The Hickman courier., 1873-10-11

trim, but sugar vas always present. The
small amount of sugar in the stomach is
ascribed to the checking influence of the
acid of the gastric juice upon the saliva;
the action of this very acid producing,
however, the soluble starch present,
while the conjoined successive action OF
the saLN nziiri - uzzuuaaiS produces n part
of this snUsr31ce Brucke has proved IS
due to the Tactic acid fermentation,
which he thinks is normal digestive
process, intended to prepare the starch
for more rapid transform alton into sugar
in the duedellum, Under the influence
OF the pancreatic Juice.
IsFLUENcE OF FORESTS or THE TEN
PERATURE OF THE GROUND The Bava-
rian physicist Ebermayer has investiga-
ted the influence of forests on the eli
mate of the neighborhood rs shown by
the numerous observations recorded
in that kingdom. Among his conclu-
sions are the following results rs to the
temperature of the ground, determined
by thermometers sunk to the depths of
one and six inches and of one, two,
three and four feet. For the upper
layer of earth, within one foot OF the
surface. the minimum monthly mean
temperatures occur both in open and in
wooded regions in the month of Janu-
AIRY only on the high mountains does
the lowes- temperature occur in Febru-
ary. The temperature increases from
February on, until its maximum in
July; at the high stations, only, does
the maximum occur in August. From
July or August the temperature decrea-
ses to January or February. To the
agricultural interests it is especially
important to note that the monthly in
crease OF temperature is most rapid III
May, and is nearly as great in April it
is least in June and July. Concerning
the strata lower than one foot, Eber-
mayer finds thnt the monthly incaease
in temperature is greater in June and
July than it is in the upper stratum.
The loss of temperature Is, in the upper
October, and least in the coldest
weather in January and February. In
forest covered places the lowest temper
ature occurs in February, and continues
to June, during which interval the
ground cooler than the air in July
an>s- -,11Iu6EH ....the ground is somewhat
warffs 4 the air. The greatest diff
ference between the temperature OF free
and forest land occurs in My, and the
least in June. The fluctuations in for
est land are less than IN open ground.
The influence OF the forest in prevent
ing the cooling Of the ground by the
radiation of its heat is most noticeable
in October and Fovember, and least in
January and February.
New Form OF ExPLos1vEs.-Sir
Charles W Vincent makes a communi-
/ cation TO Iron in reference to new ex-
plosives, the object being especially 10
( call attention to "a recent patent by Doc
I tor Sprengel. The theory OF explosion
is based upon, the rapid disengagemeat
! of an enormous volume OF gas IL a con-
fined space this being produced n
such quantity as by its expansive pres
sure to accomplish the object of irving
and bursting asunder the inclosure. Is
q, general rule, these explosives, like
fire and water, are very good servant ;,
but very bad masters, and their tendency
TO 20 off wLen their services in this di
rection are not needed is the frequent
cause of great amount of mischief
both to life and property. The obie;+
of DIR. Sprengel has been to devise some
method by which the components of the
explosive may be kept apart until tli'
moment when needed for use, SO that
either be subjected to the action of hea
or percussion, no damage viii be tn,
result. The one being a combustibl'
and the other an oxidizing agent
neither will act iniuriouslv unless il
combination with the other. Thes'
combustible and oxidizing agents, &C
cording to DIR. Sprengel, should befron
different states of matter; thus, if tn
one be a solid the other must be
liquid, and he proposes to place TN
solid, but finely divided oxidizing sub
stance in a vessel or chamber, and u
add to it when needed for use the liqui'
combustible, and to explode the two b.
meaps <ep-ex Sn.-z.stslse on pero'aa
sion cap. The fluid oxidizing agen
preferred by him is nitric acid, Will
the solid combustile may consist of sue
nitro compounds as are not explosive
such as nitro-naphthaline and the nitrat
of aniline Aud again, the solid chic
rates, per-chlorates or nitrates of p tas
sium may be used to oxidize bi-sulpmd
of carbon. benzole, nitro-benzole, alec
hol, either oils, ect The best result
we're found from the oxidation of Tia
, hydrocarbons by nitric acid. mix
: ture of nitro-benzole with nitric aci
(specifc gravity Is, when saturated
explodes with the violence of nitro-gly
cerine. Apart, the elements are harm
less, and the miner may pour the prope
: proportion of each into tube aed plac
in position, adding the fuse when it
prepared. Up to the time of mixing h
would be in no danger, and after tia
no more than he is liable to in treatin
nitro-glyceiine, gun cotton or gun-pow
der. Mr.. Vincent thinks DIR. Sprengel'
methods are not entirely practicable a
present, but that there is in them tn
germ of an invention OF very great value
ACCORDING TO Prof. Waterhouse, tn
mountains OF the state Of Missouri con
tain iron enough TO yield million o
tons per annnm OF that precious meta
for a period of two centuries Th
/" Pilot Knob alone, which rises to Al
altitude of lila feet above the Missis
sippi, is so rich in iron ore that il i
estimated an upper section, III fee
high. would yield fourteen millions (,
t~rz ~ .,fof - n