Part 1

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES

Italic text is denoted by _underscores_ and bold text by =equal signs=.

The picture of a pointing finger, known in typography as an index, a manicule, or a fist, has been rendered in this text version as "=>".

Subscripts have been rendered using braces, so that the formula for sulphuric acid is shown as "H{2}SO{4}", and the formula for water, if it had appeared, would have been shown as "H{2}O".

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A WEEKLY JOURNAL OF PRACTICAL INFORMATION, ART, SCIENCE, MECHANICS, CHEMISTRY, AND MANUFACTURES.

Vol. XXXIX.--No. 6 NEW YORK, AUGUST 10, 1878 $3.20 per Annum. [NEW SERIES.] [POSTAGE PREPAID.]

THE PARIS EXHIBITION.--A SKETCH IN THE PARK.

Our engraving, which represents a portion of the park at the Paris Exhibition grounds, needs little mention beyond that it is one of those delightful retreats so refreshing to the weary visitor, who, tired out with tramping about the buildings and grounds, is only too pleased to refresh his eyes with some of that exquisite miniature water scenery which is scattered about the grounds. We take our illustration from the London _Graphic_.

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=Improvements in Silk Worm Breeding.=

_Galignani_ states that a very curious discovery has just been made, which, if found as practicable in application as it seems to promise, may create a very considerable change in the production of silk. It is nothing more nor less than the possibility of obtaining two yields in the year of the raw material instead of one, as at present. The moth lays its eggs in May or June, and these do not hatch before the spring of the following year. But sometimes they are observed to hatch spontaneously ten or twelve days after they are laid. It was such a circumstance as this coming to the attention of M. Ducloux, Professor of the Faculty of Sciences at Lyons, that led him to undertake a series of experiments on the subject, by means of which he has found that this premature hatching can be produced at will. The means for effecting the object are very simple--rubbing the eggs with a hair brush, subjecting them to the action of electricity, or more surely still by dipping them for half a minute in concentrated sulphuric acid. M. Bollé, who has also turned his attention to the same subject, states that the same effect is produced by hydrochloric, nitric, or even acetic and tartaric acid. Finally, a submersion of a few seconds in water heated to 50° Cent. (122° Fah.) is equally efficacious. However, M. Ducloux states that the operation must be performed while the eggs are quite young, the second or third day at the outside. When this new hatching is accomplished the mulberry tree is in its full vigor, and the weather so favorable that the rearing of the worm is liable to much less risk than during the early days of spring, when the sudden atmospheric changes are very detrimental, and frequently fatal to the growing caterpillars.

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=The Natural History of the Eel.=

According to the reports of shad fishermen, the chief enemy of the shad is the eel, which not only follows that fish up the streams and devours the spawn, but often attacks the shad after they are caught in the nets. Entering the shad at the gill openings the eels suck out the spawn and entrails, and leave the fish perfectly clean. The finest and fattest shad are the ones selected. It is a curious circumstance that of a fish so well known as the eel so many of its life habits should be in dispute. An animated discussion has been going on in Germany quite recently with regard to the natural history of this fish, and in a late number of a scientific journal the following points are set down as pretty well substantiated. Though a fresh water fish which passes the greater part of its life in rivers, the eel spawns in the sea. That it is viviparous is extremely improbable. The eel found in the upper waters of rivers is almost always female. At the age of four years it goes down to the sea to spawn and never returns to fresh water. The spawning process is somehow dangerous to the eel, thousands being found dead near the mouths of rivers, with their ovaries empty. The descent of the fish to the sea does not appear to take place at any definite period, but is probably dependent on the season for spawning. The male is always much smaller than the female, and never exceeds half a yard in length. The males never ascend to the head waters of rivers, but keep continually in the sea or in the lower reaches of the river. Nothing is definitely known about the spawning season, though it is probable that the eggs are deposited in the sea not far from the mouths of rivers.

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Established 1845.

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=Scientific American Export Edition.=

The SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN Export Edition is a large and splendid periodical, issued once a month. Each number contains about one hundred large quarto pages, profusely illustrated, embracing: (1.) Most of the plates and pages of the four preceding weekly issues of the SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, with its splendid engravings and valuable information; (2.) Commercial, trade, and manufacturing announcements of leading houses. Terms for Export Edition, $5.00 a year, sent prepaid to any part of the world. Single copies 50 cents. =>Manufacturers and others who desire to secure foreign trade may have large, and handsomely displayed announcements published in this edition at a very moderate cost.

The SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN Export Edition has a large guaranteed circulation in all commercial places throughout the world. Address MUNN & CO., 37 Park Row, New York. ====================================================================== VOL. XXXIX., No. 6. [NEW SERIES.] _Thirty-third Year._ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- NEW YORK, SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 1878. ======================================================================

=Contents.=

(Illustrated articles are marked with an asterisk.)

American goods, excellence of 89 Astronomical notes* 90 Astronomical observation* 91 Brass, recipe for cleaning [4] 91 Cancer, treatment of 85 Chloride of lime, to neutralize [6] 91 Coal, distillation of* 85 Discoveries, Prof. Marsh's recent 90 Drawings, how to mount [19] 91 Drawings, printing copies of [9] 91 Edison telephone and Hughes' microphone 80 Education, industrial 90 Eel, natural history of the 79 Electro-magnet, to construct [12] 91 England, wages in 85 Engraving, photographic 82 Exhibition, American Institute 84 Export edition, Scientific Amer. 80 Fire, chemicals to extinguish [22] 91 Flour, explosiveness of 87 Gas, saw tempering by natural 87 Germany, labor in 89 Gold, how to melt [18] 91 Hair, removing superfluous [1] 91 Hughes, letter from Prof. 80 Industrial enterprises, new 84 Ink to rule faint lines [7] 91 Inventions, new 86 Inventions, new agricultural 86 Inventions, new engineering 87 Inventions, new mechanical 89 Iron making, progress of 80 Journalism, crooked 88 Lathes, attachment for* 86 Lemon verbena, new use for 89 Life, minute forms of 85 Lime light, how to make [14] 91 Main joints, street 88 Mormons, hint from the 86 N. Y. Capitol, machinery for 87 Paris Ex., Japanese Building* 87 Paris Exhibition, the park* 79 Patent law, our 84 Pens, fountain 80 Petroleum June review 90 Petroleum oils as lubricators 89 Petroleum, short history of 85 Plants, etc., influence of light on 89 Poisoning of a lake, remarkable 90 Production, ill-balanced 89 Production, more perfect 88 Puddling, mechanical* 82 Quick work 86 Rainfall, decrease of N. Y. 86 Rhinoceros Hornbill, the* 87 Shad hatching, successful 88 Shellac, to dissolve bleached [2] 91 Shoes, dressing for ladies' [21] 91 Silk worm breeding 79 Substances, how to rate [3] 91 Sun, the* 80, 81 Teeth, replanting, etc. 84 Telephone, science promoter 80 Thermometer, new deep sea* 83 Timber, ribs on surface of [17] 91 Valve, new steam* 86 Velocipede feat, extraordinary* 89 Wires, copper finish to [24] 91 Wood, to make sound boards [11] 91 Wool product of the world 88 $150,000,000 a year, trying to save 90

TABLE OF CONTENTS OF =THE SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN SUPPLEMENT= =No. 136,= =For the Week ending August 10, 1878.=

I. ENGINEERING AND MECHANICS.--The Manufacture of Wrought Iron Pipe. Bending the Sheets. Welding the Tube. Manufacture of Gas Pipe. Polishing and Smoothing. 4 figures.

Improved Marine Engine Governor. 1 figure.--Improved Screw Steering Apparatus. 3 figures.--West's Reversing Gear. 1 figure.--Engineering in Peru. The Oroya Railroad over the summit of the Andes. A remarkable engineering feat. The famous Cerro de Pasco Silver Mines. Extensive Coal Fields.

II. TECHNOLOGY.--Coal Ashes as a Civilizer. Grading. Coal Ashes as a Fertilizer.--Utilization of the Waste Waters of Fulling Mills and Woolen Works.--Suggestions in Decorative Art. Marquetry Ornaments from Florence. 3 illustrations. Useful Recipes. By J. W. PARKINSON. Cream cake. Kisses. Apples a la Tongue. Mead. Bread without yeast. Biscuit. Doughnuts. Glaire of Eggs. Crumpets. Ratafia de Framboises. Ratafia de Cerises. To color sugar sand. Raspberry and currant paste. Cheese cake. Cocoanut macaroons. Orange slices. Ice cream. Fruit juices. Lady fingers. White bride cake. Scalloped clams. Iced souffle. Sugar for crystal work. To restore the fragrance of oil of lemon. Family bread.

III. FRENCH INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION OF 1878.--Tobacco at the Exhibition. Manufacture of snuff. The two processes of fermentation. The grinding. The packing of the snuff. Manufacture of chewing tobacco, etc. New Cutting Apparatus for Reapers. 1 figure.--The Algerian Court. 1 illustration.--The French Forest Pavilion. 1 illustration.

IV. CHEMISTRY AND METALLURGY.--A Reducing Agent.--Climbing Salts.--Chloride of Lime.--Action of Watery Vapor.--The Active Principles of Ergot.--Cadaveric Alkaloids. Outlines of Chemistry. By HENRY M. MCINTIRE.

V. ARCHITECTURE AND BUILDING.--A Cottage Costing $150. By S. B. REED, Architect. Plans for cheap summer residence for family of four persons. Dimensions, construction, and estimate for all materials and labor, with 6 figures.--Buildings in Glass. Improved method of constructing conservatories, 2 figures.--Buildings and Earthquakes. On structures in an earthquake country. By JOHN PERRY and W. E. AYRTON, Japan. Also a new Seismometer for the measurement of earthquakes.

VI. NATURAL HISTORY, GEOLOGY, ETC.--Colors of Birds and Insects.--Microscopy. Minute and low forms of life. Poisonous Caterpillar. Sphærosia Volvox. An Australian Polyzoon. A Chinese Tornado.

VII. MEDICINE AND HYGIENE.--Nervous Exhaustion. By GEORGE M. BEARD, M.D. Symptoms continued. Mental depression with timidity; morbid fear of special kinds; headaches; disturbances of the nerves and organs of special sense; localized peripheral numbness and hyperæsthesia; general and local chills and flashes of heat; local spasms of the muscles. Suggestions and treatment. Electricity. Application of cold; kind of food; exercise; medicines. The Art of Preserving the Eyesight. V. From the French of Arthur Chevalier. Presbyopy, or long sight. Symptoms. Causes. Artificial light. Franklin's spectacles. Spectacles for artists. Hygiene for long sight, and rules. Myopy, or short sight. Dilation of pupil, and other symptoms of myopy. Glass not to be constantly used in myopy. How to cure slight myopy. Choice of glasses. Colored glasses for short sight. False or distant myopy, and glasses to be used, 5 figures.

VIII. MISCELLANEOUS.--The Repair of the Burned Models after the Patent Office Fire of 1877. By GEORGE DUDLEY LAWSON. An interesting description of the importance and difficulty of the work, and the enterprise and care shown. Reconstructing complicated models from miscellaneous fragments. Verneuil, Winner of the Ascot Cup, 1 illustration.

Price 10 cents. To be had at this office and of all newsdealers.

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=PROGRESS OF IRON MAKING.=

The success of the Dank's puddling furnace fired with pulverized coal seems to be no longer a matter of doubt in England. It is stated that Messrs. Hopkins, Gilkes & Co., the well known iron makers of the North of England, have succeeded in turning out from it from Cleveland pig alone iron capable of bearing tests which Staffordshire iron has not yet surpassed. The English iron manufacturers in their struggle with us are wisely taking advantage of every improvement in their line to keep ahead of us, and are likely to be successful unless our manufacturers arouse from their fancied security.

We are now underselling the English at home and abroad in many articles of manufacture, because so much of our work is done by machinery, and is consequently better and cheaper than can be produced by hand labor at the lowest living rate of wages; but so soon as the English masters and workmen shall fully appreciate this fact, the same machines run there with cheaper labor will deprive us of our present advantages.

Already we notice several instances in which the workmen, renouncing their prejudices, have willingly consented to the substitution of machine for hand work, and we doubt not that the success of these innovations, conjoined with the pressure of the times, will ere long create a complete revolution in the ideas of the British workmen, so that instead of longer opposing they will demand the improved appliances and facilities for work, converting them from rivals or opponents to allies. Such a radical change is not necessarily far in the future, for the logic of it has long been working in the brains of both masters and men and may reasonably bear fruit at any time. We fear that when this time arrives our makers of iron, especially, will wake up to the consciousness that they have not kept up with the advance.

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=THE TELEPHONE AS A PROMOTER OF SCIENCE.=

Every new thing, whether it be in the realm of mind or matter, has an influence on whatever existed before, of a similar kind, to modify, develop, and improve it, or to doom it to oblivion. Whatever is new necessitates a better knowledge of the old, so that the world gains not only by the acquirement of the new thing, but also by a better understanding of things already known.

A discovery, published, sets a thousand minds at work, and immediately there is a host of experimentalists who, in their desire to make and try the new thing for themselves, begin without a knowledge of the science or art to which the discovery pertains, and inevitably fail. After failure comes research, which to be of value must be extended. Every investigator can recall the novelty that induced his first experiments, and can recount his trials in his search for information.

Among the inventions or discoveries that have induced extended experiment, the telephone may, without doubt, be mentioned as the chief, for no sooner was the first speaking telephone brought out than here and there all over the country it was imitated. Persons who never had the slightest knowledge of electrical science had a desire to see and test the telephone. To do this first of all requires a degree of mechanical skill. Acoustics must be understood, and a knowledge of the four branches of electrical science is requisite, as the telephone involves galvanism, magnetism, electrical resistance, induction, and many of the nicer points which can be understood by investigation only, and this not only in the direction indicated, but in the allied branches of physics and also in chemistry. Familiarity with these things develops a scientific taste that will not be easily satisfied. The characteristic avidity with which the American people seize upon a novelty has been wonderfully exemplified by the manner in which the telephone mania has spread. In consequence of this science has received an impetus, and now we have everywhere embryo electricians and experimentalists, where before were only the unscientific.

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=LETTER FROM PROFESSOR HUGHES.=

We print in another column a letter received from Mr. D. E. Hughes concerning the distinction he finds between his microphone and Mr. Edison's carbon telephone. Mr. Hughes is very confident that the two inventions have nothing in common, and that they bear no resemblance to each other in form, material, or principles.

We would not question Mr. Hughes' sincerity in all this. No doubt he honestly believes that the invention of Mr. Edison "represents no field of discovery, and is restricted in its uses to telephony," whilst the "microphone demonstrates and represents the whole field of nature." But the fact of his believing this is only another proof that he utterly fails to understand or appreciate the real scope and character of Mr. Edison's work.

To those familiar not only with Mr. Edison's telephone but with the long line of experimental investigation that had to be gone through with before he was able to control the excessive sensitiveness of the elements of his original discovery, it is very clear that Mr. Hughes has been working upon and over-estimating the importance of one phase, and that a limited phase, of Mr. Edison's investigations.

We propose shortly to review at length the evidence of Mr. Edison's priority in the invention or discovery of all that the microphone covers; this purely as a question of scientific interest. For the personal elements of the controversy between Mr. Edison on the one side and Messrs. Preece and Hughes on the other we care nothing.

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=THE SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN EXPORT EDITION.=

The inquiry for American manufactured products and machinery abroad seems to grow in volume and variety daily. And though, in comparison with our capacity to produce, the foreign demand is yet small, its possibilities are unlimited. To increase the demand the immediate problem is to make known throughout the world in the most attractive fashion possible the wide range of articles which America is prepared to furnish, and which other nations have use for. As a medium for conveying such intelligence the monthly export edition of the SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN is unequaled. The table of contents of the second issue, to be found in another column, will give an idea of the wide range and permanent as well as timely interest of the matter it circulates. It is a magazine of valuable information that will be preserved and repeatedly read. The handsomely illustrated advertising pages supplement the text, and make it at once the freshest, fullest, and most attractive periodical of the sort in the world. An examination of the index of advertisers will show how widely its advantages for reaching foreign buyers have been appreciated by leading American houses. In the advertising page XXV. appears a list of some eight hundred foreign commercial places in which the circulation of the paper is guaranteed, as evidence that it reaches those for whom such publications are intended.

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=FOUNTAIN PENS.=

For several days we have had in use in our office examples of the Mackinnon Fountain Pen, and find it to be a very serviceable and effective instrument. This is a handsome looking pen, with a hollow handle, in which a supply of ink is carried, and the fluid flows from the point in the act of writing. The necessity of an inkstand is thus avoided. One of the difficulties heretofore with pens of this character has been to insure a free and certain delivery of the ink, and also to bring the instrument within the compass and weight of an ordinary pen. The inventor seems to have admirably succeeded in the example before us. The ink flows with certainty, and there is no scratching as with the ordinary pen; it writes with facility on either smooth or rough paper; writes even more smoothly than a lead pencil; may be carried in the pocket; is always ready for use; there is no spilling or blotting of ink. The construction is simple, durable, and the action effective. One filling lasts a week or more, according to the extent of use. These are some of the qualities that our use of the pen so far has seemed to demonstrate; and which made us think that whoever supplies himself with a Mackinnon Pen will possess a good thing. The sole agency is at No. 21 Park Row, New York city.

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=THE SUN.=