January 9, 1885.] 



SCIENCE 



29 



which illustrate the most important applica- 

 tions of chemistry to the arts. The first 

 two classes are already well represented, and 

 a fair beginning has been made on the third. 



Third floor. 



tremely convenient and practical. The flues 

 draw in the right direction ; the desks are large 

 enough, more space being allowed each indi- 

 vidual than in any laboratory known to the 

 writer ; the light is good ; the water 

 and gas supplies are ample : in short, 

 no serious complaint has been made 

 against the working of any essential 

 feature, though a large number of stu- 

 dents have been constantly engaged 

 in it during the year. It is believed 

 that in its present condition it affords 

 facilities for every kind of chemical 

 work. ' Conveniences ' have not been 

 unduly multiplied, as the director's 

 experience has led him to the belief 

 that it is possible to make a labora- 

 tory so extremely convenient that it 



It is, however, in connection with 

 the third class that the chief ad- 

 ditions will be made for some time 

 to come. 



On the third floor, in addition 

 to the cabinet, there are two lec- 

 ture-rooms, — one for chemistry, 

 and the other for mineralogy, — 

 besides two small laboratories for 

 the examination of minerals, and 

 the preparation of specimens for 

 the museum. 



There remains only the base- 

 ment, which is well lighted, and 

 really amounts to an additional 

 stoiy. It is, of course, largely 

 taken up by storerooms and the heating-appa- 

 ratus ; but there are, in addition, two conven- 

 ient large rooms, which have been fitted up 

 for furnace-operations. In one of these are, 

 among others, two smelting-furnaces of the 

 extremely convenient form in use in the assay- 

 laboratories connected with the U. S. mints. 

 All the necessary conveniences for assaying- 

 ores have been secured, and it is intended that 

 all students of pure chemistry shall at least 

 know what assaying is. It is not proposed to 

 go into the teaching of applied chemistry in 

 an}- narrow sense, but rather "to afford the 

 thoroughly-trained chemist an opportunity to 

 familiarize himself with some of the more im- 

 portant applications of his science." 



In conclusion, it should be stated distinctly 

 that the laboratory not only works well on 

 paper, like some of the chemical reactions 

 which students are wont to originate, but, as 

 a matter of fact, it has been found to be ex- 



is difficult to work in it. It may safel}' be as- 

 serted that all really valuable forms of appa- 

 ratus or arrangements for special operations 

 have been taken into account, and embodied in 

 the building. 



THE TILE-FISH. 



In the spring of 1879 a Gloucester fishing- 

 schooner, accidentally fishing on the Gulf- 

 Stream slope south of New England, found in 

 abundance a fish which later proved to be new, 

 and was described under the name of Lophola- 

 tilus chamaelionticeps, but which the fishermen 

 named tile-fish. The fish-commission later 

 found that it possessed excellent edible quali- 

 ties ; and the prospect of thus adding a new 

 fish to our east-coast food-fishes created a stir 

 at the time. So bright were the prospects, 

 that a fishing-vessel was even being fitted out 



