The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1874-07-11
POPULAR SCIENCE GLEANINGs.


anasthetic. BY combining American
and British data relating to this ques-
ton, the result shows conclusively that
chloroform is eight times as dangerous
as ether, twice as dangerous as MKT
ure of chloroform and ether, and, as far
as experience goes, it is more danger
GUS than bichloride of methylene. The
report of the London chloroform COM
mittee, appointed TO investigate this
subject, states that not only is ether
less dangerous than chloroform, but
that with every care, and the most ex-
act dilution of the chloroform vapor by
the most skillful hands, the state of in
sensibllity may pass in a few moments
into one Of imminent death.
LEAD PoIsoN.-Lead poisoning by
means of water-pipes of that metal
would seem to be very unlikely hap, if
we may believe the testimony advanced
at recent discussion of the matter in
the French academy of science. 1t was
there stated that only distilled water
acts on the lead, the salts of lime in
tho rest of the specimens preventing
the action. M. Belgrand read to the
academy a memoir giving the results of
his investigations into this subject.
The ancient Romans employed lead wa
ter pipes on large scale, but yet no
Latin medical writer says anything of
ad-poisoning produced by the water.
According to NJ. Bslgrand, one-sixth of a
grain of calcareOus salts to the quarter
prevents the dissolution of the lead.
He exhibited to the academy pieces of
lead pipes which had been in service
from the time of Louis XIV, without
showing any sign of corrosion and an
alysis of water that has passed through
long line of lead pipes showed the
complete absence of lead.
OSE CAUSE OF Poor MORTAR. The
presence of salt in sand is very COM
mon, and exceedingly injurious. Most
of our great sand deposits seem to be
of marine origin, and consequently
contain very pereeptible traces of the
salts that are now found in the waters
of the ocean. OF these salts, it is the
chlorides alone that are to be greatly
dreaded. From the fact that chloride
of calcium is so very soluble and de
hquescent, it follows that. when it is
mixed with mortar, the latter not only
fails To harden properly, but the sur
fa& becomes In time all coated ovt1
with an effervescence of salts of lime
soda, and other bases. This gradua
transfer of the components OF the NOR
tar from the interior of the wall to the
exterior produces porous condition
which weakens it very much, and rem
ders it liable to be easily crushed
Moreover, the effervescence we have
N ntioned is very unsightiy as well a.
disagreeable, from the damp condition
in which the walls are constantly kent
SALT N SICKNESS. DR.. Schudder re
marks: am satisfied that / hav,
seen patients die from deprivation q
common salt during protracted i'll
ness. It's common impression tina
the food Tor the sick should not be sea
soned, and whatever slOp may be givel
1t Is almost innocent of this essential O
life. In the milk diet that [ recon
mend in sickness, common salt is uset
freely, the milk being boiled and givel
hot. And If the patient cannot take tn
usual quantity IN his food, I have !
given IN his drink. This matter is s.
important that it cannot be repeated to-
often, or dwelt upon too long. Til
most marked EXAMPLE of this want O
common salt / have ever noticed ha
been IN surgical disease, especially i
open wounds. Without a supply q
salt the tongue would become broad
paIlld, puffy, with a tenacious. mast
coat, the secretions arrested. the circu
Iatlon feeble, the effusion at the poin
OF inquiry serious, with an unpleasan
Watery pus, which at last becomes
mere sanies or ichor. A few days of
free allowance of salt would change al
this, and the patient get along well. -
WASTE OF FUEL. The disadvantooo
OF smoke are two-fold: first, it is insaIr
brlous and a public nuisance: second.
occasions waste of fuel, and conse
quentIy OF money, which in some case
IS enormous, as few persons who hay
observed iron works, coke ovens. plas
works, etc, pouring forth their SCOT
clouds, will be prepared to question
But, smoke may be colOiless. and We
carry of IN was, e the gaseous product
OF combustion to a very considerably
extent. Many analyses have been at
tempted TO determine the amount of nm
utilized gases contained in smoke. TIL
mean of NJ. Debette's experiment
showed loss of per cent. from thi
cause, but the first of these experiment
Indicated loss OF "a per cent. Som
experiments made in Alsace gave
mean loss of 10 per cent; NJ. Ser in
chimney at Ihierry, got 40 per cent
These experiments, it should be said
were made with the furnaces of stear
boilers. In many departments of mar
ntaetur1ng industry, the loss is ia
greater; and we shall be within Tn
mark II we take the average under al
circumstances at % per cent. The los
OF heating power by the formation z
c1nders is often very great. and is
very variable, ranging from 10 TO 2
per cent, while the loss by the evapol
alton of the water contained in the cos
and of that produced in the combustio
OF the hydrogen and by radiation bring
the total up to 73 per cent. as the vast
OF an ordinary open furnace with ma
nral draft In very many cases eve
this estimate Is far exceeded.
CAUSE oE SLEEPLEssSEss.- Ducl
worth, in the British Medical .Journa
calls attention to some causes of ipson
MA, which, he thinks, are hardly suff
GENTLY recognized or adequately met b
the resources of practical smedicin,
aent researches have clearly show
THAI the brain is comparatively apaami
during sleep, and that the blood tbr
removed from the head is more freeI
supplied to the viscera and ipteoument,
The most constant cause and certainl
tho most frequent accompaniment {
sIeePlessness, is an opposite condition
or one OF active and increased cerebr2
OhCuiadon- "A species of nocturnal DIV:
Pepsia, mild in its character. and pYC
duclng no actual suff ring, NAV some
times give rise to persistent insomnia
There may be no symptoms bevon
dryness of the mouth, burning of tn
soles of the feet, and heat and tbrobbin
IA ehe head, and these are probably du
to too acid condition of the content
OF the stomach and upper part of tn
small 1ntestines, caused generally b
excess In fatty and highly seasoned food
IN fruit, and in various wines. SIeer
iessness may be due to bodily and mer
TAI over-exhaustion, which results i
an increased flow of blood to the brain
consequent upon vaso-motor paralysis
Again, 1t may be the result of mer
habltl as In those cases where there ha
oeen long cause of broken rest;
may be caused by persistent odors. b
certain afffuvia, by the absence of moi.
ture IN the air of sleeping apartment
or an improper elevation or depre,
sion OF the head. The treatment
most OF these cases should of course b
directed to the removal of the cause
but, when it is found necessary to civ
drugs, bromide of potassium and chlors
hydrate are probably the best. both hay
ing been shown to diminish the amour
OF blood circulating through the brai1