7 10 Indian Steel. December, 
clear that there is here an allusion to chlorophyll, though 
probably some phenomena in the animal world were also in 
the writer’s mind ; the green colour of leaves and plants 
does undoubtedly protect the delicate protoplasmic cell 
contents from the injurious action of sunlight, by filtering 
out the rays of higher refrangibility. The subject is a highly 
interesting one, and might be pursued much further, but 
sufficient has been said to show that the influence of light 
upon piotoplasm involves results of the deepest moment in 
the vegetable, and probably also in the animal world — 
results which would well repay further investigation, and, 
even in their practical application, are probably by no means 
confined to “ Sanitary agency.” 
III. INDIAN STEEL. 
By L. D’A. J. 
» LMOST every province of India has produced malle- 
able iron from a very early period, even when the 
rest of the world was going through a bronze age, 
or perhaps also part of a stone age. The Dehli Ldtli— a 
pillar of very pure malleable iron without visible weld, 
24 feet long and 16 to 12 inches in diameter— was probably 
made about A.D. 400, and remains rustless to this day, as 
a monument of the skill then available. 
1 he iron industry of India is now nearly crushed out, 
partly by English competition and partly for want of fuel, 
the vast forests of India having apparently been consumed 
by the people for domestic purposes, as well as for iron 
manufacture. All revivals of this industry can only be 
partial and local. 
Steel, manufacture of a high class would not, however, 
meet with the same impediments and difficulties, as tool- 
steel must always command a relatively high price, and be 
able to bear a high cost in fuel and in labour. It may be 
interesting, therefore, to mention the places where wutz was 
formerly manufactured, and the conditions as far as are now 
known, though many of the details have always remained 
secret. 
