the various colours, the green and blue gradually to be a common one, as I have never met with it
disappearing, and giving place to the red in its before, though several teeth, large and small, have
descent towards the west.
passed through my hands; nor does Charles
Holtzapffel, in the article on Ivory in his first
volume, allude to anything of the kind.

save the gradual fading of light towards the ter-
minator; the southern cusp, however, was percep-
tibly blunter than the northern one. External
contact at disappearance was noticed by a flatten- Mr. Lockyer appearing the most prominent
ing of the planet's s. p. limb, at 3h. 4m. Ss. ; and hypothetist regarding the causes of these pheno-
internal contact, when the tiny crescent of the mena, I ventured to write a letter to your contem-
planet's .f. limb had just disappeared, at 3h. 4m.porary, Nature, early in last December, suggesting
33s., G.M.T, an interval of 25s. being occupied in hydrogen gas at a great height, instead of volcanic
passing over the planet. The times given are from dust, as the cause. The hydrogen, I remarked,
a good watch, compared for several hours before might be telluric, derived from the Javan eruptions
and after the occultation with the best public clock in conjunction with other eruptions that might
in the town, and the latter checked by time-ball have taken place, unseen, from beneath the great
sigual from Greenwich at 10 o'clock the following ocean, or, otherwise, cosmic, the result of a collision
morning. The reappearance was not seen owing with meteoric matter. I addressed a similar letter
to clouds. It is strange that the Nautical Almanac to a Dublin newspaper, and you were kind enough
computers did not include this occultation in the to notice it; but my letter to Nature got no place
in that journal, which was weekly full of commu-
nications on the subject. I remember your kindness
some years ago when you published a letter of mine
that was similarly denied insertion in Nature. That,
like my late letter, was in opposition to the editor's
views. It expressed my dissent from the horrors of
vivisection.

list of those visible at Greenwich. Leicester, March 1st.

W. S. Franks.

OCCULTATION OF VENUS. [22430.]-I FEAR the weather will have prevented many of your readers observing the occultation of Venus on Feb. 29. It was, however, well seen here; the disappearance was noted at 2h. 574m. G.M.T. (time probably correct to a tenth of a minute). The reappearance was not seen by reason of clouds and haze.

[22431.-THIS was well seen here, the sky clearing shortly before 3 p.m. My 6in. Calver being provided with a very excellent finder (which is a hardly sufficiently appreciated essential for an altazimuth), I had no difficulty in at once seeing the Moon and Venus, and then with a power of only 60 on the telescope had very pleasing views of both immersion and emersion. The superior intrinsic brilliancy of Venus being very noticeable on emerging from behind the bright part of the Moon. The air was also much steadier at the time of emersion.

Southampton, March 1.

A. H. S.

In my letter to the Dublin paper I remarked that
if hydrogen was the true cause of the appearances
in question, their long continuance might be ex-
pected, though the gaseous property of inter-
mingling, irrespective of specific gravity, might
serve gradually to mix the lighter gas with the
heavier compounds of the atmosphere. I may add
that on one occasion, in January, I saw the zodiacal
light with a distinctly reddish glow.
John Birmingham.

Millbrook, Tuam, Feb. 24.

MOON'S AGE.

[22435.]-MAJOR TRUSSWEATHER is perfectly right. Mr. Pearson's very complicated system, which requires ten operations, leads to a result wrong by 12 days, whereas, with my leaflet, mentioned before in these columns, one single and simple operation gives a correct result. It consists in this: To 1884 add 1, 1885, [22432.]-THIS was well seen here, and the fol-number. Look at the lunar cycle, this number 4 divided by 19, the rest is 4, which is the golden lowing were the times observed:-Final extinction shows at once that the 1st of January was a Tues3h. lin. 338., G.M.T.; first reappearance, 4h. day, and that the moon was three days old. 14m. 338., G.M.T.

The gradual reduction of the curved edge of the following limb of the planet to a thin thread-like crescent of light, was very beautiful; and the sudden reappearance at the moon's limb, which had then become well defined, was most striking. Venus seemed almost yellow by contrast. (Telescope, 10in. achromatic, by Cooke).

Thos. S. Bazley. Hatherop, Gloucestershire, March 1.

Morchain, Somme, France.

=

Ch. Rabache.

JOSHUA AND THE SUN AND MOON. A. C. Smith that what he calls the "new and very [22436.]-WILL you kindly allow me to remind able explanation" of the miracle at the battle of Bethoron in the Church Quarterly is the same to which I called the attention of your readers in the controversy to which he refers! Nor was it a explanation theu, for almost the same view was taken in an article published in the Church Review several years ago. Tresilian.

"new

THE CHADDERTON LIMELIGHT

EXPLOSION.

SATURN. [22433.]-BEFORE this magnificent planet becomes unfavourably' situated for observation, which, as it is now rapidly approaching the west, will soon be, I would like to direct the attention of those observers who are the fortunate possessors of competent telescopes to the "narrow dark belt" on the ball, which Mr. Ranyard brought before the notice of the Astronomical Society in an interesting paper read at the December meeting. There seems to be a slight difference of opinion amongst the few who have been so fortunate as to have observed the belts respecting its colour, which is hardly to be wondered at considering its faintness, and its not being more than twice the breadth of Cassini's division, so that it would be worth while to have the point settled by the observations of as many independent observers, as then we should be in a I cannot imagine an accident with proper position to say with something like certainty apparatus properly used; but it is necessary to state whether the belt had changed in colour or not at that a great deal of ether apparatus is being offered the next opposition of the planet, should the belt to the public which contains elements of very great then be visible. To me, it appears of a bluish-danger. As, therefore, we mainly owe this light to brown colour, and is not quite so conspicuous now Mr. Broughton, I trust he will endeavour to throw as when I observed it first. May it not be what light he can upon the matter. variable?

has seen it.

G. C. C.

"UNLIMITED LIABILITY LATHE.” [22440.]-IF certain points of detail in the above disaster occurred during the use of the ether lime-as F. Carre's, I will pass by his personalities on [22437.1-I HAVE only heard to-day that this are" beneath the notice of such a practical mind" light. It was stated the "Ethoxo"; but I have the same grounds, and go straight to the point of very great doubts if the apparatus employed was his adverse criticisms. My original article is not at that of the inventor of this light. Very lately I hand for reference; but I am almost sure that I did have seen apparatus, and drawings of such, which not recommend the fastest speed, but the slowest, I am certain could not be used without grave secondly, that, though I alluded to a possibility of danger; and I trust that as Mr. Broughton is not turning the surface by means of an overhanging very far from the neighbourhood, he will ascertain rest, I specially stated that it would be better to and make public full details of the apparatus used, plane the surface, so as to avoid the necessity of and the probable reasons of the accident. turning it; and thirdly, that I never suggested the plan at all for general work of that size, but only for an occasional job. I might as well criticise the chair-back rest and reversed mandrel as if it was suggested for a permanency. I see nothing unpractical in the plan of a horizontal arrangement of the work to be turned; and, as the simplest expedient for carrying it out, the headstock cocked are not talking of heary work, though the disc may up on end" will, I think, answer perfectly. We possibly be 18in. diameter. As to a 3in. lathe sufficing. no one would use it if he had a larger one; and I only pointed out the sized work a 2ft. 6in. or 3ft. bed of even a small lathe would take. Practically, I find it quite possible, as stated to-day, to turn a 16in. disc on a 3in. lathe, and an 18in. dumb-waiter top would therefore be equally so, using, if found requisite, the next lower speed.

weight was removed, that insufficient ether was
My own opinion is that it will prove, unless the
used, and became exhausted.

This accident is another curious proof of the
rarity with which direct mortality attends such
explosions. The death reported appears to have
suffocation on the stairs afterwards.

It would also be very interesting and important to learn if the belt had changed its position? Prof. Holden, writing to the current number of the Observatory, is of the opinion that it has somewhat changed its position during the period in which he In a very interesting letter in the Astro-occurred, not from the explosion itself, but from nomical Register for September last, the Rev. T. W. Webb requests observers to note the absolute blackness, or otherwise," of Cassini's division. Seen with an 18in. silver-on-glass reflector, this division in the ring appears to me of an intense black. I should be glad to learn if it appears so to other observers. Dalston, E., March 3.

B. J. Hopkins.

THE STRANGE TWILIGHT GLOWS. [22434]-THESE still continue, and were very remarkable yesterday, the 23rd inst. The arrangement of the different colours was particularly well defined at sunset, with the blue-green low down toward the horizon, and the red at a considerable altitude above. The sun was followed as usual by

Lewis Wright.

YELLOW SPOTS IN IVORY.
122438.]-I PURCHASED last summer a tooth of
African ivory weighing 28lb., and cutting to a dia-
meter of more than 4in. in the thickest solid part.
Nothing can be finer than the quality of the ivory:
but its value and beauty are much lessened by the
existence of round spots, mostly nearly in. in
diameter, of yellow material, not unlike beeswax
in colour, though seemingly nearly as hard as the
ivory itself.
tooth is cut, but they are much more frequent near
These are met with wherever the
the small end than in the larger part.

I should like to know whether a similar defect
has been met with by others. I cannot suppose it

If a chair back has on occasion "done its work well" as a rest, I think no one need doubt the stability of a T with stem, 6in. high, which was about the height named. What is there, too, so terribly unpractical in a pair of temporary fairleaders. Surely these are of everyday use in lathe apparatus. F. C. writes as if I had suggested that a lathe intended for turning table tops ought to be made of a 3in. headstock set on end, instead of what I really suggested-viz., that, for occasional can, by one simple addition, be pressed into service. work, larger than a lathe will admit, the headstock I hope my critic's sermons are not so caustic as his letters on the mechanical designs of a brother amateur and brother parson. "J. K. P." is right

LATHE MATTERS.

[22442.]—“ ORDERIC VITAL's" remarks as to the disadvantages of my modification of Major Armstrong's form of lathe bed have something in them; but I am not yet convinced that, admitting all he says, there does not remain a balance in favour of my suggested arrangement. The bed is much simplified in construction, it is 50 per cent. stronger, the tool is brought much nearer to its point of action; or, which is the same thing, the work is presented to the tool at a point nearer to its solid support, for the centre of the lathe is almost right over the line of support for the saddle, and there is freedom from dirt, oil, and chips, with perfect protection from accidental injury to the V's.

Let us now take the several disadvantages mentioned: First. Why is a bed better with a channel between? In Major A.'s illustrations, which appeared some time ago, he showed a very easy and simple way of fixing rest and poppet head, which has some advantages over the ordinary way-e.g., taper turning can be done without altering the slide-rest. To have a slot in the upper face of the I bed would not be at all desirable, besides being a receptacle for chips and turnings, very hard to be cleaned; it would materially reduce the strength of the bed, and prove a very inaccurate way of fitting the heads.

W. A. Barber.

that he has never done what he coolly advises the &c., of the working parts, &c.; and work out
unsuspecting amateur to do: he is not sure now theoretically the power of his lathe, and prove that
whether he will not get a special short poppet made there is power enough to turn a 2ft. (not 2in.) circle.
to stand on end," &c. Will he, in the name of We should then have something instructive and
common sense, tell us what advantage he expects interesting, also some reliable data, to work upon,
to derive from this? He says it would "improve and could be really certain that "it is not a mare's
matters." Decidedly, they want to be improved! nest."
92, Cleveland-street, W., March 1.
To make matters worse, he says it is the principle
of the horizontal lathe for large discs he specially
wishes to suggest. What is the large disc he wants
to turn? Is it likely to exceed 7ft. diameter? If
not, then can he not much more easily, in every
way, turn it overhanging the end of the lathe?
Very few lathe centres are less than 3ft. 6in. above
floor.

Working the tool in the position shown would be very awkward, needing as much practice as if he had never turned before. How would the long rest be kept steady? And when all was done, would the play be worth the candle? Where would the power come from? The horizontal lathe is a most excellent tool for its own work-lapidary's and potter's work; leave it there till something else is discovered-it can do as well. Better for those devoid of the inventive faculty to be satisfied with repeating themselves, and not attempt what is beyond them.

March 1.

Fredk. Carre.

[22443.]-I WISH "O. J. L." would keep to his text in his replies to any criticisms; and if he will answer my inquiries, give plain answers to plain questions, as I am now more than ever in the dark with regard to this "Unlimited Liability Lathe."

I take it that his letter (22402, p. 558) is in reply to mine (p. 540 ante), although the answer is so obscure that it is very difficult to make out what "O. J. L." really means; his language is as misleading as his drawings.

Imprimis, he says the supposed difficulty does not exist." Can, and will, he prove that the several difficulties I suggested do not exist? We do not want "vague generalities and mild platitudes"; let it be argued in plain and terse language-for this really is a scientific question, and it should be treated as one.

Now the method of fastening the poppet head by jamming one side against the truly planed edge of the bed, by the action of a V slip on the opposite side, insures not only perfect ease in shifting the head on top of bed, but also its being at all times truly in line when fastened up; things not always secured in the double-bed form, in which, if the fitting is not good (and then the head is stiff to move, if there is the least trace of clogged oil between the shears), the poppet may take any one of four positions besides the true one. It is an advantage, therefore, that the head should always be clamped to the one edge, as it is in my form. Secondly. That the whole weight is borne by the lower V, and thus the support much below the centre of gravity of the attachment. This is a disadvantage. But if "Orderic Vital" will look at my section, he will see that, except for diameters of work larger than amateurs usually require, the vertical strain will pass through the back face of the saddle, and the torsional strain will be very Blight indeed, and not such as to be incapable of being sufficiently resisted by a properly fitted V slip. Of course the external V's would have the advantage in this particular case; but I rather think the bed itself would be the weakest link in What is meant by "the lathe running back the chain under the circumstances, and as weight wards," &c.? Let me inform "O. J. L." that if for weight, the I is much the strongest. Perhaps, the lathe head be fixed with the axis of the mandrel after all, even on this point the form I have sug-perpendicular to the top of the bed, the mandrel gested would give as good results as any other. would and does revolve in precisely the same direcSome of the strain in cutting would be borne by the tion in relation to its axis, as it would if it were top of bed, for I intended the base of slide rest to fixed in the ordinary manner; therefore, unless the be capable of being slid on to top of bed before screw on the mandrel nose be left-handed, the being bolted in place on bracket. chuck cannot be unscrewed when the work is being turned.

I am afraid if external V's were cast so low down as proposed, it would make the bed unduly deep and heavy.

F. A. M." will see that I have said bracket might be moved by screw or hand, with the view of its being used for other purposes besides those of the vertical slide-rest, for the top, if fitted with L-slots, forms a table for bolting work on, which may then be operated on by a shaping head worked by the mandrel. Though I think Major Armstrong's method of moving the shaper head while the work is stationary is much the better way, it could not be so arranged when the slide is in front.

I do wish we poor mortals groping about in the dark could prevail on some of the Dii Magni-who, no doubt, are smiling at our childlike attempt to climb-to descend from their heights and tell us whether we are making mountains of molehills, or else straining out the gnat while we swallow the camel. Things we are puzzling over they must have proved for themselves long ago. That we still number amongst our members writers who are able to give us something better than " pap is abundantly evident, though why the ". pap gets placed in the fore-front is not equally evident. Yet still, we who desire a little stronger meat do not want to cry out against the admission of any 66 baby food." All we say is, that the food ought to be sound and wholesome, and that no man, for his own private advantage, and with a view solely to their sale, ought to be allowed to colour his "lollypops "with poisongaudy, but dangerous.

I see Mr. Boord has taken much the same view of the value of the instruction given to "innocents at home" in the "J. L." article as I did. My writing must have been more than usually bad, as the printer has made such a hash of it. What I said, in the second paragraph, was, "The points W. A. B.' refers to are beneath the notice of a Practical Hand! I do rather think it would task a 3in. head to turn a 2ft. table-top pretty fairly in every single part." There are a lot of other mistakes in punctuation;-but no matter now. But in "J. L.'s" defence of his "notion" he lets it out

I asked "O. J. L." if he had turned a 2ft. circle
with a 3in. lathe; he replies, "I can and have
turned with ease (?) a 16in. disc with my lathe in a
vertical position by reversing (?) the headstock,
rigging up a high rest,
&c. The high
rest is an addition, for in the drawing an ordinary
rest is shown. The thing seems to be growing.

Why should others require assistance when
treading, when O. J. L." can do the feet solus?
What proof does he give that he could turn 18in.
dia. without difficulty"? And it should be borne in
mind that "O. J. L." only acknowledges work-
ing up to 16in. dia.; and that is only of 2ft.
Further, he says, "to do away with the awkward-
ness, I proposed the horizontal arrangement" (how
does this agree with all that has preceded it-is it
not. rather contradictory ?) I was under the im-
pression that it was the horizontal arrangement that
caused the awkwardness. Some explanation is
wanted; I am afraid that the horizontal disarrange-
ment has made "O. J. L." awkward. To properly
understand mechanical movements on paper, clear
and accurate drawings are required; muddled
"general notions" are not quite clear," and the
information anent the lathe bed is wholly uncalled
for, and it would be quite as instructive to be told
that the family washing had been put out; and as
for intentions-well, I suppose that paving job below
is not finished yet; and it does not matter to me
one jot about the "hand mandrel," &c., whatso-
ever may be meant by it. It is like throwing dust
into one's eyes to be told such stuff; here is more
dust-“. cutting out a round (sic) disc
square piece with the corners sawn off
or three inch discs "; does he mean feet?
"O. J. L." says that no alteration is needed. Is
not a machine altered if we add to it and change
its mode of action? do not other stresses and forces
come into play? Let "O. J. L." answer these
questions, and prove his theory.

.

OVERHEAD LATHE. [22444.]-IN your letter (22380), p. 539, you do not say what you wish to attach your countershaft to, whether wall or rafters, so that I do not know whether hang-downs or plummer blocks and brackets are the more suitable. Please state which, and I will devote a paper to their construction, together with that of a cone and driving pulley, and gap-piece (letter 22379). J. H.

THE FRONT SLIDE LATHE. [22445.]-I MUST observe that my short note (22379) was penned before I had seen Mr. Carre's sketch of his arrangement. When Mr. Carre spoke of placing the top V on the inner side, I thought he meant that the slope of the V should be opposite to that shown in the diagram I sent some little time ago; not that the whole V should be contained under the front ledge of the lathe bed. This is evident, from the remarks which follow, where I advise that a sufficient hollow be left under the path of the fast or top V of the saddle, in order that chips may not get jammed under it.

O. V.

HEAT AND DROUGHT IN SOUTH
AUSTRALIA.

[22446.]-THE heat and dryness around Adelaide
have been so remarkable, that a few scientific
statistics will be of interest to your readers. The
plains of South Australia are undoubtedly (for
absolute values) the hottest and driest regions in
the British Empire. At 3 p.m. on January 13th, I
registered the following figures at my observatory
on the plains bordering the river Torrens (instru-
ments 4ft. above ground in Stevenson's screen) :-
Shade temperature of air by dry bulb 107-0°,
temperature of evaporation by wet bulb 69-7, giving
the extraordinary difference of 37-3° between the
dry and wet bulb thermometers. The shade maxi-
mnm for 12 hours ending 9 p.m. was 109.6°, and
the solar maximum (black bulb in vacuo) 152.3°
The temperature of the ground at 9 p.m. at a depth
of lft. was 91-0. The dry and intense heat,
though at times fatal to infants, is not unhealthy
for the adult.
Clement L. Wragge.
Torrens Observatory, Adelaide, Jan. 19.

PODURA SCALES.

[22447.]-THE applications for podura are so numerous that some of our friends may have to wait a few days. My hunting ground (old red sandstone walls) seems almost exhaustless, but the podura only come out of their hiding places on warm foggy nights. If any of the podura have reached their destination scaleless, which I fear those I sent off first in empty boxes will do, I shall be glad to forward a few more; but I must request a stamped envelope addressed. Mr. Carroll sends no address. I may just add, for the sake of our young friends, that it will require objective to resolve the small scales. Many thanks for slides received. Joseph Wall. Woburn House, Woburn-hill, Green-lane, Liverpool.

A NEW MOTOR. [22448.]-PLACE two going watches on a fir board, and after some one of them will be stopped by the other. Says Sir David Brewster, this is the most wonderful thing in science. Leaving out the wonder, it would be more wholesome to place one watch, and allow it to make increment of the energy accruing from the board, and send the increase to start and sustain its neighbour, whose master's hand may no longer be able to wind it up. Between three and four years ago I modelled a contrivance two in part agreeing to the description of a new invention as given in 22385, p. 540. In the street I had once seen an embryo of the idea in a bit of tin that was pivoted fanlight fashion in the shoulder harness of a carter's horse. I explained it as far as I could go to an accomplished mechanic of my acquaintance, with whom I observed it was quite new. It does not appear from Geo. Smith's letter that the invention, working on a tricycle, gives out sound, or that it is beholden to the free wheel. I was condemned to soundless action, and found that without the musical sound that attends high speed, any silent action was worthless. I had use for a quadruple sound to be without attachment to the impelled boat or light machine for use. Colin Brown claims that his voice-harmonium patent covers the sound of two wheels besides his reeds, and had secured so much before Sir Wm. Thomson, who, at his instance, was made arbiter in a disput

In the article, p. 507, the idea of having a separate head for horizontal working was deprecated; but now "O. J. L." is not at all sure that he is not going to have a special poppet (qy. lathe head) made," &c.

In his reply "O. J. L." still keeps silent re turning the surface of the disc; and what is there special to "observe that the 18in. disc projects only 9in." &c. ? I should like to have the "principles of the horizontal lathe " properly threshed out, and it will be better if " O.J.L gives us some particulars of his 3in. lathe, such as the dimensions,

INGROWTH OF NAILS. [22449.]-I CAN add my experience to the recommendation of a correspondent that filing, scraping, or paring the upper surface of the nail will be found an effective remedy for this troublesome affection. I do not, however, agree with him as to the rationale of the process. I do not consider that the growth is drawn from the sides to the middle of the nail to make good what has been removed; but rather that the relief is of a mechanical nature. The form of such nails is generally round, which causes an undue pressure at the sides. When the strength of the nail is decreased by scraping, the sides can be forced up into a more natural form, the nail becomes flatter, and the evil is thus abated.

Narrow-toed shoes, no doubt, aggravate the evil, but are not the only cause. In India the trouble is not unfrequent; the heat and dryness of the air affect probably the form of the nail. Expertus.

3rd. The utility of such information. No correspondent has in any way impugned the accuracy of the calculation I made on p. 386 of last volume, so we may consider it as settled that the engine there referred to was at least 1464-h.p; a very different result to those given in textbooks on mechanics. It seems generally agreed that it is not possible to ascertain the h.p. of an engine from her dimensions by calculation, at least, not accurately. I can quite understand, as pointed out by "Historian" and "Metecr," that much depends upon small details, and that the main difficulty in any given instance is to find out how an engine will make steam. So far, then, we are in agreement. Lastly comes the question as to the utility of expressing the power of an engine in h.p., and here there is some difference of opinion. The tractive force of an engine is not, and cannot be, any indication as to the speed at which she will run on a given gradient with a given train, but from the h.p. this speed can be calculated. I gave an equation for this purpose on p. 451, which seems to have been overlooked by our railway men. It may be simplified into

Wm v3 + 1366, Wmv + 255360, W v = 42751 mP, where W is weight of train in tons, P the h.p. of engine, the rate in miles per hour at which she would take the train up an incline of 1 in m. This equation has been deduced from the formula for train resistance given by Mr. Stretton, together with the usual formula for work done in ascending inclines, and I may perhaps be permitted to express my surprise that the railway men have not commented upon it. I am much obliged to "Meteor" for his information as to the smallest driving wheels which can run 60 miles per hour. I calculate that the engine would have to make 640 strokes per minute, rather more than 10 strokes per second. I suppose it is no use asking Mr. Stretton to give his views on the subject under discussion.

Elswick Science School.

Wm. John Grey.

THE RECENT COLLISION AT WINCO
BANK-THE BLOCK SYSTEM-CON-
TINUOUS BRAKES.

accident, which took place only six days before, and
in his opinion "both collisions were in some degree
the consequence of a faulty system of block
telegraph working."

It is indeed to be hoped the Company will now
give serious attention to Major Marindin's reports
and abolish the dangerous rule which has caused
many accidents by permitting "line clear" to be
given when the line is obstructed at the next home
signal.

We must now turn our attention to the brakepower. The mail was made up of engine and tender 1659, fitted with the steam brake, and a train of equal to fourteen vehicles; the driver had control over the Clayton Two Minute Vacuum Brake on six of these vehicles. The dangerous character of this leaking-off brake has frequently been brought under the notice of your readers, and the present case adds another to the long list of failures.

This Clayton brake has no reserve store of power, it can therefore be applied once, then time must elapse before another store of power can be obtained, the brake leaks off of itself in less than two minutes.

Now here is the result. The signals were on
at Wincobank Junction, the driver put on the brake
and used the one store of vacuum, the signal was
taken off (in obedience to the dangerous rule). The
distance from Wincobank Junction to the station-
box is but 361 yards; the driver having used the one
charge of power at the junction, had not time to
obtain any power to stop at the station signals,
which, of course, were passed, and the collision
ensued.

The driver states, that which is no doubt a fact,
that when he applied the brake the second time
"there were 1lin. of vacuum." By this remark
he means that 11in. were indicated by the gauge on
the engine, but it must be clearly pointed out that
the pressure
on the gauge and the available
vacuum above the brake pistons is by no means the
pipe, but there may be not an ounce of power in the
same. The gauge will show 20in. in the brake-
cylinders.

Major Marindin (referring to this brake) reports:
stopping the train, and I very much doubt whether,
"It cannot be said to have acted well or quickly in
after repeated applications and with only 11in. of
is very quickly felt at the rear of the train."
vacuum showing on the dial, the effect of this brake

The collisions with buffer-stops at Portskewet Pier, Liverpool, Northampton, Bradford, and Leeds, also the numerous accidents and failures, should cause the Midland directors to carefully consider the danger of the brake in use on their railway.

centre of parabolisation at the same edge as the eyepiece, would practically be a much larger instrument working with an eccentric stop. Not only would there be no disturbance from flat, but the bright rays caused by the supports would be eliminated, and the cost or trouble of working a flat would be saved, while a considerable gain in light would result. I commend this to any amateur working his own mirror.

While writing, I should like to protest against such letters as that of Dr. T. R. Allinson (52781) on vegetarianism as a cure for consumption. For any consum ptive person or weakly person to adopt his regimen is to go to certain death, for which, in my opinion, he would be morally responsible. I should, perhaps, write less forcibly, if I had not in view at the time of writing a case in which his assertions may not improbably do a great deal of harm. He is absurd on the face of his statements. He says, "adopt a diet which will digest easily, and not supply the system with too much waste material. Surely he knows that meat is more easily digestible than anything else, in sufficient quantities, and supplies far less waste than anything. Again, he says flesh foods give rise to night sweats. He must know better. As for causing indigestion, I can cite a number of cases in which the lowering regimen of T. R. Allinson has brought dyspeptic patients to the verge of the grave, and the resumption of a meat diet has entirely removed every symptom of indigestion.

His advice re fresh air and cleanliness is very good, if he would not mix it with his crazes about vegetables only. He may get wiser as he gets older; if not, I am terribly afraid that, in his career as a doctor, he will have a great many deaths upon his conscience. I call his advice to consumptive patients manslaughter.

Edwin Holmes.

PUMPING BY SUCTION. American Machinist, is a good specimen of Yankee [22454.]-PUMPING by suction described in the work, and I think that the amount of mental power been most extraordinary. If inventions are wanted required to originate such an invention must have bringing out inventions come to England, and I am we must go to America, but for perfecting and pleased to say that I have very much improved upon my Yankee friend's invention. He states that the engineer told him as a fact (a fact) that they were pumping water by suction 37ft. with but slight vention as follows: variations." He then goes on to describe the inend of the suction pipe is a tee with nipple and "About 25ft. from the bottom Five of the vehicles composing the "Mail" elbow; from this tee a standpipe of the same belonged to the North Eastern Company, and were diameter as the suction pipe extends to the same consequently not fitted with the "Two Minute valve at the bottom end of the suction pipe." He height, and is covered with a cap. There is a check Midland Brake," 206 tons 11cwt., the driver had control over only Fill both pipes with water, then screw the cap "therefore of the total weight, then goes on to describe the action as follows: 131 tons 12cwt. of braked weight. Major Marindin remarks that if "the transfer of vehicles is to deprive airtight on the top of what I should call the stand important trains of nearly half the brake-power, it pipe; the action of the pump will suck the water will be necessary to consider whether such transfer out of the standpipe, and form a vacuum in it must not be prohibited unless the vehicles are fitted that will sustain the water in the suction pipe, so with brake fittings adopted on both lines." that the pump will lift water the 27ft." Very good; now you know what my Yankee friend's invention is. Now for my improvement on his invention. He says that by placing the tee, elbow, and standpipe 25ft. from the bottom of the suction, and by filling the stand-pipe with water (together with the use of the check-valve, which is very important) that the pump will suck the water 37ft. Now just sketch out the invention on paper, and you will then see that the suction-pipe is, after all, only the ordinary suction with a branch having its upper end sealed with a cap. Put another barrel in this standpipe the effect would be precisely the same. Now, as this pump is said to raise water 37ft., if you place another check-valve where the bottom part of the barrel is-viz., at 37ft. from the surface of the water in the well, and put another branch-viz., 25ft. from the first branch, you can then raise water just double the distance that the Yankee can; and should you feel so disposed to fix a third branch or standpipe, not forgetting the check-valve, you can raise water three times the distance-viz., 111ft.; in fact, you can keep on adding these branches and check-valves without limit. And mark this! The pump will work no heavier on the hand than if it was only drawing the water the thirtyseven feet. This is also a fact.

I have often pointed out that it is an easy matter
to fit rolling-stock with two systems of brakes, but
it, of course, entails a considerable extra expense:
which would be unnecessary if the companies would
adopt the only satisfactory plan of agreeing to use
a uniform pattern of continuous brake.
How long will it be before the companies will
agree?
Clement E. Stretton, C.E.
Leicester, February 28.

THE TELEPHONE.

[22452.]—REFERRING to last week's issue of the ENGLISH MECHANIC, in which appeared a letter (22425) on the subject of telephones, allow me to point out what seems to me to be an error in the

same.

Mr. Macarty writes, "I connect up my telephone
in the usual way, secondary to battery, primary to
line and earth." Now I infer that Mr. Macarty
means: primary to battery and transmitter,
secondary to line, earth, and receivers. If not,
certainly his idea is contrary to the "usual way"
of connecting up instruments, and speaking as one
who has had some experience in the telephone
world, I question if such could be made to work.
E. A. Barnes.

VEGETARIANISM AND

TION.

N.B.-I should state that it is a peculiarity of the Southern States to apply the word "raise" to the rearing or bringing up anything, whether perpendicular or vertical; they also use the word raising CONSUMP-for bringing up men.

[22451.]-MAJOR MARINDIN's report upon the collision which took place on the 3rd January, at Wincobank Station (near Sheffield), on the Midland Railway, has just been published. In this case the 10.5 p.m. mail from Leeds to MEASURING POWER OF EYEPIECESDerby and London came into collision, when running at high speed, with an empty waggon train which was shunting at Wincobank, and which was foul of the main line in consequence of two waggons having left the rails. The fine is worked on the absolute block system, yet, in accordance with the Company's rules, the express was allowed to approach at a time when the line was "blocked" a few feet beyond the home signal. In my letter, 519, I quoted the dangerous rule in question. Major Marindin reports that he can only repeat the remarks he made in his report on the Skipton

[22453.1-THERE is an error in my letter respecting measuring the power of eyepieces, of 25 for 35. Would there be much practical difficulty in grinding a mirror with the vertex of the parabola at one edge? I think everyone using a reflector must have noticed how much less troublesome the rings are with an eccentric stop, clearing the flat and supports, than they are with a central one giving the same light. Now, a telescope mounted in the Herschelian form, if the mirror had the

With regard to the word "suction," I beg to say that it is generally used by plumbers and pumpmakers, to denote the part of the pump whereby the water enters, and to classify the difference between the force-pump, the lift-pump, and the atmospheric pump, known as a suction or jackpump. Perhaps we are in the wrong when we say that the pump sucks water, because to suck is one thing, and water flowing by atmospheric pressure is quite another; it is the combination of the two things that produces the useful effect of the pump.

For argument's sake, you can suck away at empty
space as long as you like, and produce nothing.
Nevertheless, the word is an accepted term, and
serves its purpose just as well as atmospheric pump;
because if one is wrong, so also for the same reason
is the other, for it will not act without first suck-
ing..
P. J. Davies.

BEES.

[22455.]-IN No. 987 we are favoured with a sketch of a bee-house and outline of the management of bees, by a company in New South Wales, which is interesting.

I always held that bee farming is one of the most profitable of rural pursuits (though some laugh at the idea) when worked with perseverance and care. I wish to ask our readers whether the swarmingbag mentioned is ever used in this country? and if so, with what success? I have often thought that something of the kind would be of great service. I disapprove of having beehives over each other; the bees in the top ones often fall down and get lost. Why not transfer from those half-rotten skeps into snug bar-frames, any fine day from this forward?

Would there not be less risk than when the hives
are full of brood? Is it safe to introduce Ligurian
queens to alien stocks at this time of year? Our
readers are every day getting more interested in
practical bee-keeping, and it is being recognised as
a source of profit. I hope we shall have the many
points discussed by those who have practical ex-
perience. While the bees are sleeping let us be
working.
F. P.

Mr.

sectors he means 24 on each plate, there are cer-
tainly too many to obtain length of spark; but if
he means 24in., I have found that 12 sectors on
each plate is about the best number for general
purposes. As I have during the recent dry weather
obtained in rapid succession sparks 54in. long, from
a machine with 14in. plates, with two pint Leyden
jars, it might interest some of "ours if I were to
give the dimensions of the working parts:-
(1) Plates. 14in. in diameter, with a fin. hole
drilled in them. (2) Bosses. 1in. in diameter
where the glass plate is screwed against them
with a thin piece of vulcanite. (3) Sectors. Sin.
long, in. wide at one end, and thinning down to
in. at the other. The ends are rounded, and a
metal bead is soldered to the broad end, which the
sheet brass, fastened to the glass with giant cement,
neutralising brushes touch. The sectors are of thin
or a thick and sticky solution of shellac. In both
cases the sectors hold much better if the plate is
well warmed, though care must be taken, or the
amateur will be the happy possessor of a broken.
plate. The sectors are fixed at equal distances from
one another, the broad end being in. from the
outside edge of the plate, and the narrow end being,
in consequence, 2in. from the boss. You cannot
right position, as much of the success of the machine
use toa much care in getting the sectors in the
depends upon their being exactly opposite one
another, so that the neutralising brushes shall
touch at the same moment the opposite sectors.
The greater the number of sectors the greater the
ease with which the machine picks up a charge;
the less the number the greater the length of spark;
but where less than 10 or 12 sectors on each plate
are used, there is a difficulty in setting up the induc-
tive action. A very neat and at the same time simple
way of putting on the sectors is to cut out a ring of
the circumference of
edge is the circumference of a circle with a radius
a circle, with a radius of 6iu., and whose inner
3in. smaller. Paste this over with the thick solution
such a manner as to leave in a 14in. plate a ring of
of shellac on one side, and fix it on the glass in
glass gin. broad outside the tinfoil. When the
varnish is dry, cut the tinfoil with a sharp penknife
into the required sectors, peeling off the alternate
pieces of tinfoil, and leaving about fin. between the
sectors, both at the top and the bottom, so that the
cuts that you will take with the knife will not be
exactly radial lines. Such a machine will give you
torrents of electricity, though not perhaps a very
great length of spark; but you will be amply com-
machine will start, and by the fact that it will start
pensated for that by the ease with which the
in all conditions of the weather. To get length of
spark, I find that the neutralising brushes are best
fixed so as to make an angle of 60 with the prime
conductor, though the nearer the brushes are to the
collecting forks the greater is the ease of starting.
I see that it has been questioned in the ENGLISH
MECHANIC whether glass or vulcanite is the better
material for the plates, both with regard to its
efficiency and to the ease of manufacture. I will
merely state" that an amateur friend of mine tried
vulcanite plates, and that within a week they were
discarded and replaced by glass, and that this same
friend drilled out 12 in. holes and cut out 12 14in.

[52520.]-American Organ.-In case Floyd may misunderstand the remarks I have furnished on p. 563 of the last volume, I should like to tell him that I do not infer that there is never any difference in the soundboards of American organs; but in cases where they are made to the same scale, and of the same material, they are certainly identical; and if there is any difference in the tone between two or more such soundboards, the cause evidently lies in the fact that the reeds LEGAL REPLIES. belonging to each respective soundboard have not [22456.]-SETTLEMENT (53008).-If this is an been similarly treated with regard to the voicing of ante-nuptial settlement, as no doubt it is, it pro- them. Great skill is required to voice a set of reeds vides for the children of the marriage, and so it properly, and still greater skill is required to voice tinfoil, whose external edge i cannot be got rid of in the way suggested. Children cannot legally consent, and if it be so, the fact that no children have yet been born would be no answer, for some may be born. It is nonsense to talk of doing away with such a settlement and to discharge the trustees. I have no doubt that if the solicitor is properly applied to, he will give a copy of the settlement to one of the other trustees, upon being paid his charges for the same. There is no such thing as a "first trustee "; all have equal authority under the trust.

MARRIAGE (53054).-Although the marriage laws are different in England and Scotland, a marriage valid in England will be valid in Scotland. The parties here can be married in London by license, or at a church or chapel, or by the Registrar at his office, upon the usual certificate. To get this certificate both parties should stay eight days in London, and during that time give the proper notices to the superintendent Registrar upon the forms which he will provide. Presuming the parties are of full age, there will be no difficulty.

EMPTIES-COUNTY COURT JURISDICTION (53071). -The railway company, through their servant, the station master, takes charge of the empties at the station where they are delivered, and the receipt given. This acceptance by the company is part of the querist's cause of action, and would enable him, with leave of the Registrar of the County Court of that district, which would be given upon proof of this fact, to sue the railway company for damages for loss in the County Court of the district in which that station stood, and he need not go to

London.

LEGAL NOTICE TO QUIT (53076).-There is no way of keeping alive a notice to quit. If the tenant remains afterwards he is only a tenant on sufferance, and he can be turned out when the landlord wishes. But as soon as the landlord takes

rent due after the notice to quit has expired, he is said to have waived that notice, and it is at an end. The only thing then to be done is to give another notice at the proper time.

SETTLEMENT-INVESTMENTS (53077).-Settlements cannot be altered at the desire of the trustees or the beneficiaries. Their terms must be carried out, and if the clause as to investments does not permit of investment in leaseholds, then nothing can be done. If the trustees were to act in opposition to this clause, that would be a breach of trust, for which they would be liable to the beneficiaries or their

representative or descendants.

two sets "exactly"-which is not always accomp
lished, even by thorough practical reed voicers.
Therefore, Mr. Floyd need not be in the least sur-
prised that he has not succeeded. If Mr. Floyd
will test his reed voicing practically by fair means,
and report the result, he will satisfy other readers
besides himself, and not put the fault on the condi-
tion of the soundboard, instead of the manner in
which he has voiced his reeds. It is necessary
that this matter should be cleared up satisfactorily,
and that Mr. Floyd should acknowledge his ineffici-
ency in voicing, in case anyone should purchase a
soundboard and throw it aside because he could not
get enough good tone out of it, simply because he
was under the impression that the voicing had been
rightly accomplished, and that the fault must
evidently lie in the making up of the soundboard.
Mr. Floyd's failure is unquestionably traceable to
his inefficiency in the art of reed voicing. I wish
him more success next time.-G. FRYER.

[52521.]-Double Chloride of Aluminium
and Sodium (U.Q.)-Although the outline of the
Process used at Salindres for the production of
aluminium is well known, yet much of the detail
seems to be a secret; and I am afraid "Idris Cae"
will not get any other answer to his query than the
rather unsatisfactory one hereby given.-WM. JOHN
GREY, Elswick Science School.

[52531.]-Aluminium Sulphide (U.Q.)-This plates in little over an hour"-and leave "ours' substance may be obtained by passing vapour of to draw their own conclusions. On the ground of carbon disulphide over alumina at a bright red heat. expense there can be no question which is the more It is decomposed by water, with evolution of sul-economical. I hope that these few suggestions will phuretted hydrogen; hence it cannot be formed in aid those who have not been satisfied with the rethe wet way. I do not think it could be obtained sults they have obtained, and that it will show by heating the sulphate with charcoal.-WM. JOHN them that the fault is not in the machine; for if GREY, Elswick Science School. one with 14in. plates will give 54in. sparks, others can be made to give like results.-A. J. W.

[52703.]-Sewer Gas.-Dr. Letheby's analysis gives the following percentages:-Marsh gas, 73.833; carbonic acid, 15-899; nitrogen, 10-187 and sulphuretted hydrogen, 0.081. Of course, the sewer does not contain the above constituents in air in a well ventilated or even badly ventilated the same proportions.-D. AND W.

toEssar" for his acknowledgment of my query, [52711.]-Decoration of Jewellery.-Thanks and in reply, they are common articles of jewellery which have become soiled, and are therefore unsaleable. They belong to some customers of mine, for whom I have done some gold and silver plating; but, as they wanted to sell them cheap, they thought if I could colour them again, as when new, they might make sale of them. So on Nov. 16th, ANNUITY MARRIED WOMAN (53085).-I cannot 1883, in our valuable paper, the "E.M.," I find an satisfactorily answer this question without knowing article by Mr. Widemann having had occasion for exactly how and in what words the annuity was a year to apply, for the decoration of jewellery, the bequeathed, and when the lady married. It may procedures pointed out by Nobili and Becbe that the annuity goes to her issue by force of querel for obtaining colouration by means of the old will; or it may be that now under the baths of alkaline plumbates and ferrates, &c., and Married Woman's Property Act she can leave it by goes on to speak of how to insulate wires. On seewill to her husband. The querist might reading this I thought Mr. Widemaun or some of our my shilling Handy-book on that statute.

CUSTODY OF CHILDREN-FATHER'S RIGHTS (3113).-Unless the deed of separation provides for the custody of the daughter, the father has the right to take the child by the common law. This right is general and absolute when the children are old enough to do without their mother's care-a

kind readers would be kind enough to say how it
was done, or say who publishes this work by
Nobili and Becquerel.-W. SHIELD, Norton-
road, Stockton-on-Tees.

[52800.]-Insulation.-"Megohm" will find all the information he needs in the Cantor lectures on the Indiarubber and Guttapercha Industries, garden; or in vols. XXXI. aud XXXII.—S M. published by G. Bell and Sons, York-street, Covent

[52801.]-Examinations.-There are no special transmission of power; but candidates must work text-books on the subject of electric lighting and them up from a knowledge of principles, assisted by such articles as they can find in your columns.

office, will serve to give an idea of what has been Electric Illumination," published at Engineering done; and the rest must be obtained from the usual books, or from lectures at the schools.-NUN. DOR.

[52802.]-Blueing Cotton.-I suppose this query means how should a "blue vat be made? The following is a useful recipe:-Grind up 1lb. of indigo in water until quite smooth; put into a deep vessel with about 12 gallons of water, and add 216. copperas and 3lb. newly-slaked lime, and stir well, repeating at intervals, until the liquor is of a greenish yellow, with blackish veins, and a rich froth of indigo. Then allow to settle, and it is ready for use.-N. M. D.

[52806.]-Steel Bronze on Brasswork.-It is impossible to say what this query means. If it [52771.]-Wimshurst Influence Machine.-refers to a sort of steel-coloured powder laid on the The following details may possibly assist the corre- brass it is probably Bessemer's silver paint of the spondent who has asked for advice. If by 24 required shade. If it is a lacquer, then it is most