SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



279 



is constantly used, the motors are ventless and con- 

 sequently no hot air is forced out into the room. 



A modified Gas Furnace for Chemists and 

 Assayers. 



This furnace, patented by Mr. G. T. Holloway, 

 possesses several advantages over other similar 

 laboratory gas furnaces. With these latter forms 

 it is a serious trouble and inconvenience when, as 

 very frequently happens, they crack, as it generally 

 means either a new furnace or a series of repairs. 



In the present furnace the body is separate from 

 the base, which extends forward as shown in fig. 3, 

 and forms a convenient stand for hot crucibles, 

 etc., and for the furnace doors. The material of 

 which it is made is such that although, like all 

 internally fired gas furnaces, it will crack, the 

 crack is usually a single one, which can be readily 

 closed up, if desired, with fireclay. 



The manufacture of the furnace in two parts 

 instead of in one, as is usual, also minimizes 

 cracking, besides which it renders the furnace 

 more portable and permits of reversing the base 

 when spoilt on one side by slag, etc. It also 

 allows of the replacement of base or body at small 

 cost, if required. 



The new form of the doors is an advantage, as 



The burner possesses an important advantage in 

 the absence of wire gauze in its construction. It 

 has a convenient arrangement for the adjustment 

 of the air supply and is practically indestructible. 



This furnace will do all the furnace work of an 

 assayer or analyst, and will be found of great 



Fig. 3. — Modified Gas Furnace. 



they are more easily handled and stand better than 

 those of the old construction. 



Fig. 4 shows an extra attachment by which the 

 furnace may be used both for crucibles and a 

 muffle at the same time. It consists of a block to 

 support the back of the muffle and a door having 

 an aperture through which the muffle passes. This 

 door, which replaces one of the ordinary doors, is 

 somewhat wider, so that it may be moved one way 

 or the other to bring the muffle into the part of the 

 furnace which gives the required heat. 



A door of new construction, to close the mouth 

 of the muffle, is also provided. It is shown drawn 

 aside in fig. 4, which shows the attachment as in 

 use, the body of the furnace having been removed 

 to enable the whole arrangement to be seen. 



Fig. 4. — Extra Attachment for Gas Furnace. 



convenience. The makers recommend it on 

 account of its various improvements and its low 

 cost, as the most generally suitable furnace on the 

 market. It is, approximately, 14J inches long, 

 5J inches deep and 6J inches high inside, and it 

 will take three crucibles containing a full charge 

 for gold assays, etc. The muffle is 6 inches long, 

 3J inches wide and 3 inches high inside, and the 

 furnace will heat one large or several small 

 crucibles while the muffle is also in use. 

 (To be continued.) 



HENRY ALLEYNE 

 NICHOLSON. 



PROFESSOR Alleyne Nicholson, M.D., 

 D.Sc, Ph.D., F.R.S., F.G.S., was born 

 at Penrith, September nth, 1S44, and died 

 January 19th, 1899. Son of John Nicholson, 

 an eminent Oriental scholar, Alleyne Nichol- 

 son was educated at Appleby Grammar 

 School, and the Universities of Go ngen and 

 Edinburgh. He was, in 1866, Baxter Scholar 

 in Natural Science, and in 1867 Ettles Scholar in 

 Medicine and Gold Medallist at Edinburgh. Two 

 years later he became Lecturer on Natural History 

 in the Medical School of that city, and in 

 1871 Professor in the same science at Toronto. 

 Later he held like posts of biology at Durham, 

 of natural history at St. Andrew's, and that of 

 Swiney Lecturer at the British Museum. The 

 Regius Professorship at Aberdeen was conferred 

 on him in 18S2, which he held to the time of his 

 death. Alleyne Nicholson wrote much, chiefly on . 

 geology, but is best known by his " Manual of 

 Zoology," "Text Book of Zoology," "Manual of 

 Palaeontology," and " Introduction to the Study of 

 Biology." Some of these have run to many editions, 

 and are all books that have been widely read. 



