The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-07-15


cribes newly invented machine for planning wood,
which is now in operation in that city. 1t says
A satisfactory idea OF the invention can only
be formed by seeing it work. Though simple in
its construction, and easily comprehended at
glance, II is difficult to convey clear idea Of the
modus operandt, on paper. 1t will be sufficient,
perhaps, to say that nothing heretofore invented
approaches it, either in respect to the speed with
which 1t does its work or the accuracy of surface
and finish which it gives to every thing and any
thing which passes through it, in the shape of
plank or board. A rough board placed within its
vortex, comes out as even and polished as mirror
to the tune OF los feet mnute-and this with
out driving the machine. Its maximum capacity
is double and treble this speed-and the
greater the power and the rapidity of the working,
the more perfect is its execution. We can well
believe that it will turn out work at the rate of 200
and even 800 per minute-or as fast as it can be
fed.
In this respect it outsrips the famous Wood.
worth invention, and promises to supersede it en-
tirely. The maximum capacity of that
chine, we told, is 80 or 40 feet per min
ute Such as are interested in the progress of i'm
provement will see in this something new and
strange, and well worth inspection and study. The
inventor may be seen at Townsend's furnace, at
any time, to exhibit the capacity and power Of his
machine to all visitors"
Nicotine.-The recent trial of the Belgian Count
been The means of making known to The public
he existence of new and most destructive agent
for the extinction of life. Crime of most deadly
nature has added novel discovery to science, and
the fixed attention, signaiizing the trial of the
Flemish noble, is no way diminished by revelations
of the means employed to ensure the death of his
victim. French chemists, among whom can be
enumerated Orfila, Pelouze and Regnault, have
| since devoted some hours to an examination of its
distinguishing features, and from the result of their
oY M rta ole stlalu
| tence and mode of preparation.
Nicotine is the principal essential of tobacco,
giving its odor and active properties, particularly
that of exciting The muscles Of the nose-thus snuff
possesses the ingredient in The highest degree Nj.
cotine is prepared from the dstlllation of tobacco
leaf under the form Of colorless, limpd, OIL agn-
GUS liquid, while preserved within Theoretically
sealed tubes, but assumes deep brown color when
exposed to the air. 1t possesses burning property
upon the flesh, and strong odor similar to that OF
tobacco, mixing freely with ALCOHOL oils and es-
sences. When exposed TO the air it speedily alb.
serbs the oxygen and changes to a resinous matter
OF dark brown color. According to the obser
vations of NJ. SchBsing, the last writer on this
substance and The best acquainted with its chemi-
cal composition, it appears that 400 grammes Q3
oz of nicotine can he extracted from 10 kilo-
grammes 40 lbs) of Virginia leaf. In its effect
upon the animal economy it is intense and effica-
cious, and comparable TO Prussic acid FIVE or
| ten minutes in slight commissions. The Belgian
noble had been the first, and it is presumed will be
the last, to employ its use for a criminal purpose,
as the great difficulty Of extracting it, and the still
| greater one of finding it ready prepared, on ac-
count of its medicinal inutility and the caution
necessary for its preservation, will efectually pre-
vent its employment for the purpose of murder.