caution, it becomes a crystalline mass, and cannot so well resist the action of the air. In a wellclosed vessel, and in a cold place, it will keep for six months, or even more, almost as good as the first day, especially if care be taken to remove the upper part. If, at the time of using, a sixth of its weight of cheese is beaten up with it, it will have the appearance of fresh butter. The taste of rancid butter, according to M. Thénard, may, in a great degree, be removed, by means of melting it as abovementioned.

Account of the Chevalier Aldini's Apparatus.-The Chevalier Aldini, of Bologna, has been earnestly occupied in the construction of an apparatus, or rather clothing, intended to preserve persons from injury who are exposed to flames. The following description of its composition and effects, in the words of professor Faraday, will convey a just idea of its properties, as well as of its application:-A union of the powers possessed by a metallic tissue to intercept flame, with the incombustible and badly-conducting properties of amianthus, or other substances, has been made in the apparatus; and the latter consists of two distinct systems of clothing, the one near the body composed of the badly-conducting incombustible matter, and the other, or external envelope, of a metallic tissue. The pieces of clothing for the body, arms, and legs, are made of strong cloth which has been soaked in a solution of alum; those for the head, the hands, and the feet, of cloth of asbestos. That for the head is a large cap, which entirely covers the whole of the neck, and has apertures in

it for the eyes, nose, and mouth, these being guarded by a very fine copper-wire gauze. The stockings and cap are single, but the gloves are double, for the purpose of giving power of handling inflamed or incandescent bodies.-M. Aldini has, by perseverance, been able to spin and weave asbestos without previously mixing it with other fibrous substances; the action of steam is essential in the bending and twisting of it, otherwise the fibres break. The cloths prepared with it were not of close texture, but loose: the threads were about one-fiftieth of an inch in diameter, and of considerable strength: cords of any size or strength may be prepared from them. M. Aldini hopes to be able so to prepare other fibrous matters, as to be able to dispense altogether with this rare and costly material. The metallic defence consists of five principal pieces; a casque, or cap complete, with a mask: this is of such size as to allow of sufficient space between it, and the asbestos cap, and is guarded before the face by a visor, so that the protection is doubled in that part; a cuirass, with its brassets; a piece of armour for the waist and thighs; a pair of boots of double wire-gauze; and an oval shield, five feet long, and two and a half wide, formed by extending gauze over a thin frame of iron. The metallic gauze is of iron, and the intervals between the threads about one twentyfifth of an inch each.-When at Geneva, M. Aldini instructed the firemen in the defensive power of his arrangements, and then practised them before he made the public experiments. He showed them that a finger enveloped first

in asbestos, and then in a double case of wire gauze, might be held in the flame of a spirit-lamp or candle for a long time, before inconvenient heat was felt; and then clothing them, gradually accustomed them to the fiercest flames. -The following are some of the public trials made:-A fireman having his hand inclosed in a double asbestos glove, and guarded in the palm by a piece of asbestos cloth, laid hold of a large piece of red-hot iron, carried it slowly to the distance of 150 feet, then set straw on fire by it, and immediately brought it back to the furnace. The hand was not at all injured in the experiment.-The second experiment related to the defence of the head, the eyes, and the lungs. The firemen put on only the asbestos and wire-gauze cap, and the cuirass, and held the shield before his breast. A fire of shavings was then lighted, and sustained in a very large raised chaffing-dish, and the fireman approaching it, plunged his head into the middle of the flames, with his face towards the fuel, and in that way went several times round the chaffing-dish, and for a period above a minute in duration. The experiment was made several times, and those who made it said they suffered no oppression or inconvenience in the act of respiration.-The third experiment was with the complete apparatus. Two rows of faggots, mingled with straw, were arranged vertically against bars of iron, so as to form a passage between thirty feet long, and six feet wide. Four such arrangements were made, differing in the proportion of wood and straw, and one was with straw alone. Fire was then apFire was then ap

plied to one of these double piles, and a fireman, invested in the defensive clothing, and guarded by the shield, entered between the double edge of flames, and traversed the alley several times. The flames rose ten feet in height, and joined over his head. Each passage was made slowly, and occupied from twelve to fifteen seconds; they were repeated six or eight times, and even oftener, in succession, and the firemen were exposed to the almost constant action of the flames for the period of a minute and a half, or two minutes, and even more. When the course was made between the double range of faggots without straw, the fireman carried a kind of pannier on his back, prepared in such a way as to be fire-proof, in which was placed a child, with its head covered by an asbestos bonnet, and additionally protected by the wire-gauze shield. Four firemen made these experiments, and they agreed in saying that they felt no difficulty in respiring. A very abundant perspiration came on in consequence of the high temperature to which they had been exposed, but no lesion of the skin took place, except in one instance, where the man had neglected to secure his neck by fastening the asbestos mask to the body dress. No one present could resist the striking evidence of defence afforded, when they saw the armed man traversing the undulating flames, frequently hidden altogether from view by them as they gathered around him. The fact that in M. Aldini's apparatus a man may respire in the middle of the flames is very remarkable. It has often been proved, by anatomical ex

amination, that in cases of fire many persons have died altogether from lesions of the organs of respiration. It would appear, that the triple metallic tissue takes so much of the caloric from the air as it passes to the lungs, as to render its temperature supportable; and it is known, by experiments in furnaces, that a man can respire air at 120 or 130 deg. R. (= 246 or 267 F.), and even higher. Perhaps, also, the lesions referred to may have been due to aqueous vapour, which is often produced in great abundance in fires where endeavours are made to extinguish them by water, for such vapour would transfer far more heat to the lungs than mere air. Hence, in every case, and however guarded, firemen should enter houses in flames with great prudence, because the circum

stances are not the same as in the experiments just described. It is remarked that several suits of this defensive clothing should be provided, not to clothe many persons at once, but that, in endeavouring to save persons or valuable things in cases of fire, the fireman should not approach again and again in heated clothing, but have a change at hand. The Grand-Duke of Tuscany has ordered six suits for the city of Florence. M. Aldini showed several experiments relative to the extinguishing power of his preparations before the Société de Physique de Genève. One consisted in placing an asbestos cloth of loose texture over a flame either of wax or alcohol; the flame was intercepted as well as it could have been by a piece of wire gauze.

W. HALE, Colchester, for a method of raising or forcing water for propelling vessels.

J. Carpenter, Willenhall, Stafford, and J. Young, of Wolverhampton, for improvements on locks and other securities, applicable to doors and other purposes,

W. Parr, Union-place, City-road, Middlesex, for a method of producing or reciprocating action, by means of rotatory motion, to be applied to the working of all kinds of pumps, mangles, and all other machinery in or to which reciprocating action is required, or may be applied.

E. Dakeyne, and J. Dakeyne, both of Darley Dale, Derby, for a machine or hydraulic engine for applying the power or pressure of water, steam, and other elastic fluids, to the purpose of working machinery and other uses requiring power; and applicable to that of raising or forcing of fluids.

G. Vaughan, Cleveland-street, Mileend-road, for a machine or pump for raising water or other fluids.

J. Yates, Hyde, co. Chester, for a method or process of giving a metallic surface to cotton, silk, linen, and other fabrics.

G. Stocker and A. Stocker, Yeovil, Somerset, for a cock for drawing liquor from casks, which produces a stop superior to that which is effected by common cocks, and will continue in use for a longer period of time.

J. Arnold, Sheffield, for an improved spring latch or fastening for doors.

G. F. Johnson, Canterbury, for a machine or apparatus, which is intended as a substitute for drags for carriage wheels and other purposes.

T. Bulkeley, Richmond, Surrey, for a method of making or manufacturing candles.

J. Cobbing, Bury St. Edmund's, for improvements on skaits.

S. Weight, of Shelton, for a manufacture of ornamental tiles, bricks, and quarries, for floors, pavements, and other purposes.

R. Busk, Leeds, for improvements in apparatus used for distilling and rectifying (communicated by a foreigner.)

J. Revere, New York, in the United

States of America, now residing in the parish of St. James, Westminster, M. D. for a new alloy or compound metal, applicable to the sheathing of ships, and various other useful purposes.

J. Lambert, Liverpool-street, London, for an improvement in the process of making iron applicable at the smelting of the ore, and at various subsequent stages of the process up to the completion of the rods or bars, and a new process for the improving of the quality of inferior iron,

G. Pocock, Bristol, for improvements in making or constructing globes for astronomical, geographical, and other purposes.

J. Gray, Beaumaris, Anglesea, for a new and improved method of preparing and putting on copper sheathing for shipping.

C. T. Miller, Piccadilly, for improvements in making or manufacturing of candles.

J. C. Daniel, Limphey Stoke, Bradford, for improvements in the machinery applicable to the manufacturing of woollen cloths.

M. Wilson, Warnford-court London, for an improved method of preparing and cleansing paddy, or rough rice (communicated by a foreigner.)

T. R. Williams, Nelson-square, Blackfriars-road, for improvements in powerlooms, applicable to the weaving of wire and other materials.

E. Cowper, Streatham-place, Surrey, for improvements in the manufacture of gas (communicated by a foreigner.)

J. F. Smith, Dunstan Hall, Chesterfield, for improvements in preparing or finishing piece goods, made from wool, silk, or other fibrous materials.

J. M. Ursule La Rigandelle Du Buisson, Fenchurch-street, London, for a new method of extracting for the purpose of dying, the colour from 'dve woods, and other substances used by dyers (communicated by a foreigner.)

J. Braithwaite, and J. Ericsson, Newroad, Middlesex, for an improved method of manufacturing salt.

E. W. Rudder, and R. Martineau, Birmingham, for improvements in cocks for draining off liquids.

C. Random Baron de Berenger, Kentish Town, Middlesex, for improvements in fire-arms and in other weapons of defence.

W. Grisenthwaite, Nottingham, for an improved method of facilitating the draft or propulsion, or both, of wheeled carriages.

H. Hirst, Leeds, for improvements in manufacturing woollen cloth.

M. Pool, Lincoln's Inn, for a combination of, or improvement in, springs applicable to carriages and other purposes (communicated by a foreigner.)

J. C. Dyer, Manchester, for certain improvements on, and additions to, machines or machinery to be used and applied for conducting to, and winding upon, spools, bobbins, or barcels, rovings of cotton, flax, wool, or other fibrous substances of the like nature (partly communicated by a foreigner.)

W. Grisenthwaite, Nottingham, for improvements in steam-engines.

R. W. Siever, Southampton-row, Russell-square, for improvements in the construction of rudders in navigating vessels.

S. Thompson, Great Yarmouth, for improvements in piano-fortes,

W. Howard, Rotherhithe, for improvements in the construction of wheels for carriages.

P. C. De La Garde, Exeter, for improvements in apparatus for fidding and unfidding masts, and in masting and rigging of vessels.

T. Prosser, Worcester, for improvements in the construction of windowsashes,and in the mode of hanging the

same.

T. R. Guppy, Bristol, for a new apparatus for granulating sugar.

R. Stevenson, Colridge, Stafford, for improvements in machinery for making from clay, or other suitable materials, quarries, bricks, tiles, and other articles. J. Ramsay and A. Ramsay, Green wich, in North Britain, and M. Orr, of Greenock, for an improvement in the manufacture of canvass and sail-cloth for the making of sails.

G. Scott, Water-lane, London, for improvements on, or additions to, windlasses and relative machinery applicable to naval purposes.

J. A. Fulton, Lawrence Poultneylane, London, for an improvement in the preparation of pepper.

W. E. Cochrane, Regent-street, Middlesex, for an improvement or improve

ments on his patent cooking appa

ratus.

B. Rotch, Furnival's Inn, Middlesex, for improved guards or protections for horses' legs and feet under certain circumstances.

J. Rawe, jun. Albany-street, Regent's Park, and J. Boase for improvements in steam-boilers, and a mode of quickening the draft for furnaces connected with the

same.

W. Aitkin, Carron Vale, Scotland, for certain improvements in the means of keeping or preserving beer, ale, and other fermented liquors.

D. T. Shears, Bankside, Southwark, for additions to, and improvements in, the apparatus used in distilling, and also in the process of distilling and rectifying.

J. Collier, Newman-street, Oxfordstreet, and H. Pinkus, Thayer-street, Manchester-square, for an improved method and apparatus for generating gas for illumination.

W. A. Summers, St. George's-place, St. George's-in-the-East, Middlesex, and N. Ogle, of Milbrook, Hants, for improvements in the construction of steamengine and other boilers, or generators, applicable to propelling vessels, locomotive carriages, and other purposes.

J. Perry, Red-Lion-square, Holborn, for an improvement in or on pens.

J. M'Innes, Aucheureoch, and Woodburn, North Britain, for the manufacture or preparation of certain substances which he denominates the British Tapioca, and the cakes and flour to be made from the same.

S. Brown, Billiter-square, London, for improvements in making or manufacturing bolts and chains.

J. Cochaux, Fenchurch-street, London, for an apparatus calculated to prevent or render less frequent the explo sion of boilers in generating steam (communicated by a foreigner.)

P. Descroizilles, Fenchurch-street, London, for improvements in apparatus for economising fuel in heating water and air, applicable to various purposes.

T. Cook, Blackheath-road, Kent, for improvements in the construction and fitting-up of boats of various descriptions. J. Wilks, Blue Anchor, Bermondsey, Surrey, for an improvement in a part or parts of the apparatus, for making paper by machinery.

T. Petherick, of Penfulluck, Tywardreath, Cornwall, for machinery for se