April 20, 1888.] 



SCIENTIFIC NEV^S. 



38: 



chimney. To obviate the diminution in the quantity of 

 air supplied to the flame occasioned by this modification 

 of the iDurner cone, two series of perforations are made 

 in the rim at right angles to the positions of the slots 

 Air entering these perforations ascends the sides of the. 

 flat wick tubes to feed the flame. 



Electrical Gas Lighter. — Mr. T. P. Hewitt, Eccles- 

 ton Park, Preston, has patented an electrical gas lighter. 

 An outer fixed cylindrical case is provided, and an inner 

 revolving cylinder, both made of ebonite, in which may 

 be cut air spaces, to form the dialectric. The top and 

 bottom of the outer cylindrical case is preferably closed 

 by metal caps, which also serve as pivots in which the 

 spindle of the inner cylinder rotates. Through the outer 

 cylinder above or below the end of the inner cylinder 

 is placed a push which, on being pressed in, causes the 

 inner cylinder to rotate at a high speed by the force 

 given to the pusher. To produce the spark for lighting 

 gas, there is fixed to an ebonite disc fitting in the outer 

 cylinder light contact springs, in such a manner that 

 when the inner cylinder is revolved, a contact is made 

 with the contact pieces provided ofi the ends or sides of 

 tlie inner cylinder. 



Submarine Vessel. — Messrs. G. Poore and W. C. 

 Storey, both of London, have patented a submarine 

 vessel. For maintaining it in a horizontal position there is 

 arranged at or near each end of the vessel, a chamber 

 containing a piston, plunger, or diaphragm, one side 

 of which is in free communication with the water 

 in which the vessel is submerged. The pistons, etc., 

 are connected with each other and with a valve by any 

 suitable means. The arrangement is such that when 

 one end of the vessel is submerged lower than the 

 other, the difference of water pressure on the pistons, 

 etc., due to the difference in depth of their immersion, 

 will automaticallj' operate one or other of the pistons 

 and the connected valve, and cause fluid under pressure 

 to pass towards one or other end of the vessel, and restore 

 it to a horizontal position. 



Ice-Making Machine.— Mr. E. de Stoppani, of Paris, 

 has patented an ice-making machine. The object of 

 this invention is to utilise the waste steam which comes 

 from the engine in the production of the best transparent 

 ice. The steam is first caused to pass into a cylindrical 

 casing, in which are a number of concentric cylin- 

 drical partitions, each of which has a number of very 

 narrow vertical slits all round, of a length equal to 

 about one-half the height of the cylinder, these slits 

 being alternately in the bottom part of the one cylinder 

 and in the top part of the next ; and they are also so 

 arranged that the slits of one cylinder are in line with 

 the spaces between the slits of the next. Thus the 

 exhaust steam entering the outer casing is caused to pass 

 in a very tortuous manner and finely divided condition 

 through the successive cylindrical partitions, in order to 

 arrive at the central discharge tube, whence it passes to 

 the condenser, and by this means the particles of oil 

 catried along with the steam will be separated there- 

 from, and collect, together with some water of condensa- 

 tion, at the bottom of the apparatus, whence it is drawn 

 off by a pump, the oil being used over again for lubrica- 

 ting the engine. 



ANNOUNCEMENTS. 



Seismology in Paris.— We learn that, as a result of the 

 earthquake shocks recently felt in the south of France, it 

 has been decided to give a course of lectures on Seismology, 

 or the science of earthquakes, at the Sorbonne. This 

 science is most actively studied in Japan, but instruction is 

 also given in Italy and Switzerland. 



Manchester Geological Society.— The Honorary Secre- 

 taries will be happy to receive in writing, not later than the 

 25th April, communications on the subject of "Mine Rents 

 and Royalties," in order that the same, if approved of, may 

 be read at the meeting on the 4th May. Such communica- 

 tions to be kept strictly within the limits of the objects of the 

 Society. 



Egyptian Exploration Fund.— A Special General Meet- 

 ing of the Egypt Exploration Fund, to confirm the Articles of 

 Association, will be held in London on the 9th May. 



The Hospitals Association.— The next evening meeting 

 of the Hospitals Association will be held in the Governor's 

 Hall of St. Thomas's Hospital, Albert Embankment, S.E., on 

 Wednesday, 25th April, at 8 p.m. The President of the 

 Association (Dr. J. S. Bristowe) will preside, and a paper 

 will be read by Mr. W. Burdett-Coutls, M.P., on "Contri- 

 butions by Patients in Relation to the Financial Condition of 

 London Hospitals." Cards of admission can be obtained on 

 application from Mr. Howard J. Collins, Secretary, the 

 Hospitals Association, Norfolk House, Norfolk-street, W.C. 



Lectures on Botany.— Mr. J. G. Baker, F.R.S., F.L.S., 

 will deliver a course of twelve lectures on Botany at the 

 Garden of the Apothecaries' Society, Chelsea, on Saturdays 

 during May, June, and July, at 3 p.m. Tickets can be ob- 

 tained from the Bedell of the Society. 



DIARY FOR NEXT WEEK. 



Monday, April 23. — Society of Arts, Cantor Lecture, at 8 p.m. 

 — Milk Supply, and Butter and Cheese 

 Making ; by Mr. Richard Bannister. 

 Society of Chemical Industry (London Sec- 

 tion), at 8 p.m. — Notes of the Manufac- 

 ture of Chlorine, with Special Reference to 

 the Use of Magnesia in that Process, and 

 its Economy; by Mr. C. T. Kingzett. 

 Further Notes on M. Hermite's Process for 

 Electrolytic Bleaching ; by Messrs. Cross 

 and Bevan. 

 Bradford Naturalists' Society, at 7.30 p.m. 

 The Genus Arion (^Slugs) ; by Mr. W. D. 

 Roebuck. 

 Aristotelian Society, at 8 p.m. — Conscience 

 Theories ; by Mr. Pasco Daphne. 

 Tuesday, April 24. — Society of Arts (Applied Arts Section) at 

 8 p.m. — Craftsman and Manufacturer, 

 by Mr. Lewis Foreman Day. 

 Royal Institution, at 3 T^.m.— John Ruskin, 



by Dr. C. Waldstein. 

 Parkes Museum, at 8 p.m. — Sanitary Ap- 

 pliances ; by Professor W. H. Corfield. 

 Institution of Civil Engineers, at 8 p.m. — 

 The Tay Viaduct, Dundee ; by Mr. Peter 

 C. Barlow, B.A. 

 Wednesday, April 2^^. — Society of Arts, at 8 p.m. — The Physical 

 Culture of Women ; by Miss Chreiman. 

 Civil and Mechanical Engineers' Society, at 

 7 p.m. — -On Railways for Rural and 

 Under- developed Districts ; by Mr. James 

 B. ■Walton. 

 Royal United Service Institute, at 3 p.m. — 

 The Position of the Torpedo m Naval War- 

 fare ; by Captain Hubert H. Grenfell, 

 R.N. 

 Cardiff Amateur Photographic Society, — 

 Enlarging ; by Mr. W. Kitchin. 

 Thursday, April 26. — Royal Institution, at 3 p.m. — The Chemical 

 Arts ; by Professor Dewar, F.R.S. 

 Society of Telegraph Engineers and Elec- 



