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Scientific Intelligence. — A rts. 
ratus of the diving-bell. The improved bell will enable a 
directing engineer to descend, and remain at any depth at 
which diving-bells can be worked, without being subjected to 
endure the pressure of condensed air ; and the working itself is 
rendered much more safe and effective, by means which Mr 
Steele has invented for communicating, by conversation, with 
those above, which will supersede the present imperfect and in- 
secure system of signals by strokes of the hammer. He has fur- 
ther invented, by the application of optical principles, an in- 
strument for the stronger illumination of objects under water ; 
and improved the means of detaching men from the bell. 
58. Platina Strings for Musical Instruments It was pro- 
posed some time ago, in the Musical Gazette of Leipsig, to em- 
ploy platina strings instead of copper, steel, or brass ones. This 
metal being more elastic and more extensible than any other 
hitherto employed in the manufacture of strings, it is obvious 
that strings made of it would not only give a fuller sound, but 
would also have the advantage of keeping free of rust, and the 
inconvenience of breaking, as this metal is not influenced by hu- 
midity. — Neues Kunst und Gewerbblatt , April 1825. 
59. Imitation of Mahogany. — When any white wood is fre- 
quently done over with a concentrated solution from shavings of 
mahogany, and then polished, it acquires a lustre and colour 
much resembling that of mahogany wood. 
60. Mode of securing Wooden Buildings from the effects of 
Fire.-— Two years ago the great theatre in Munich was burnt 
to the ground. This unfortunate accident roused the attention 
of the chemists of Bavaria to endeavour to discover some means 
of destroying the inflammability of wood ; and of all the methods, 
the best, and that which has been employed in the new theatre 
just finished, was invented and proposed by Dr Fuchs, Professor 
of Mineralogy in Munich. The following is the process : 10 
parts of potash or soda, 15 parts of quartz (sand), and 1 part 
charcoal, are melted together- This mass dissolved in water, 
and, either alone or mixed with earthy matters, applied to wood, 
completely preserves it from the action of fire. The detailed ac- 
count of this process will be given afterwards. As the mate- 
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