ARTIFICIAL QUININE. 319 



THE TELEGRAPH AND ELECTRIC LIGHT IN EGYPT. 



The mounted portions of the telegraph troop Royal Engineers, consisting of 

 about seven officers, one hundred and eighty-four non-commissioned officers and 

 men, and sixty-five horses, with two field-telegraph equipments complete, and the 

 field-pack of the Royal Engineers, including one officer, thirty-three non- 

 commissioned officers and men, and twenty-six horses, under the command of 

 Major Sir A. Mackworth, marched from Aldershot on Saturday last (August 5th,) 

 en route to the Southwest India Docks, London, where they will embark to-mor- 

 row (August 13th,) in the steamer Oxenholme for conveyance to the east. 



The telegraph steamer, John Pender, which arrived at Alexandria with a suf- 

 ficient supply of cable on board for the projected line between Suez, Port Said, 

 and Alexandria, was recently engaged in important work for the Eastern Tele- 

 graph Company between Lisbon and Land's End. Immediately on the decision 

 of the Government, and from the urgency of the case, she was ordered to Alex- 

 andria. 



A portable steam-engine has just come out for working an electric machine. 



Izzet Effendi, Director of the Telegraphs, sent a staff of employes on the 

 3rd inst. to lay and open a cable between Jeddah and Souakim. 



The Superb used her electric light on the night of the 9th inst. from where 

 she lies, off Count Zizinia's house, but whether it was an advantage or otherwise 

 is an open question. From the distance she had to throw the rays it was impos- 

 sible for those on board to use the light so as to be of the greatest assistance to 

 our sentries. The officer in charge of the picket said that several times the elec- 

 tric light was thrown on his own men, who thus were themselves exposed to view, 

 and at the same time were unable to penetrate the darkness beyond. This is 

 manifestly turning a valuable appliance into a source of danger, and it shows the 

 inutility and even peril of using the electric light indiscriminately. Arrangements 

 have been completed for throwing the electric light over the enemy's Hues from 

 Ramleh. — Electric Review. 



ARTIFICIAL QUININE. 



The progress of organic chemistry has been rapid of late. To artificial indi- 

 go and citric acid is now added artificial quinine. The sulphate of this alkaloid 

 is in enormous demand, especially in tropical climates, but its enormous cost, we 

 beheve about i6s. an ounce, is a barrier to its extended use. The announcement, 

 therefore, that M. Maumene has discovered a means of effecting its synthesis is 

 one of great importance. The alkaloid (C40H24N2O4) is said by the author to be 

 obtained in a very pure state by a simple process, in which the newly discovered 

 H2N is employed. Full details of the operation are promised in a short time. — 

 Mechanical World. 



