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Of exploration pure and simple very little remains to be done. The charm of traveling through and describing an entirely new country which may be practically serviceable to civilized man has been taken from us by our predecessors, though limited regions still remain in Central Asia and South America of which we know little in detail. The Polar regions are in a somewhat special category, as their opening up affords few attractions to many people. But a knowledge of the past history of our globe--fit study for human thought--can be gained only by study of the portions still under glacial conditions. A method for detecting the presence of aniline or salicylic acid in foods has been developed by C. Lawal. Pieces of wool are first prepared, from which the oily matter has been well removed by boiling in a soda solution and washing until all the -alkali has disappeared. The substance to be analyzed is diluted with water and filtered. We take 100 c. c. of the filtered liquid, adding 4 c. c. of hydrochloric acid and put in a wool strip. The wool is then washed in cold water, then boiled in slightly acidulated water. In the presence of aniline colors, the wool becomes colored and the color is soluble in ammonia. It re-appears upon acidulation, while the vegetable colors turn to red, green, or yellow in contact with ammonia. To detect salicylic acid, we treat the substance with water and sulphuric acid, taking up the liquid with ether. The latter is then evaporated on a watch glass and the residue is treated with ferric chloride. A violet coloration indicates salicylic acid. A flesh-colored precipitate shows benzoic acid. Should tannin be also present, it must be first precipitated by means of sub-acetate of lead.' Some highly scientific results have been achieved by the Sladen Trust Expedition to the Indian Ocean for the exploration of those waters. One important point which was ascertained, according to Mr. Stanley Gardiner, M.A., Lecturer in Zoology and Fellow of Caius College of Cambridge University (England) who was in charge of the party, was the extension outward of all the reefs, on their own remains or debris, in much the same way as a moraine is formed at the base of a glacier. These masses of rock were found to be thickly covered by various growths and marine animals. Huge stems of black coral (the rarest variety) extending to seven feet in length were secured, though white coral was found to be the principal constituent of the reefs. Numerous quantities of deep-sea fish were secured. The greater, proportion of these are believed to be absolutely new and hitherto unknown specimens. Some were possessed of enormous eyes, others had only rudimentary ones scarcely larger than a pinhead, while many were quite blind. It was also ascertained that there is an abundance of life existing at a depth of 1,200 fathoms in waters 2,500 fathoms deep. This floating life comprises the food of whales and other deep-sea fish; and this discovery - is of great scientific interest, since it has hitherto been believed to thrive only near the surface. The expedition secured a large number of huge squids of ' great variety, jelly-fish, and prawns, some of which were six inches in length. Curiously enough, while some of the latter were quite blind, others had eyes of- large size. This deficiency in the former was compensated for by long delicate antennas, which in some cases extended to twice the length of the body. Nearly all, however, possessed phosphorescent organs, due to the great depth at which they live. The first of three turbine steamships for the Great Western Railroad of England has been launched for the Channel service between Fishguard in Wales and Rosslare in Ireland, a distance of 62 miles. These vessels will constitute the fastest turbine steamers that have yet been constructed, the contract speed for the Parsons machinery being 22112 knots per hour.. Each vessel will have accommodation for 1,000 passengers.
