Nov., I899.1 :Votes and Comments. 399 DISCOVERY OF A NEW I'LANHT. Herr Witt, of the Berlin Urania, has announced the discovery of a new member of the solar system, which is now affirmed to be a new planet revolv- ing round the sun in a strongly elliptical orbit, between the Earth and Mars, in a period of 645 days. It is assumed that the new body entered the IAanetary system recently as the " result of some disturbing influence on the part of one of the large planets." The preseT:ce of the newly-described planet has been confirmed by Charlois, at Ni~ e, who has taken photographs of it simultaneously with "Witt at Berlin. PItOTOGRAPHING PROJECTILES IN FLIGHT. In discussing some curious phenomena observed in studying the flight of projectiles, the L'n~ineering¢ ]l[agazine mentions the interesting fact, ill connection with the successful taking of projectiles in flight, that, " since no shutter could be made to act quickly enough to make the brief exposure necessary for these photographs, and as correct timing would be impossible, the bullet itself is caused to make the exposure by making an electrical con- tact between two wires, just as it passes the center of the photographic field, thus closing the circuit of a Leyden jar, and l:roducing a bright spark, which furnishes the illumination for the photograph. The bullet is thus reproduced in silhouette." SILICATE OF SODA (WATER-GLASS) IN REFINING PETROLEUM. Drugs, Oils and Paints recommends highly the use of silicate of soda for the refining of the heavy (spindle to cylinder oils) petroleums. The silicate is used as a neutralizing agent after the treatment with sulphuric acid, and is said to be highly efficacious. It may be used either alone or in connection with caustic soda. Its advantages are said to be : (I) A smaller percentage of sulphuric acid may be used for heavy oils; although dark oils are thereby obtained, the deeolorizing property of the separated silicic acid soon changes them into pale oils, which are readily salable. (2) The emulsion deposits quickly, through the agency of the separated silicic acid, which acts upon the suspended impurities as a precipitating agent. SOLID PETROLEUM. Attempts have been made from time to time to solidify petroleum refuse for use as a fuel. The latest effort in this direction, says Industries and Iron, is that of Herr Kohlendorfer, a Bavarian. In his process about Io per cent. of soda lye, with IO per cent. of fatty matter, is treated in a boiler, and enough petroleum refuse is added to the heated mass to make up ioo parts. This mixture is then heated, under constant stirring, for about an hour. The tem- perature is prevented from reaching the boiling-point of petroleum. In this incipient state of saponification the mass acquires the property of taking up large quantities of fluid rock oil. The mixture is run into moulds and allowed to cool, when it may be cut into p:eces of any desired form.

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Nov., I899.1 :Votes and Comments . 399

DISCOVERY OF A NEW I'LANHT.

Herr Witt, of the Berlin Urania, has announced the discovery of a new member of the solar system, which is now affirmed to be a new planet revolv- ing round the sun in a strongly elliptical orbit, between the Earth and Mars, in a period of 645 days.

It is assumed that the new body entered the IAanetary system recently as the " result of some disturbing influence on the part of one of the large planets ." The preseT:ce of the newly-described planet has been confirmed by Charlois, at Ni~ e, who has taken photographs of it simultaneously with "Witt at Berlin.

P I tOTOGRAPHING PROJECTILES IN FLIGHT.

In discussing some curious phenomena observed in studying the flight of projectiles, the L'n~ineering ¢ ]l[agazine mentions the interesting fact, ill connection with the successful taking of projectiles in flight, that, " since no shut ter could be made to act quickly enough to make the brief exposure necessary for these photographs, and as correct t iming would be impossible, the bullet itself is caused to make the exposure by making an electrical con- tact between two wires, just as it passes the center of the photographic field, thus closing the circuit of a Leyden jar, and l:roducing a bright spark, which furnishes the il lumination for the photograph. The bullet is thus reproduced in si lhouette."

SILICATE OF SODA (WATER-GLASS) IN R E F I N I N G PETROLEUM.

Drugs, Oils and Paints recommends highly the use of silicate of soda for the refining of the heavy (spindle to cylinder oils) petroleums. The silicate is used as a neutralizing agent after the t reatment with sulphuric acid, and is said to be highly efficacious. It may be used either alone or in connection with caustic soda.

Its advantages are said to be : (I) A smaller percentage of sulphuric acid may be used for heavy oils;

al though dark oils are thereby obtained, the deeolorizing property of the separated silicic acid soon changes them into pale oils, which are readily salable.

(2) The emulsion deposits quickly, through the agency of the separated silicic acid, which acts upon the suspended impurities as a precipitating agent.

SOLID PETROLEUM.

Attempts have been made from time to t ime to solidify petroleum refuse for use as a fuel. The latest effort in this direction, says Industries and Iron, is that of Herr Kohlendorfer, a Bavarian. In his process about Io per cent. of soda lye, with IO per cent. of fatty matter, is treated in a boiler, and enough petroleum refuse is added to the heated mass to make up ioo parts. This mixture is then heated, under constant stirring, for about an hour. The tem- perature is prevented from reaching the boiling-point of petroleum. In this incipient state of saponification the mass acquires the property of taking up large quantit ies of fluid rock oil. The mixture is run into moulds and allowed to cool, when it may be cut into p:eces of any desired form.