SCIENCE. 
47 
Experience has shown that with such a lamp it is possible 
to obtain, with regularity and safety, a good electric light 
with twenty-four Bunsen cells, and at first with even twenty 
cells. Some of these lamps have been in use in the Rus- | 
sian artillery since 1877. 1 his lamp may also be constructed 
on the principle of the Wheatstone balance. 
The form of my lamp intended for public lighting is 
represented by Fig. 2. The rod A, with the upper carbon- 
holder works by the effect of its own weight. When the 
current traverses the lamp the distance between the two 
carbons is maintained by the aid of helical coils, but these 
coils and the toothed wheel which controls the movements 
are worked, as in the former case, on the principal of deri- 
vati ons. When the current is interrupted, the carbons come 
into contact by the effect of the weight of the rod A. 
I omit here certain details of construction which are of 
importance in order that the lamp may work properly. 
To sum up, the advantages of my lamp may be enumera- 
ted as follows : 
1. Its construction is extremely simple, it is free from 
clockwork mechanism, springs and electrical contacts. 
2. It does not require preliminary regulation nor any 
manipulation before or during its working. 
3. Several of these lamps may be arranged in series in 
a circuit, and they are always in due relation with the inten- 
sity and the tension of the current which is to act upon 
them. 
4. The lamp can work with comparatively weak currents, 
and also produce a very powerful light when the power of 
the current is augmented. 
I am convinced that the problem of the divisibility of the 
electric light by means of lamps having a voltaic arc can be 
solved only with the lamps based on the principle of the 
derivation of the current, which I discovered prior to 
Messrs. Lontin and Siemens. 
Lamps with movable carbons offering a certain resistance 
between their polar extremities are moreover far preferable, 
from the point of view of divisibility, to lamps with fixed 
carbons (with carbons at a fixed distance ?) which may offer 
great variations in the resistance of the arc, in consequence 
of impurities, the action of the wind, &c. These variations 
may in fact be greatly reduced in the former description of 
lamp, and it is not necessary with them to employ currents 
of such high tension or, if such currents be employed, ad- 
ditional lamps may be inserted in the circuit. 
W. Tchikoleff. 
GENERAL NOTES. 
Climatic influences have of late been rather against 
phylloxera, which has shown, therefore, a decreased activity 
for a time. According to M. Boiteau, the treatment with 
sulphide of carbon and sulphocarbonate of potassium 
these past three years past seems to have had even a stimulat- 
ing effect on the vines (besides ridding them of the insect). 
Some of the vines thus treated are flourishing better than 
before the parasite appeared. 
M. Charnay, the leader of the expedition recently sent 
to Central America under the auspices of the governments 
of the United States and France, the expenses of which are 
to be largely borne by Mr. Pierre Lorillard, telegraphs that 
the Mexican government has signed a treaty giving him all 
the privileges and facilities he needs in making explorations 
and has appointed a representative to accompany him. 
Marie Ekunina describes, in the Journal fur Prakti sc he 
Chemie, an investigation conducted in Professor Nencke’s 
laboratory at Berne, on the causes of acid reaction of the 
animal tissues after death. This reaction is attributed to 
the decomposition of tissue juices, after death, by fungi. 
Volatile fatty acids first arise through commencing decom- 
position of albumin, but very soon the two lactic acids 
proceeding from glycogen are associated with these. The 
richer the tissue in carbohydrates, the longer does the acid 
reaction continue after death ; this is especially the case 
with liver, muscles, and lungs. The shortest and weakest 
acid reaction is that in the pancreas. Sooner or later, in 
all tissues, the acid reaction passes over into an alkaline, 
while the decomposition of albumin increases, and there 
is much formation of ammonia. 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
We have been requested by a correspondent of Lieu- 
tenant Colonel Ross to publish the annexed letter, which 
at present may be accepted as an ex-pat te statement, which 
complains of a wrong done to him by certain members of 
the Royal Society. But while placing our columns at the 
disposal of Col. Ross, we disclaim any personal responsi- 
bility in the matter, and will afford ample space for any 
reply which Professor H. E. Roscoe, or others concerned, 
may decide to forward to us for publication. Lt. Col. Ross 
is well known for his works on Blow-pipe Analysis, and 
has recently published a small manual on this subject, 
which we find favorably spoken of by the English Scientific 
press. — [Ed.] 
London, nth June, 1880. 
To the Secretary of the Royal Society. 
Sir. — In forwarding a copy of my new work on the Blow- 
pipe, for the Library of the Royal Society (which I did yes- 
terday), I have the honor and pleasure to inform you for 
communication to them, that I have now, beyond reason- 
able doubt, discovered the coloring principle of the Sap- 
phire, and can produce stones made chiefly of alumina, of 
almost any required tint of blue, green, or “amethyst,” 
without using any chromatic oxide whatever, a discovety I be- 
lieve to be quite unique, for, although a Belgian or 
French chemist has made real “ rubies,” he is obliged to 
color them with manganese or other metallic oxide. 1 do 
not propose, however, to communicate this secret to the 
Royal Society, as I at first intended, for the following 
reason : When in the Spring of 1873, the Secretary of your 
Society, with the discriminating perception of the useful 
and novel which is characteristic of men of genius, came 
to Woolwich to examine experiments which I was then 
(as a Captain in the Roval Artillery) making in blow-pipe 
analysis, and eventually read a paper on the subject before 
your Society. I little thought that influential opposition in- 
stituted by Fellows of your Society, would be the chief 
cause of retarding my humble efforts in the progress of this 
new science for nearly ten years. I have, however, the 
most reliable evidence to prove that Professor II. E. Roscoe, 
F. R. S., and another Fellow of your Society whom I need 
not mention here, circulated the most disparaging and de- 
preciatory opinions regarding the novel statements on this 
subject contained in my work “ Pyrology,” (a detailed ex- 
position of the views first propounded in the paper read 
before your Society,) the MS. of which was offered by me 
to Messrs. Macmillan & Co., in 1874, for publication and 
declined by them, presumably on the advice of Prof. Roscoe. 
Of course I have no right, nor do I for a moment wish to 
complain of the adverse opinion of eminent men of science, 
though perhaps such opinions would be more suitably ex- 
pressed in public so as to give me an opportunity of reply ; 
but what I venture most respectfully now to complain of, is 
that one of my inventions in Blowpipe Analysis — the use of 
Aluminium plate — which had been disparaged as above 
mentioned, has now been adopted by that department of 
Owens College, Manchester, over which Prof. Roscoe so 
eminently and justly presides, and that a German work on 
the subject, translated in that department, has interpolated 
in it an account, spread over thirteen pages, of the very 
Aluminium plate reactions rejected by Prof. Roscoe in 
1874, and, worst of all, the invention is attributed to some- 
body else in the index of the book, which has been adopted 
as a text book by the Owens College. 
As I have sustained a serious loss by the publication of 
my work on the subject, chiefly through the opposition 
above referred to, I would most respectfully ask the council 
of your society whether they do not think it fair that I 
should reap any benefits now, derivable from my inventions 
or discoveries ? I have the honor to be, Sir, 
Your most Obedient Servant, 
W. A. Ross, Lt. Colonel, 
Royal Artillery (retired list). 
The Secretary Royal Society, 
Burlington House, Piccadilly IV. 
