EDITORIAL NOTES. 



451 



marked on a barometer about equal to a column of mercury of twenty-seven cub- 

 ic centimeters; then introducing a solution of sulphate of zinc under pressure 

 until the wood is saturated therewith and removing the same by a vacuum ; and, 

 lastly, introducing a dilute solution of calcium chloride. 



Railroad Signal. — In this improvement the rotating shaft of the signal 

 operates the gong or bell, and is driven through a spring treadle actuated by the 

 flanges of the wheels of the coming train. This spring treadle carries a panel, 

 which acts upon a ratchet-wheel on a shaft, which is geared to other shafts ex- 

 tending to the signal device. 



Hydraulic Elevator. — A hydraulic elevator is the subject of a recent in- 

 vention. It consists of a moveable car or platform and apparatus for raising and 

 lowering'the same by means of hydraulic pressure acting in a cylinder upon a 

 piston. A starting and stopping apparatus is combined therewith, controlled by 

 the operator and constructed so as to automatically start the car with a fixed ac- 

 celeration and to stop the car with a fixed retardation, independently of the speed 

 at which the controlling mechanism is worked by the operator. 



THE COMET. 



T. BERRY SMITH. 



O wanderer, from where dost thou come to ray sight. 



And whither art going so radiantly robed ? 

 Hast been to the uttermost limits of night. 



And far into Nature's deep mysteries probed ? 

 No answer ! No speech ! O mysterious thing. 



That burneth thy torch in the heavenly spans ! 

 Far from me my boasting of wisdom I fling, 



And bowing I bury my face in my hands. 



EDITORIAL NOTES. 



We have received quite a number of pleas- 

 ant letters and editorial compliments upon 

 the October Review, which was almost en- 

 tirely given up to our report of the Montreal 

 meeting of the American Association for the 

 Advancement of Science. This is very grat- 

 ifying, as the writing, condensing and ar- 

 ranging the matter for publication required 

 an expenditure of personal labor and time 

 that, coming upon us in the midst of the 



most busy month we have ever had in the 

 course of a very busy life, was only to be 

 made by sacrificing many hours badly need- 

 ed for rest. To this latter fact must be as- 

 cribed some errors and omissions that appear 

 in the report. 



Prof. J. W. Spencer, M. A., Ph.D., 

 F.R.S., late of King's University College, 

 Windsor, Nova Scotia, has been called to 



