The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1858-01-23
Science and Art.

FIRE KTNDLING CoMPosITIoN.-By taking
regulated proportions of kauri gum, rosn
and alcohol, and allowing them to remain
open to the ordinary atmospheric tempera-
| ture, or to gentle heat, the gum and rosn
will be dissolvee and amalgamated. Then
add wood or sawdust in such quantity that
it will stir up into sufficiently consistent
mass to be nodded into cakes, and when dry
it will form very good fire-kindling materi-
al. 1t is the invention of Elizabeth Bellin-
ger Of Mohawk, N. Y, and W as patented to
her this week,
PAPER IMPERvIoUs TO WATER.-Take "a
ounces Of alum, and ounces of white soap
and dissolve them in pour DIS of water in
to another vessel dissolve 2 ounces of gum
arabic and ounces of glus in the same
quantity Of water as the former, and add the
two solutions together, which is now 10 be
kept warm, and the paper intended to be
made er-proof dipped into it, passed be-
tween rollers, and dried; or without the use
OF rollers, the paper may be suspended until
it is perfectly dripped and then dried. The
alum, soap, glue and gum form kind Of ar
titicial leather, which protects the surface of
the paper from the action of water, aud also
renders it somewhat fire.proof This is
preparation for water-proofing paper inten-
ded for packages exposed to the weather,
recommended by Professor Muschamp of
Wurtemburg, Germany.
LINE kILN.-This invention ensures ra-
pd, yet regular and uniform burning Of the
lime, and avoids blowing of the draft
tirely across the kiln, or through one furnace
door and out at another. 1t likewise oxpo-
ses greater surface to be acted upon by
the fire, which, by this arrangement, is
brought in direct and positive contact with
the whole mass throughout at the same mo-
ment, and thus the difficulty from the outer
portion being subjected to much greater
heat than the central portion, is entirely
overcome. 1t is the invention Of p Girls
com and c. S. Dean, Baltimore, Nd
New DEcoLoRIzrSG AGEST-M Meme, a
French chemist, has just discovered that hy-
drate of alumina, prepared by decomposing
alum with carbonate of soda, is perfect
substitute for animal charcoal in the decolor-
izing of liquids. He has tried it on sugars,
syrups and molasses and it has given every
satisfaction; and after having been used
once, it can be washed and re-prepared
1t also has the great advantage Of cleanli-
ness; and It is more pleasant 10 our fancy
to know that our sugar has been clarified
with alumina, than with burnt blood, and
similar animal products,
VALUABLE DIscovERY-Aboutt three miles
from Clear Lake, Napa Co., California, and
near the borax lakes, is sulphur bank from
twenty to thirty acres in extent, and sup
posed to be thirty feet thick, sufficiently
pur for the use Of the mint at San Francis
CO. The sulphur seems to be constantly
forming from dam, steam rising over the
whole surface continually.
NTcorISE.--This peculiar principle is a
product OF the leaves and seeds of tobacco,
by infusing them in acidulous water, adding
lime, and distilling, and then washing the /
product with ether. when an ethereal solu- !
tion of nicotine is obtained. One drop will .
kill dog. 1t causes the pupil of the eye
to contract, has bitter acrimonious taste,
and pungent smell, and on the whole, is
one of the nastiest things in creation. 1t is
Of 73 26 per cent Of carbon, 8 25
per cent. of hydrogen, and 100 per cent
Of nitrogen. 1t is related to a class of bod
les called yegeto-alkalies, Ind is capable OF
uniting with acid. On the human brain it
produces soothing effect, which is thought
very pleasant, but can never be considered
otherwise than unhealthy.
ISsTIScT.-This principle, common to all
animals, is the spontaneous impulse by
which they perform certain actions. I'm
Ter this term should be distinguished the
nstinetire. faculty, which leads the duck
iuckling, uutaught. into the water, and the
;hicken, eouvllv untaught, to avoid the wa
er; the bird to fly, child TO try to walk;
md the instinctioe motion, such as the in
voluntary action of the muscles as in laugh.
er for pleasure, tears for grief, the act Of
swallowing, and the methods of locomotion
n the various forms Of animal life
CUTTING Corn FROM STALKs.-By means of
in endless apron and pressure roller, for
eeding, and cylender provided with knives
Ind pressure roller, for cutting, the corn
nay be cut from the stalks and the stalks
.ut up for fodder in one operation. 1t is
he invention of a. j. & j. A. French, of
franklin, VT.