Jan. 27, 1888.] 



SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



95 



Bremen, Germany. A current of air from the outside is 

 made to pass over the front of the face so as to enable 

 the wearer of the apphance to breathe, and also to protect 

 his eyes from smoke. The helmet is provided with a 

 space, between the lining and the exterior, which is 

 supplied with air through small pipes branching from a 

 main pipe, the air escaping through the rim of the helmet 

 thus keeping back the surrounding smoke, etc. 



A PIANOFORTE has been patented by Mr. T. J. Brins- 

 mead, of 18, Wigmore Street, Middlesex. The patented 

 improvements in the pianoforte are three in number, 

 (i) The belly-bridge is continuous, and the bars of the 

 framing are arched so as to pass over it, the arch being 

 continued on each side to form legs, which pass through 

 holes in the sound-board. (2) The wrest-plank is of 

 iron and cast in one with the frame, the wrest-pins being 

 driven into holes lined with linen or other textile fabric. 

 (3) In horizontal pianos two dampers are placed one on 

 each side of the string at some distance apart, in order 

 to more effectually stop the vibration and prevent 

 harmonics. 



Cigarette Papers. — A machine for cutting and gum- 

 ming cigarette papers has been patented by Mr. J. J. 

 Aubert, of Paris. The paper passes from a roll cylinder 

 on which it is wound, under a series of circular knives, 

 which cut it into as many bands as there are knives ; 

 then under the wicks of a paste receiver, from which the 

 edges take up a certain quantity of paste, which is dried 

 as the paper passes over a hollow drum heated to a 

 sufficient temperature ; and the paper is finally received 

 upon a winding-up cylinder on which the paper is cut 

 lengthwise and then removed and cut up into lengths by 

 an ordinary paper-cutting machine. 



Alarji Therjiometer. — Mr. J. E. White, of Sj'racuse, 

 New York, U.S.A., has patented an alarm thermometer. 

 In this invention the terminals of the alarm are both 

 placed at the top of the bore, to prevent the corrosion 

 that occurs in one usually inserted in the mercury of the 

 bulb. The bore of the thermometer is spread out at the 

 top into a conical chamber, the outside of which is 

 formed into a lip. The top of this chamber is plugged 

 by a cork, through which the terminals of an electric 

 alarm are led, and the whole is secured by a cap of 

 cement. When the mercury rises into the conical 

 -chamber the circuit is completed for the alarm. 



Snow-Melting Machine. — A machine for dispersing 

 snow has been patented by Mr. F. Botting, of Portman 

 Square, London. At the bottom of the machine, extend- 

 ing from back to front, is a gilled trough provided with an 

 outer jacket, thus forming a steam space between each of 

 the gills. The snow to be dispersed is shovelled into 

 the trough, which, heated by the steam, melts the snow 

 in contact with it. Above the trough is fitted a hollow 

 shaft provided with revolving arms, also hollow, which as 

 they revolve pass between the gills and crush the masses 

 of snow lying in the trough. The steam passing into the 

 hollow arms heats them, and the latter, besides acting as 

 crushers, carry up a portion of the snow which is melted, 

 the water falling between the arms on to the trough. 



ANNOUNCEMENTS. 



Holland. — A National Art Industry Exhibition is to be 

 opened at the Hague this summer. 



- Melbourne Exhibition. — A meeting was held at the 

 Ministry of Commerce in Paris, on the 13th inst., to decide 

 on the best mode of preparing for the participation of French 

 commerce in the Melbourne Exhibition. 



King's College. — Mr. G. S. Johnson, F.C.S., has been 

 appointed Senior Demonstrator, and Mr. H. Jackson, F.C.S., 

 Junior Demonstrator in the Chemical Department. Mr. 

 Ashley Gibbings, M.R.C.S., L.D.S., has been appointed Pro- 

 fessor of Dental Surgery and Dental Surgeon. 



The Paris Exhibition of 1889. — According to Indtistnes, 

 rumours are current in Paris that, notwithstanding official 

 announcements, it is possible that the date of the opening of 

 the International Exhibition will be postponed till 1890, in 

 order to avoid the political complexion which it would have 

 if it were to be held next year. 



Lectures on Electricity for Ladies. — A course of six 

 elementary lectures on electricity was commenced by Mrs. 

 Ayrton at 2, Upper Phillimore Gardens, W., on January the 

 17th, and they will be continued on the five following Tues- 

 days, at 5-15 p.m. The course, which will be fully illustrated 

 by experiments, will be strictly elementary, and will pre- 

 suppose no scientific nor mathematical knowledge. 



Institution of Mechanical Engineers. — The forty-first 

 annual general meeting of this society will be held at 

 25, Great George-street, Westminster, on Thursday, 2nd, 

 ar d Friday, the 3rd of February. Mr. J. Richards' paper on 

 " Irrigating Machinery on the Pacific Coast " will be dis- 

 cussed, and the following papers will be read : On the 

 position and prospects of Electricity as applied to Engineer- 

 ing, by Mr. W. Geipel, of Edinburgh ; Third Report of the 

 Research Committee on Friction; Experiments on the Friction 

 of a Collar-bearing. 



Cambridge. — Mr. Thomas Cecil Fitzpatrick, B.A., First 

 Class Natural Sciences Tripos, Part I., 1883, First Class 

 Natural Sciences Tripos, Part II. (Physics), 1885, has been 

 appointed to a fellowship at Christ's College. The following 

 have been elected to scholarships at Christ's College : — Mr. 

 T. Masterman, University School, Hastings, ^70, for natural 

 science ; Mr. T. M. Twentyman, King's College School, 

 London, £i>o, for mathematics and natural science ; Mr. 'V. 'V. 

 Chetty, Messrs. Wren and Gurney, £\o, for mathematics ; 

 Mr. H. N. Weller, St. Paul's School, ^40, for natural 

 science. 



Medical Electricity. — A scheme is on foot for founding 

 an Institute of Medical Electricity, having the following 

 objects: — I. To provide an institute where, or in connection 

 with which, people of small and limited means may obtain 

 electrical treatment under the direction of qualified medical 

 men, for the cure and relief of diseases, at moderate fees. 



2. To encourage by scientific investigation and other approved 

 means the development of the science of medical electricity. 



3. To provide a means by which medical men can obtain the 

 use of reliable electrical apparatus and instruments tor the 

 treatment of their patients either at the institute or elsewhere. 

 For further information communications should be addressed 

 to Mr. H. Newman Lawrence, 16, Clifford's Inn, Chancery 

 Lane, E.C. 



The International Geological Congress. — The Inter- 

 national Geological Congress will hold its fourth session in 

 London from September 17th to 22nd (both inclusive), 1888. 

 The organising committee has nominated the following 

 officers : — Honorary president. Professor T. H. Huxley, 

 F.R.S. ; president, Professor J. Prestwich, F.R.S. ; vice- 

 presidents, the President of the Geological Society, the 

 Director-General of the Geological Survey, and Professor T. 

 McK. Hughes, M.A. ; treasurer, Mr. F. W. Rudler ; general 

 secretaries, Mr. J. W. Hulke, F.R.S., and Mr. W. Topley. 

 The subscription is los. This entitles the members not only 

 to attend the meetings and excursions, but to receive, post 



