[Illustration] SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN SUPPLEMENT NO. 530 NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 27, 1886 Scientific American Supplement. Vol. XXI, No. 530. Scientific American established 1845 Scientific American Supplement, $5 a year. Scientific American and Supplement, $7 a year. * * * * * TABLE OF CONTENTS. I. CHEMISTRY ETC.--Decomposition and Fermentation of Milk. II. ENGINEERING AND MECHANICS.--The Ethics of Engineering Practice.--An address by Mr. JAS. C. BAYLES, before the American Institute of Mining Engineers. Lifting a 40-inch Water Main.--With engraving. The Inter-oceanic Canal Question. The Mersey Tunnel. Improved Revolver.--With 4 figures. Motors for Street Railways.--Results of experiments on mechanical motors for tramways made by the jury on railway appliances at the Antwerp Exhibition.--By Capt. DOUGLAS GALTON. III. TECHNOLOGY.--Alizarine Dyes.--Process of dyeing.--Recipes for various colors. Cement Paving.--Composition made by the Wilkes' Metallic Flooring Company.--Other compositions. A New Bleaching Process.--The "Mather-Thompson" system. Instruments for Drawing Curves.--By Prof. C.W. MACCORD--1. The Hyperbola--2 figures. Experiments with Fibers.--By Dr. THOS. TAYLOR.--Detection of Fraud.--Method employed.--Cotton mixed with linen.--Experiments with flax.--Wool tested with acid.--Tests of dyed black silk. Orthochromatic Plates.--By CH. SCOLIK. A New Photographic Apparatus.--With engraving. IV. ELECTRICITY, PHYSICS, ETC.--On the Theory of the Electro-magnetic Telephone Transmitter.--By E. MERCADIER. On the Theory of the Receiver of the Electro-magnetic Telephone.--By E. MERCADIER. Frew's Improved Pyrometer.--With engraving. Dew.--Abstract of a paper read before the Royal Society of Edinburgh.--By Mr. AITKEN.--Source of dew.--Observations of the temperature of the ground.--Experiments.--Effects of wind.--Excretion of drops of liquid by plants.--Radiating power of different surfaces at night. V. ASTRONOMY.--Meteorites.--The Dhurmsala Meteorite. Telescopic Search for the Trans-Neptunian Planet.--By DAVID P. TODD. VI. ARCHITECTURE.--The New "Burgtheater" in Vienna.--With full page engraving. The New German Bookdealers' Exchange in Leipzig.--With engraving. VII. MISCELLANEOUS.--Notes on Manual Spelling.--By JAS. C. GORDON.--Origin of Finger Spelling.--Finger alphabets.--With engraving of American alphabet. Fruits and Seeds for Dress Trimming.--Origin of the use of Fruits and Seeds.--Preparation by MR. COLLIN. VIII. BIOGRAPHY.--Hon. Hiram Sibley.--The founder of the Sibley College of Mechanic Arts of Cornell University.--With portrait. * * * * * HON. HIRAM SIBLEY.