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hundred dogs were put into a close chamber, and between two and three hundred feet of gas being allowed to flow in, the dogs were insensible in about two minutes, and died shortly afterwards. The poisonous action of coal gas is largely due to the fact that it contains a small proportion of the extremely poisonous gas—carbon monoxide. . Photographers should, however, remember that a very considerable amount of the highly poisonous carbon monoxide, or carbonic oxide, is formed whenever the com bustion of a gas flame or lamp flame is rendered less in tense by the partial shutting off of the air supply ; and, as a matter of fact, very many dark-room lamps evolve large quantities of carbon monoxide. The first result of inhaling carbon monoxide is headache and lassitude; it may be mentioned that the invariable product of the com plete combustion of carbonaceous fuel—carbon dioxide — is by no means poisonous in the same sense that carbon monoxide is a poison. Two methods suggest themselves as a means of avoiding the contamination ot the air of the dark room by products of combustion. One is the simple expedient of keeping the lamp outside, and allowing the light to enter the dark room through a suitably tinted window ; and the other is to use the incandescent electric light, as suggested in the Photographic News, and now carried into practice by several manufacturers of dry plates. The editor of a contemporary devoted solely to the inte rests of the kennel—for journalism " went to the dogs ” in this sense many months ago—has been saying a few words to his readers on the subject of dog carles. A budget of these is frequently received, he states, with a note saying: “ So-and-so’s tail is better in one portrait, and her head in the other ; please let your artist arrange this.” On this the canine editor goes on to say that his artist can do nothing of the kind, and he wishes it “ to be distinctly understood that it is utterly impossible to join two photos, together —that is, take the best part of both to make one portrait.” This is strong and positive language, but in spite of it we have a notion that some artists, by dint of dogged perseverance, let us say, would be able to make the extremities of two dog likenesses meet. Surely a clever “joiner” would have no difficulty in accomplishing the necessary “ dove-tailing,” which, in this case, by the way, might with good reason be called “ dog tailing.” “ Atlas,” in the World, gravely announces that “ there is to be a great revival in the world of amateur photography consequent upon the entire abolition of the “ wet ” process and the substitution of a “ dry.” The discovery is made rather late in the day, but we welcome it, nevertheless. RUSSIAN CORRESPONDENCE. The first meeting of the V section of the Imperial Poly technical Society took place on Friday, November 7th, 1884, when the election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows — President—Lt.-Gen. Birkin. Vice-President—Gen. Tschagin. Members of Council—S. Levitski, V. Sreznevski, G. Scamoni, Baron Koussoff, A. Frelus, and V. Sabanayef. Several members brought collections of their summer’s work. Baron Koussoff' showed some fine interiors taken on 33 by 27 plates, at the Government cartridge factory. M. Chapiro brought several prints (portraits) of a very large size taken iu his usual first-class style ; one of the negatives, measuring 40 by 50 c., was pronounced by those present as superb. M. Chapiro uses Monckhoven’s plates, and ferrous-oxalate developer rather weaker than that given in the instructions sent out with them. Mr. Degoe’s collection of instantaneous views taken at the several naval and military reviews and manceuvres last summer were much admired. Altogether, this gentleman has taken 60 naval and 138 military views, which are very interesting, and possibly instructive to many. H.I.M. the Czar has been pleased to inspect some of them. The President handed round a number of instantaneous views by Herr Brandel, taken with his new portable apparatus and simplified process (for which he is asking 6,000 roubs). The views are taken on half-plates, and everything is in focus to within ten yards ; exposures are made at the rate of 15 in thirty-five seconds ; the double backs are, it is believed, made of thin steel to ensure strength and portability. Col. Phillipenko exhibited an interesting and novel pocket camera, with which he had obtained some good pictures. 3^' in A Col. Phillipenko's Pocket-Camera. Two thin tubes about 2 inches diameter, and 3 inches long, are soldered to either side of a frame with openings cor responding to the diameter of the tube (like the case of a central stop-shutter is made) ; in the orifice of one tube a disc of metal is soldered, having an opening to carry a lens of short focus, with or without rack-and-pinion movement. In the model the lens slides within another tube. The plates are all carried in bags made of a pliant water and light-tight material about 4} in. deep, so that after the plates are dropped into them, they can be folded doubly, and then no light can penetrate through the opening. To use this camera, a piece of ground glass is dropped into the opening a, a spring in the interior pressing it up to the rebate, thecamera is turned a quarter of a revolution to bring the sight or view meter to the top, and when the intended point of view is obtained the focus is adjusted on the ground glass by moving the lens, the hind tube serving the place of a focussing cloth. The ground glass is now removed, and the slit A is inserted into the mouth of one of the plate bags or holders, and an elastic band is slipped over it to prevent all ingress of light. When the bag is unfolded, the sensitive plate drops into the place previously occupied by the ground glass. The exposure being made as usual, the camera is tilted, and the plate is returned to its envelope, which is folded and packed away. The bags containing the sensitive plates are carried in a pouch fastened to a belt, like the military cartridge pouches. For use with a stand, the Colonel has a spring collar or ring B soldered to a screw clamp C, which can be fixed to almost anything ; the protruding ends A A serve to release the collar to admit the hind tube of the camera, which is firmly grasped when the ends are released.