874 were no less than 17,920,
the highest number ever registered. There were 18 executions and 1,592
suicides, so that 16,310 may be classed as unexpected. Railways killed
1,249, horse conveyances 1,313, and it is noted that those modes of
conveyance which are mostly peculiar to cities were not responsible for
this great slaughter. Street, or so-called horse railroads, killed 62
persons, omnibuses 55, cabs 61, and carriages 82, and these numbers show
how great is the skill and care exercised in the crowded streets of
cities. The source of the remaining 1,053 deaths by horses is not given
in our authority (a Scotch paper), but it is probable that exercise in
the saddle had much to do with them. There were 942 deaths in coal
mines, and 118 in copper, tin, iron, and other mines. Lightning killed
25, sunstroke 90, and cold 114. There were 461 persons poisoned, about
one-third being suicides. The bite of a fox, of a rat, of a leech, the
scratch of a cat, and the sting of a hornet each killed one person, and
two were stung to death by wasps. Of other noteworthy causes of death,
it is mentioned that a girl fourteen years old died in childbed.

* * * * *

A NEW INDUCTION COIL.

The largest induction coil ever made has lately been constructed for Mr.
Wm. Spottiswoode by Mr. Apps. It has two primaries, of which the one
used for long sparks weighs sixty-seven pounds and is formed of a bundle
of iron wires 44 inches long and 3.5625 inches in diameter. The wire is
0.032 inch in diameter. This primary has 660 yards of copper wire 0.096
inch in diameter, and wound in 1,344 turns in six layers. The spark
obtained with this primary is remarkably long in proportion to the
battery power used. With five Grove's quart cells the spark was 28
inches, with ten cells 35 inches, with thirty cells 37.5 inches and 42
inches, and it is thought that even better results could be obtained.
The insulation is so good that seventy cells have been used without
injury. The condenser is smaller than usual, being of the size commonly
used with a ten-inch coil. It has 126 sheets of tinfoil, 18 by 8-1/4
inches, separated by two sheets of varnished paper. The other primary is
heavier than the above described, weighing 92 pounds. The secondary coil
contains 280 miles of wire, in 341,850 turns. It is used for
spectroscopes and for short sparks. The power of this instrument is
really comparable to that of lightning. A blo