446 



SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



[Oct. 26, 1888. 



were shown by Messrs. Billups and Verrall. A collec- 

 tion of Mollusca was sent in by Mr. F. G. Fenn, and a 

 nice selection of corals and sponges by Mr. W. Manger. 



We can only briefly glance at the specimens illustra- 

 tive of pathology sent by Mr. W. Roots, and the collection 

 of plants collected by Mr. W. A. Pearce in a journey 

 from San Diego to the Sonora Pass, California. 



With, the entire display we were not merely satisfied, 

 but delighted ; and we hope the immense trouble taken 

 by the committee and their friends will redound to the 

 benefit of the society. It cannot be too widely known 

 that one of its objects is to afford to youths who have a 

 taste for Natural History that practical guidance which 

 books alone fail to impart. 



Manchester Microscopical Society. — The members 

 of this Society held a conversazione on October nth. 

 Amongst the exhibits the micro-photographs taken by 

 Mr. E. Ward attracted much attention. Mr. E. P. Quinn 

 delivered a short and interesting lecture on vegetable 

 traps, and Mr. J. A. Furnivel exhibited with a lantern 

 microscope a number of prepared slides. 



Edinburgh Association of Science and Arts. — 

 At the meeting held on October 15th, Mr. J. M. Turn- 

 bull was elected President, and Messrs. T. R. Proctor 

 and W. Bruce Vice-Presidents for the ensuing session. 

 The retiring President, Mr. J. Melrose, said that the 

 Association numbered 291 members. 



. «-?tX5«f-» 



RECENT INVENTIONS. 



The following list, has been compiled especially for the Scientific 

 News by Messrs. W. P. Thompson and Boult, Patent Agents, tf 

 234, High Holborn, London, W.C ; Newcastle Chambers, Angel 

 Row, Nottingham ; Ducie Buildings, Bank Street, Manchester ; 

 and 6, Lord Street, Liverpool. 



Rackets. — Mr. W. Hawcridge has patented a press 

 for lawn tennis racket. The object is to prevent rackets 

 from twisting and for keeping them true. Two triangular 

 pieces of wood are used, connected at each angle by 

 screws adapted to allow the racket to pass between 

 them at the base, and to be pressed between them by 

 tightening the screws. 



Electricity. — Mr. S. Joyce, junr., has patented the 

 use of electricity as a source of explosive power. The 

 electric explosive consists of a vessel wholly or partly 

 filled with water, which is heated by the passage of an 

 electric current through a coil of wire inserted in it ; 

 steam is thus generated, and the vessel exploded when 

 sufficient pressure has been attained. Other fluids, such 

 as dilute sulphuric acid, may be used instead of water. 



Calendar. — An improved calendar has been patented 

 by Messrs. B. Weeksler and M. E. Becker, of 128, 

 Queen Victoria Street, and the object thereof is to enable 

 the spectator to trace the day of the week of any date 

 given. It consists of two distinct round pieces, the one 

 rotating within the other. Upon the inner are inscribed 

 the years and dates of the months and on the outer 

 the days of the week and the names of the months. In 

 operation the inner dial is moved so that the year in 

 question is immediately opposite the given month, and 

 the day appearing next the date is that required. 



Clubs. — Mr. W. A. Woof has patented an Indian club. 

 The object is to so construct Indian clubs that their 

 weight may be altered and adjusted to suit the party 

 using them. Externally the shape of the club is as usual, 

 but has its large end bored to receive a screw-bolt and 

 movable metallic weights. The weights are of any 

 suitable thickness, and have a hole in them to allow of 

 the passage of the screw-bolt. When the requisite 

 number of weights have been inserted, the screw is 

 passed through them and screwed into a bush, until the 

 head of the screw is firmly pressed against the outer 

 weight. 



Controlling Cocks by Electricity. — Mr. H. R. Fisher, 

 of Waterloo Road, has patented an invention for con- 

 trolling cocks and valves by electricity. A cap is pro- 

 vided which fits on the square shoulder of the plug of 

 the cock, and projecting therefrom is a horizontal lever 

 weighted to balance the resistance of the cock. An 

 electro magnet is placed near the longer end, with its 

 armature supporting the lever. When the circuit is 

 closed, the armature is attracted, and the lever falls ; the 

 weight thereon (being loose upon it) slides down so as 

 to increase the leverage, and the cock is opened, 



Preserving Meat. — Mr. Benjamin Willcox, of 47, 

 Lincoln's Inn Fields, has been granted a patent for a pro- 

 cess for preserving meat and oiher foods. (A communi- 

 cation from Mr. H. Lalyzer, M.D., of Baltimore, U.S.A.) 

 In this process the pieces of meat are enclosed in an enve- 

 lope of animal membrane, subjected tD the heat of steam 

 (to contract the bulk and destroy the organisms), are coated 

 with plaster of Paris, and then placed in a bath of hea'.ed 

 vaseline and paraffin, and finally wrapped with paper 

 tinfoil or other material. By this process the article is made 

 absolutely proof against attacks by germs of any kind. 



Preserving Seeds. — Messrs. P. L. Ouarante and C. E. 

 Le Revert have patented means for preserving seeds and 

 plants from the action of parasites and hastening the 

 germination and fertilization of seeds. To protect seeds 

 from parasites when sown in the ground, they should 

 be steeped in antiseptic and fertilizing liquids, with which 

 young plants should be watered. The liquid for these 

 purposes is composed as follows : — Acetate of alu- 

 minium, 15 parts; acetate of lead, 70 parts; Iceland 

 spar or carbonate of lime, 1 5 parts. These matters are 

 mixed and dissolved in water, and then used as stated. 

 By this method the germination of the seed is also 

 facilitated. 



Electrical Switches. — Messrs. F. L. Rawson and 

 Mr. White have patented an electrical switch. It con- 

 sists of a base of suitable material on which are fixed 

 two contact plates. The connection between these arms 

 is made by a switch-arm, consisting of several thin strips 

 of metal placed one upon another and bent over at their 

 ends, so that they press edgeways upon the contact plates. 

 The switch-arm is attached to a handle and centre pin, 

 which forms the centre upon which the switch-arm 

 turns. The lower end of the pin carries a nut, and be- 

 tween this and the underside of the switch base is placed 

 a washer, giving the necessary pressure on the contact 

 plates. To secure a quick break a spring is provided 

 which comes into action and presses on a spring-arm 

 just before the switch-arm leaves the contact plates, and 

 quickly drives the switch-arm rapidly from the same. 



