i877-j 
Scientific Notes. 
287 
Electricity. — A new eledric lamp designed by M. P. Jabloschkoff has been 
described to the Academie des Sciences by M. L. Denayrouse. The new 
source of light is composed of two pieces of charcoal fixed in a parallel posi- 
tion at a little distance from each other, and separated by an insulating sub- 
stance capable of wasting away at the same speed as the charcoal. When 
the eledric current begins to pass the voltaic arc is formed between the two 
uncovered extremities of the two charcoals. The nearest layer of the insu- 
lating matter melts, is volatilised, and slowly lays bear the two rods of 
charcoal just as the wax of a candle progressively uncovers its wick as the 
combustion is propagated downwards. The heat springing from the combus- 
tion of the charcoal is utilised for the fusion and volatilisation of the insulating 
mixture. The composition of this latter may be varied indefinitely, since 
most earthy matters may be employed. The simplest mixture provisionally 
adopted consists of sand and powdered glass, which, with an equal eledric 
power, gives double the light of a regulator. The author has been able to 
divide the light produced by a single source of the current. With a single 
Gramme machine of the common make he has caused three sets of charcoals 
to burn at once. 
We learn from the “ Polytechnic Review ” that, in order that ordinary fire- 
proof safes should be in a measure rendered burglar proof, the Louis Reutzsch 
Manufaduring Co., of Meissen, has construded a wire covering, which is 
placed in an eledrical circuit with an alarm bell. If any of the wires forming 
the cover be cut, which must necessarily happen before the safe can be opened 
by an intruder, the circuit is broken and the alarm bell is sounded. The device 
is likewise applicable to doors and windows. 
Mr. Alexander Bain, the inventor of the eledro-chemical telegraph, died 
in January last in the Home for Incurables, near Kirkintilloch, of which 
institution he had been an inmate for several years. 
Mr. Alfred Smee, F.R.S., See., the inventor of Smee’s battery, also died in 
January last. Mr. Smee was the author of “ Elements of Eledro-Metallurgy,” 
Elements of Eledro-Biology,” and several other scientific works. 
Technology. — Oenokrine is the name of a test-paper sold in Paris for the 
purpose of deteding the fraudulent colouration of wines. With a genuine 
red wine the colour produced is a greyish blue, which becomes lead-coloured 
on drying. With magenta and other aniline colours it turns a carmine-red ; 
with ammoniacal cochineal, a pale violet ; with elder berries, the petals of 
roses, See., a green ; with logwood and Brazil wood, the colour of dregs of 
wine; with Fernambucca wood and phytolacca, a dirty yellow ; with extrad 
of indigo, a deep blue. The manipulation required is very simple. A slip of 
the paper is steeped in pure wine for about five seconds, briskly shaken in 
order to remove the excess of liquid, and then placed on a sheet of white paper 
to serve as a standard. A second slip of the test-paper is then steeped in the 
suspeded wine in the same manner and laid beside the former. It is asserted 
that i-ioo,oooth of magenta is sufficient to give the paper a violet shade, 
whilst a larger quantity produces a carmine-red. The inventors of the test- 
paper, MM. Lainville and Roy, are also said to have discovered a method of 
removing magenta from wines without injuring their quality, a fad of some 
importance if it be true that several hundred thousand hedolitres of wine so- 
phisticated with magenta are in the hands of merchants. 
In a letter written from Mentone to the Manchester Literary and Philo- 
sophical Society, Mr. Joseph Sidebotham, F.R.A.S., says : — “ My attention 
has been for some time direded to the growing use of the aniline colours for 
tinting photographs. Now I find they are being extensively used in paintings 
and water-colour drawings, and the colours regularly sold for that purpose. 
Anyone who knows the speedy alteration by light of nearly all of these 
colours will protest against their use, and a statement of this with the authority 
of some of our chemists would probably have the effed of causing them to be 
discontinued by all artists who care to think that their works should last more 
than a single year?” 
