Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1872-03-16
SCIENTIFIC NOTES.

The Inspector of Police for the
Bengal Government reports that of
500 casos Of snake 5itesin which am
monia was administered by the po-
lice, 702 are said to have recovered,
DIR. Blade President OF the Cali
iornia Academy of Science, consid-
ers that the most remarkable iea-
ture of the waters in the Yellow
stone geysers, is the enormous
amount of ammoniacal salts which
they contain.
DR.. L. Dingler has made an alloy
resembling geld by mixing three
metals in the following proportions:
Copper, 1886; zinc, 40,3l ; lead, /
90. 1t is said to be malleable and
durable, and is evidently prepared
with little expense.
DR.. Jolly says that the Frenchcon-
sumo more tobacco than any other
nation, and he attributes the ener-
walton of the soldiers, as cylnced
during the late war, to the combin-
cd effect of alcohol and nicotine up
on the national character.
The London Nature says that the
Society of the Friends of Science in
Posen; Poland, } propose on Feb
ruary 10, 1878, to ceiebratethe 4OOth
birthday OF the minentastronomer,
Nicholys Copenicus, at his birth
place in the village Of Thorn.
The upholsterers in India often
apply a solution OF sulphate of cop
per toaAoorpreyious tolayinga mat
orcarpet, as Il protection against
moths. For over coverings a solu-
ton of corrosive sublimate in color
less alcohol is frequently used with
good effect.
The cultivation of the poppy in
France is steadily increasing, and is
now occupying about fifty thousand
acres, of the value Of four and a half
million francs, yielding opium to
the value of two million ofirancs per
year. Different samples Of opium
raised in various parts Of Europe
yielded from s to - per cent, OF
morphia,
DR.. Jeannel records the results Of
series of experiments, from which it
appears that both meat and yegeta-
bic food are more nutritious and OF
better flavor when boiled at 950 c,
than when boiled at or above 1902.
The low-boiling temperature may be
secured either by a great elevation,
at the summit of a mountain, or by
vacuum pan.
The new machine for printing,
composing, and distributing type,
which have recently been perfected
in the office Of the London Times,
areto beexhibited at workinthe Lon
don International Exhibition of lS-
70, The rapidlty of production ia
said to be increased three.fold by
the combined operations.
Mr.. John Spiller has found that
hydrochaloric acid is an energetic
solvent of silk, although it has little
effect on wool and cotton. Adulter-
alive of silk fabrics can therefore,
be readily detected by dropping a
little Of the acid on a scrap Of the
fabric. If it be pure silk a hole will
be made; if impure the threads
which are left indicate the nature
and extent Of the adulteration.
The new process Of coating sheet
iron with copper or brass bids fair
to supplant the use of timed and
galvanized iron to considerable ex-
tent. The plants may be annealed
without injury during the processof
stamping, andthey canbe% FURNISHED,
planished or spun, and thus brought
to: any required degree of finish,
initiating sheet brass or copper, at
a greatly reduced cost.
Iron ore has been found in the
Hazarebaugh District in India,
which is said to contain 50 per cent,
Of pure metal, together with a sight
admixture of mananese. There is
said to be 500 square miles of this
ore in the Diamonda coal-ields.
Under the deposit there is a layer,
supposed to be about twenty feet
thick, of the finest coal in India.
The Hassler expedition of the
United States Coast Survey will en-
deayor to ascertain to what depths
the ocean is penetrable by the suns
rays. As solar heart is the prime
mover of the ocean as well as of the
atmospheric currents, the proper
solution of this question will I'M
d~oubtedlly contribute to the settle
ment of the COLLECTING views of DR..
Carpenter and his opponents,
Among the valuable of the explo-
rations recommended by DIR. Peter
manu- is an important advice in the
ice-sea-fsheries, from which the
Norwegian fishermen have gained a
dividend of fifty seven per cent.
Lieutenant Payer attributes the re-
markable success Of the expedition
to the fact that autumn is the most
favorable time for navigation.
Most of the previous expeditions
have set out too early and returned
too early.
Ripe fruit absorbs oxygen in the
process of decay, and drives out car
bolic acid. Both the processes de-
teriorate the value Of the air for
breathing +; therefore fruit should
not be allowed to remain for any
length of time in sitting.rooms,
more especially in sick chambers.
Many persons are so sensitive to the
carnations from special fruits hal
they become faint if they are pres
ent in the room.