encourage them to under- 

 take "independent " work (the word is better than " original" 

 where Bachelors of Arts are concerned) at the stage when 

 they have most leisure and most plasticity. The notice is as 

 follows; — "Candidates for Fellowships at the next annual 

 election are invited to submit to the electors dissertations or other 

 writings as evidence of their independent work, in accordance 

 with the following directions : — {a) The matter and form of the 

 writings to be left to the discretion of the candidates ; (b) the 

 writings may be prepared especially with a view to the election, 

 or may consist wholly or partly of work already published ; {c\ 

 the c.indidates to state clearly what parts of their writings they 

 claim to be original ; (1/) the candidates to inform the Master 

 not later than June I of the subjects of the writings they propose 

 to submit ; (1?) the writings to be sent to the Master not later 

 than September I. The electors wish it to be understood that 

 at the next election their decision will be influenced by 

 consideration of the following points : — (l) The perform- 

 ance of the candidates in the University and other public 

 examinations. (2) The quality and promise of the writings 

 submitted by the candidates. Candidates may be examined 

 by papers or vivd voce on questions arising out of their 

 writings, and on other matters also if the electors desire it. (3) 

 The proficiency in some special subject of candidates who do 

 not submit any writings. Such candidates may at their own 

 request be examined in their special subject, provided they give 

 full and precise information in regard to it by letter addressed to 

 the Master not later than June r. (4) The candidates' power of 

 expression as shown in the composition of an extempore English 

 essay. Candidates will be ofTered a certain number of subjects 

 to choose from ; and in judging of the essays account will be 

 taken of method and style. (5) Such other evidence as may be 

 forthcoming to attest the candidates' qualifications. The nest 

 annual election will take place on Monday, November 3, 1884. 

 Candidates will be required to present themselves for examina- 

 tion on Tuesday, October 21, at 9 a.m." 



The success which attended the course of lectures delivered 

 this year has induced the Council of the Institution of Civil 

 Engineers to make arrangements for a similar series next session. 

 Electricity was then dealt with. Another most important subject 

 will now be treated, namely, "Heat in its Mechanical Applica- 

 tions." The lectures will be delivered on Thursday evenings 

 at 8 p.m., in the months from November to April, as under : — 

 1883: November 15, "The General Theory of Thermody- 

 namics," by Prof. Osborne Reynolds, F.R.S. ; December 6, 

 " The Generation of Steam, and the Thermodynamic Problems 

 Involved," by Mr. W. Anderson, M.Inst.C.E. ; 1884 ; January 

 17, " The Steam-Engine," by Mr. E. A. Cowper, M.Inst.C.E. ; 

 February 21, "Gas- and Caloric-Engines," by Prof. Fleeming 

 Jenkin, F.R.SS.L. and E., M.Inst.C.E. ; March 20, "Com- 

 pressed-Air and other Refrigerating Machinery," by Mr. A. C. 

 Kirk, M.Inst.C.E.; April 3, " Heat-Action of Explosives," by 

 Capt. Andrew Noble, F.R.S., M.Inst.C.E. 



The 130th Session of the Society of Arts will commence on 

 the 2lst inst., with an opening .address from Sir William Sie- 

 mens, the chairman of the Society's Council. Previous to 

 Christmas there will be four ordinary meetings, in addition to 

 the opening meeting, and for these the following arrangements 

 have been made :— November 28, A. J. R. Trendell, "The 

 International Fisheries Exhibition of 1SS3;" December 5, 



