1854.] 



SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. 



in 



The work particularly recommends itself by its accurate although 

 necessarily very concise descriptions, the clearness of its explanations, 

 and the simplicity of its arrangements, and is exceedingly well adapted 

 for the use of students, serving as an introduction to the more compre- 

 hensive works of Gregory, Graham and Gmelin. 



The last edition was published in 1S49, and consequently the re- 

 markable progress of chemistry during the last few years, especially 

 as regards the history of the compound ammonias and vegetable 

 alkaloids, as well as in many other departments, has rendered the 

 publication of an amended edition a great desideratum among teachers. 

 The fact of the present edition having been superintended by Bence 

 Jones & Hoffman, will be a sufficient guarantee for the completeness 

 of the work, and the notes of the talented American editor, Dr. Bridges, 

 will be found of very considerable value, as bringing the work still 

 more nearly up to the present period. 



Having used the former edition, as text book for our Students for 

 several years past, we can most cordially recommend the present one 

 as giving a very excellent digest of the present state of chemical 

 science, and as especially adapted to the wants of the Student. 



Correspondence* 



To the Editor of the Canadian Journal. 



Sir, — In the summer of 1851, I took a beautiful species of bat, about 

 11 A. M., in the forest north of this city. It was suspended by the 

 •claws or fore feet, from a twig of a young maple tree. Knowing the 

 animal to be rare in this locality, I took great care in preserving and 

 stuffing it. On the 3rd instant, I sent it to Professor L. Agassiz of 

 Cambridge, Mass., for the purpose of ascertaining whether it was a 

 new species. From the learned Zoologist, I received the following 

 answer: — " The bat is a species not uncommon in the middle States, 

 but I had supposed its farthest northernmost limit to be Massachusetts, 

 which your specimen proves to be a mistake. It is Vespertilio Noce- 

 bora&nsis — you will find a description and figure of it in ' DeKa3 7 's 

 Natural History of New York.' I am very much obliged for the 

 specimen, which is beautifully preserved, and very interesting to me, 

 as indicating the Geographical range of the animal." Linna?us 

 in his "Systema Natura?," says that the same animal inhabits New 

 Zealand. There are reckoned upwards of thirty genera of this 

 Btrange animal, and more than three hundred species. Eight 

 indigenous species has been taken by myself. I have been told that 

 a bat with a white body was seen last summer, flying about willow 

 trees near - the bay. 



Toronto, January, 1854. 



WM. COUPER. 



Scientific Intelligence. 



An Improved Material applicable for many purposes for which. 

 Papier Machc and Gutta Percha have hcen or may he used. 



Patented by Peter Warren. October, 12, 1852. * 



This invention consists in manufacturing a new material or com- 

 position of a character analogous to papier niache, which is capable 

 of being employed either as a substitute for papier rnache' or gutta 

 percha, and its compounds, in forming or manufacturing various 

 articles for which these substances are now used, such as panels and 

 mouldings for railway carriages, trays, picture and other frames, door 

 knobs, buttons, &c, by treating the straw of any fibrous vegetable 

 material in the manner hereby described. In order to carry out this 

 invention, straw of any fibrous vegetable substances, such as wheat, 

 barley, oats, rye, and other similar straws are cut into short lengths, 

 by means of any suitable cutting machine When those straws have 

 any knots, it is necessary to open out and divide the same, which 

 is effected by passing the straw through a pair of millstones, or be- 

 tween crushing rollers ; or they may be submitted to the action of 

 any other equivalent apparatus, so that the knots and fibresmay be 



* I'rom the London Repertory of Patent Inventions, Sept. 1853. 



thoroughly and effectually separated and divided. In some cases.either 

 hot or cold water or other liquid is applied to the materials under op- 

 eration, in order to facilitate the process. The cut and divided straw 

 is then boiled in a strong alkaline ley, or solution of caustic alkali, 

 such as soda, potash, &c, until a pulpy mass is produced, — which 

 effect will, however, greatly depend on' the nature of straw operated 

 on, and the strength of the alkaline ley, or solution which is employed. 

 The mass is then transferred to the machine known in the paper 

 making trade as the rag engine, where it is reduced to pulp in the 

 manner usually practised when operating on rags, &c., in the manu- 

 facture of paper. The pulp is then partially dried ; in which state it 

 may be pressed or rolled into sheets, or moulded into other forms. 

 These sheets or moulded articles are then dipped into oleaginous 

 or glutinous matter, or oil, and are afterwards baked in an oven similar 

 to that employed when manufacturing sheets or moulded articles of 

 papier niache. The sheets or moulded articles, thus formed or 

 manufactured, may be ornamented in any desired manner, either by 

 japaning, or painting and varnishing, or by inlaying the surface with 

 shell, or other analogous material, as is commonly practised in the 

 ornamenting of articles composed of papier niache and gutta percha. 

 When the sheets or moulded articles are required to be colored pig- 

 ments or coloring matter might be introduced in the pulp while in the 

 rag engine ; the subsequent processes of drying, rolling, pressing, 

 or moulding, being performed as previously described. 



The patentee claims the manufacture of a material which may be 

 used as a substitute for papier niache, and for many purposes to 

 which papier niache and gutta percha have been or may be employed, 

 from straw pulp submitted to pressure and then oiled and baked as 

 hereinbefore described. 



Itolled Sheets of bitumen., 



MM. Aumetcyer believe that they have made a valuable improve- 

 ment in the use of bitumens, by submitting them to rolling. The 

 bitumens, say they, have been proved as to their qualities and endu- 

 rance ; their water-repelling properties and impermeability cause 

 them to be more and more sought for every day ; but up to the 

 present time, no one had thought of rolling them out, and reducing 

 them to thin sheets, easily to be laid wdien cold, like zinc and lead. 

 This new mode of treatment does away, in the first place, with the in- 

 conveniences of melting on the spot, which is so disagreeable ; and it 

 .gives to the bitumens, besides, a density and solidity which they have 

 not yet attained ; it assures them an indefinite durability. 



Thus prepared, bitumen will very advantageously replace slate, 

 zinc, thatch, &c, as coverings for terraces, buildings, &c. It melts, 

 but does not inflame ; and would rather extinguish than nourish 

 combustion. They are incomparably lighter even than slates, and 

 are non-conductors both of heat and electricity ; they cost less even 

 than thatch, require no attention, and are in no way affected by at- 

 mospheric influences; they are impermeable to water, &c, &c. They 

 will be of great service in rendering damp places healthy ; they are 

 applied without difficulty to walls, and adhere strongly ; a cellar 

 whose walls were covered with rolled bitumen or asphalte, would be 

 as healthy and as habitable as the upper story, provided light finds 

 access, and the air is sufficiently renewed. In water conduits, reser- 

 voirs, basins, baths, washing establishments, and silos for the preser- 

 vation ; of grains and vegetables, these sheets of bitumen, so thin, yet 

 as unalterable as metals, will be of immense service. Easily painted, 

 they may be employed either for wall-hanging or for floors. — Journal 

 Franklin Institute. 



Additional experiments ox the internal dispersion or light. — 

 In a lecture delivered before the Royal Institution in London, Prof. 

 Stokes has communicated some new observations on internal dispersion, 

 which are of much interest. In accordance with an observation of 

 Faraday, Stokes has found that the blue flame of sulphur burning in 

 oxygen is a source of rays which exhibit the phenomena extremely well. 

 Letters written upon white paper with a solution of chinin, immediately 

 become visible when illuminated with this light, particularly when it 

 has passed through a blue glass, although they are invisible in gas light. 

 The letters remain visible when observed through a glass containing a 

 thin layer of a solution of chromate of potash, but they instantly vanish 

 when this glass is interpolated between the flame and the paper, the 

 solution being impervious to the rn.ys which occasion the color. The 

 author points out in the next place the advantages which prisms and 

 lenses of rock-crystal possess over those of glass, in experiments of this 



