7 2 
SCIENCE. 
BOOKS RECEIVED. 
Tiif, Construction ok Gas-Works and the Manufacture 
and Distribution ok Coal Gas. By William Rich- 
ards, C. E. 6th edition Crosby, Lockwood and Co., 
7, Stationer’s Hall Court, London. 1880. 
This is a new and enlarged edition of the work originally 
written by Samuel Hughes, C. E., but now enlarged, re-writ- 
ten by William Richards, C. E., who has brought his facts 
down to the most recent knowledge of the subject. 
At a time when a revolution in our methods of illumina- 
tion has become an established fact, and the death knell of 
gas has already been sounded, it is very convenient to find 
a hand-book full of the most valuable details respecting 
that method of illumination, written by one who is evidently 
a master of the subject. We find a great number of good 
engravings and many valuable tables. In view of the re- 
cent serious explosion of a gas main in London, England, 
the chapter on “ Gas explosions ” will be read with inrerest. 
Electric Light : its Production and Use. By J. W. 
Urquhart, C. E. Edited by F. C. Webb, M. I. C. E , 
M.S. T. E. Crosby, Lockwood & Co., London. 1880. 
The object of the author is to present for general reading 
an account of the various methods of obtaining the electric 
light, both from voltaic and galvanic batteries, and it also 
treats of the various forms of dynamo-electric machines. 
This work will serve the very useful purpose of placing 
within reach of those who are not acquainted with the his- 
tory and growth of electric lighting, a clearly written de- 
scription, well illustrated with wood engravings. It is not 
a text book, and the author makes no pretentions to teach 
electricians the art of electric lighting, but it is, in fact, 
a popular guide to the subject. 
The rapid development in the various forms of electric 
lighting led to a re-arrangement of the book, even while it 
was being written ; it is not therefore surprising to find that 
on certain points the work is already obsolete. The chapter 
on the Edison electric lamp was written twelve months 
since, and is devoted chiefly to his experiments with incan- 
descent platinum, which has been long since abandoned, 
while the author merely speaks of the carbon lamps to 
prophesy their failure. Reading this, at this date, when 
every difficulty in the way of their practical use has been 
removed, and arrangements are in progress to produce them 
in sufficient numbers to permit their general adoption, we 
cannot but regret that prejudice has been allowed to de- 
range the better judgment of those who have assumed to 
lead public opinion on this subject. 
We do not propose to examine too critically what is ad- 
mitted to be a popular work, and while we are not in accord 
with much we find in the book, we have no doubt that the 
numerous wood-cuts of electric generators and other 
apparatus will be most useful to those who desire to 
acquaint themselves with the various methods of electric 
lighting. 
Manual of the Alkali Trade, Including the Manu- 
facture of Sulphuric Acid, Sulphate of Soda and 
Bleaching Powder. — By John Lomas. Crosby, Lock- 
wood & Co. London. 1880. 
This is a handsome volume of three hundred and fifty 
pages, containing two hundred and thirty-two illustrations 
and working drawings, and provides a complete hand-book 
for those intending to manufacturer Alkalis, or for those 
already in the field who desire to improve their plant, or 
become practically acquainted with the latest developments 
of the trade ; it also may be useful for manufacturers to 
place in the hands of their managers and foremen, as a 
useful guide in their daily rounds of duty. 
The author appears to have had fifteen years’ of practical 
experience as an alkali manufacturer, during which time he 
states he has erected new plants, remodeled old works, and 
trained managers. We advise all engaged in the alkali 
manufacture, to procure this most practical work, as from 
the examination we have made of it, we feel sure a perusal 
will be the means of saving infinite time, patience and 
labor. 
NOTES AND QUERIES. 
[i.] In reply to the Query of J. 11 . G. in regard to Tucka- 
hoo or Indian Bread, I regret not being able to give all the 
particulars asked for, but the following extract from the 
Treasury of Botany may be useful : 
“Tuckahoo is the Americo-Indian name for a curious 
tuberous production, which is dug out of the ground in 
several parts of the United States, and which has been re- 
ferred by Fries to the genus Pachyma. Like Sclerotium, 
however, Pachyma has no fruit, and there is some reason 
to doubt whether it has any pretensions to be classed with 
Fungi at all. It is composed entirely of pectic acid, and 
it is very probable that it is a peculiar condition of some 
root, though of what plant has not at present been ascer- 
tained. One similar production at least has been found 
in China, where it is supposed to possess medicinal vir- 
tues ; and there is reason to believe that another exists 
there, attaining a diameter of several inches like the 
American Tuckahoo. As may be supposed from its chem- 
ical constitution, it affords a nutritive article of food, 
for which purpose it is dug up by the natives like the 
Mylitta or Native Bread of Tasmania, with which, however, 
it does not correspond in character. It is also employed 
occassionally as a material for making jelly, for which it is 
well adapted, the pectic acid of currants and other fruits 
being the principle which disposes their juice when boiled 
to form a jelly-like mass. The principal objection which 
is brought forward against the suppossed phaenogamous 
origin of the production is the absence of all trace of vas- 
cular or cellular structure like that of phaenogams, or of 
bark, except such as may be suppossed to arise from 
mere contact with the soil ; but the dissimilarity of its 
structure and that of Fungi is quite as great, and the con- 
version of a fungus into pectic acid would be more surpris- 
ing.” J. R. 
GENERAL NOTES. 
Curious Electric Phenomenon. — At about 4.30 P. M. 
this day a severe thunder storm with a deluge of rain came 
up from the north-west, and lasted about an hour. At 5.30 
my wife was standing at the window watching the receding 
storm, which still raged in the south, just over Leicester, 
when she observed, immediately after a double flash of 
lightning, what seemed like a falling star, ora fire-ball from 
a rocket, drop out of the black cloud about 25 0 above the 
horizon, and descend perpendicularly until lost behind a 
belt of trees. The same phenomenon was repeated at least 
a dozen times in fifteen minutes, the lightning flashes follow- 
ing each other very rapidly, and the thunder consisting of 
short and sharp reports. After nearly every flash a fire-ball 
descended. These balls appeared to be about one-fifth or 
one-sixth the diameter of the full moon, blunt and rounded 
at the bottom, drawn out into a tail above, and leaving a 
train of light behind them. Their color was mostly whitish, 
but one was distinctly pink, and the course of one was 
sharply zig-zagged. They fell at a rate certainly not greater 
than that of an ordinary shooting star. I have never wit- 
nessed a phenomenon of this kind myself, but my wife is a 
good observer, and I can vouch for the trustworthiness of 
her report. F. T. Mott. 
Bristal Hill , near Leicester, June 22, (Nature). 
MM. Le Bon and Noel have extracted from tobacco 
smoke the following products, which they recently pre- 
sented to the French academy in three flasks: 1, Prussic 
acid ; 2, an alkaloid of agreeable odor, but as poisonous as 
nicotine ; 3, aromatic principles still undetermined, but 
contributing, with the alkaloid mentioned, to give tobacco 
smoke its perfume. The alkaloid in question is thought to 
be identical with a compound, collidine, the existence o( 
which has been observed in the distillation of various or- 
ganic substances, but whose physiological and toxical pro- 
prieties have been overlooked. 
