The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-07-16
PoPULAR SCIENCE GLEANINas.

oAloIOlOrm IS elgnt times as dangerous
as ether, twice as dangerous as a 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, il
we may believe the testimony advanced
at recent discussion of the matter in
the French academy Of science. It was
there stated that only distilled water
acts on the lead, the salts Of lime in
the rest OF the specimens preventing
the reaction. NJ. Belgrand read to the
academy memoir giving the results of
MS investigations into this subject.
Inc ancient Romans employed lead wa
ter pipes on a large scale. but vet no
Latin medical writer says ANYTHING of
lead-PoisoninR produced by the water.
According to M. Belgrand, one-sixth of a
gram OF calcareous salts to the quarter
prevents the dissolution of the lead
de exhibited to the academy pieces of
lead pipes which had been in service
rom the time of Louis XIV, without
showing any sign of corrosion and an
alysls OF water that has passed through
long line OF lead pipes showed the
complete absence of lead.
ONE CAUSE OF PooR MoRrAR.-The
presence of salt in sand is very COM
mon, and exceedingly injurious. Most
OF our great sand deposits seem to he
OF marine origin, and consequently
contain very perceptible traces of the
salts that are now found in the waters
OF the ocean. OF these salts, it is the
ehlorides alone that are to be greatly
dreaded. From the fact that chloride
OF calcium IS so very soluble and de-
hquescent, 1t follows that, when it is
mixed with mortar, the latter not only
ialIs 10 harden properly, but the sur
face becomes In time all coated over
with an effervescence of salts rof limo
soda, and other bases. This Gradual
transfer OF the components of the NOR
tar from the interior of the wall to tbt
exterior produces a porous condition
Whlch weakens 1t very much, and rem
ders 1t liable to be easily crushed
moreover, the effervescence we have
IN ntloned is very unsightIy as we'll a,
disagreeable, from the damp condition
In which the walls are constantly kept
SALT IN SICKNESS. DIR. SobDdder 20
marks -" L am satisfied that / bav,
seen patients die from deprivatio1 y
common salt during a protracted III
ness. 1t is common impression tina
the food for the sick should not he sea
soned, and whatever slop may be pivel
II Is almost innocent of this essential O
life. In the milk diet that / recon-
mend IN sickness, common salt is use,
freely, the milk being boiled and oiveI
not. And II the patient cannot take tn,
usual quantity in his food. have !
given in his drink. This matter Is q,
important that it cannot be repeated IN,
often, or dwelt upon too long. Tn
most marked EXAMPLE of this want a
common salt have ever noticed bo
been IN surgical disease, especially i
open wounds. Without a supplv n
salt the tongue would become broad
Palild, puffy, with a tenacious. mast,
coat, the secretiOns arrested, the eircn
lS1lon feeble, the efusion at the poip
OF inquiry serious, with an unpleasan
Matery Pus, which at last becomes
mere sahles or lchor. A few DAYS of
free allowance of salt wouId change al
'iiiS' ana the patient get along we'll"
WASTE OF FUEL.-The disadvaptooa
oil smoke are two-fold: first, it is insa1n
brlous and Tublic nuisance. second ;
occasions waste of fuel. and cone
quently OF money, which in some cas-
is enormous, as few persons who nav.
observed iron works, coke ovens oIas
works, etc., pouring forth their SCOT,
clouds, will be prepared to question
But, smoke may be colorless. and We
carry OIL In waste the gaseous product
OF combustion to a very considerabl
extent Many analyses have been at
tempted TO determine the amount of mn
utlll2ed gases contained in smoke. Tn
showed a loss of 8 per cent Rom ,1,--i ~;
cause, but the first of these experin,ent
indicated a loss of d per cent Sono
experiments made in Alsace gave
mean loss of 10 per cent; nj. Ser in
chimney at Thierry, got 40 per cent
Ihese experiments, it should be said
were made with the furnaces of stear
boilers. In many departments of mar
utacturing industry, the loss Is n
greater; and We shall be within IN
mark If We take the average under a
circumstances at 20 per cent. Tho 10,
Oh hoatlng power by the formation :
cinders Is often very great, and is ais
very variable, ranging from 10 to 8
per cent, while the loss by the evapo,
alton OF the water contained in the co,
and OF that produced in the combustio
OF the hydrogen and by radiation brine
tRe total up to 73 per cent. as the vast
oi an ORDINARY open furnace with ma
VA
this estimate is far exceeded.
OAUsE OF SLEEPLEssNRss.- Ducl
worth, in the British Medical Jonrna
calls attention TO some causes of insor
MA, which, he thinks, are hardly snf
GENTLY recognized or adequately met 4
the resources of practical medicip
hecenS researches have clearly show
that the brain is comparatively anam
during sleep, and that the blood IN,
removed from the head is more free
supplied to the viscera and inteeument
Inc most constant cause and certain
inc most frequent accompaniment
Plessness, Is an opposite condition
one Oi active and increased cerebri
circulation. A species of nocturnal Nv,
Pepsia, mild in its charscter, and ~,
ducing no actual sui. ring. NAV som
Times give rise to persistent insonni
5here may be no symptoms Devon
dryness of the mouth, burning of N
soles OF the feet, and heat and tRrobbin
IN the mead, and these are probably du
TO too acid condition of the co1tenI
OF the stomach and upper part of IN
small lntestines, caused generally h
excess IN fatty and highly seasoned foo,
IN fruit, and in various wines. Slee,
iessness may be due to bodily and me-
TAI over-exhaustion, which results
an increased flow of blood to the brail
consequent upon vaso-motor paralvsi
AGAIN, 1T may be the result of me
haoit, as IN those cases where there hi
been a long cause of broken rest
may be caused by persistent odors, /
certain atfiuvia, by the absence of moi
ture IN the air of a sleeping apartment
or by an improper elevation or .depre
sion of the head. The treatment
most OF these cases should of course |
greeted to the removal of the cause
but, when it is found necessary 70 gi,
9rugs, bromide of potassium and chlor