exhibits a considerable collection of watches in a great variety of cases, of a class of workmanship, finish, and performance calling for the fourth order of merit, and are adjudged a fourth-class award. A. H. RODANET exhibits two marine chronometers only, one of which was broken and the other out of order; commended. INTERNATIONAL WATCH COMPANY exhibit a collection of watches of the third order of merit, and adjudged a third-class award. In concluding this report, the judges very much regret the limitation in time which has prevented them securing position tests of this very interesting exhibit in horology, as much on account of the exhibitors as on their own account. Such advances have in the last few years been made in this science that, in the interest of the public as well as of the manufacturers, a sufficiency of time is desirable to make tests in five or six positions, and fourteen days should be allowed to each position. Tests for heat and cold, and an opportunity to carefully note barometric and thermometric influences upon the various systems of adjustment, would be very valuable and interesting. Respectfully, etc., GREGORY P. HARTE, _Chairman_, United States. H. C. RUSSELL, B.A., F.R.A.S., Great Britain. J. McGARVIE SMITH, New South Wales. P. E. BOUND, Switzerland. E. BECKMANN, Germany. * * * * * CORN MAGNETS. Every kind of salve or lotion that is supposed to remove or relieve corns meets with a large sale. Corn files and pencils are getting stale, and an enterprising inhabitant of Dresden has lately brought out what he calls a "corn magnet." It is evident that it is as unlike a magnet as possible, for an examination shows that it is made of sulphur colored with graphite. The directions are to set fire to one end, and let a drop of the melted sulphur fall upon the corn. A convenient and agreeable operation, especially if the corn is on the bottom of the foot. It is needless to say that the corn usually survives the slight burn and lives to torment the owner again. All burns, whether by caustic or otherwise, should be avoided. * * * * * EXPERIMENTS ON THE RESISTANCE OF MATERIALS. Prof. J. Burkitt Webb, C.E., now in Europe, writes as follows: On the invitation of Prof. Spangenberg we visited the "Versuchsstation," at the Gewerbe-Akademie, where the important experiments upon materials for engineering purposes are being made. These tests are of two kinds--trials of strength and trials of endurance. The first are made by means of very heavy and accurate machinery, mostly new within the last two or three years; the latter are the celebrated "Dauer-Versuche," a description of which we will reserve for another letter.