The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-02-26
CURIOUS AND SCIENTIFIC.

CURIOUS AND, SClkNIIFIC.
TIE CURABTLTTY OF CoNsUMPrIoN.- |
This is the attractive title Of a very ex-
cellent article in the Deutsches Archiv |
FUR klinisohe Medicin, June, 1872, by /
DIR. Massini. He showed first, that /
tubercular consumption is durable, as /
91ost-DI0rte1ls OF persons dying with
other diseases prove. That it is cura-
BILE he also attempts to prove, and hence
he disapproves of cousumptlves marry
ing. The means of prevention are gem
eral and special His enumeration OF |
them includes nothing novel; but, wit |
most of the latter German authorities, |
he is strongly in favor of elevated health |
resorts-pure mountain air.
LAUGH AND BE HEALTHY. --The phys |
Biological benefit of laughing is ex-
planned by DIR. Z. Heclrer in the Archiv
fur Psychiatrie The comic-like tickling
causes a reflex action of the sympa-
thetic nerve, by which the caliber Of
the vascular portions Of the system is
diminished, and their nervous power Is
increased, The average pressure of the
cerebral vessels on the brain substance
is thus decreased, and this is compen-
stated for by the forced expiration OF
Taught II, and the larger amount OF
blood thus called to the lungs. We al
ways feel good when we laugh, but I'M
Ill now we never knew the scientific
reason why.
TIE WEAR OF GoI.D CoN.-It APP
pears from experiments made in st.
Petersburg that, contrary to the opinion
generally entertained, gold coin wears
away faster than that Of silver. Twen-
ty pounds of gold half imperials, and
as much of silver copecks--coins of
about the same size-were put into new
barrels, mounted like eburns, which
were kept turning for four hours con-
tinuously. It was then found, on
weighing the coins, that the gold ones
had lost sixty-four grammes-the silver
ones only thirty-four bat as the num-
Der of gold pieces was twenty-eight per
cent. less than those of silver, the pro-
portion is, of course, greater to that
amount in favor of the latter. The sill
yer also contained more alloy than the
gold.
NEW Uses OF SoAPsToNE.- Soapstone
has recently found a new application as
raw material for buttons, dominoes,
and other similar objects. Chips and
refuse pieces of the mineral are ground
to powder, mixed with silicate of soda
water glass-after a repose of some
hours, drying on plate, when the mix
ture is again pulverized. The powder
is again subjected to powerful pressure
in moulds, and afterward baked in air
tight fre-clay crucibles. The pressed
objects are a second time saturated with
the air. The hardness of the product
depends in a great measure upon the
number of times the heating is re-
peated. The last stage of the process
OF manufacture consists in washing in
water in a rotary Tub, drying and agi-
tating in a suitable vessel with soap
stone powder, which imparts polish TO
the surface.
THE PURIFIoATIoN OF TALLow AND
LARD. DIR. Dotch states that tallow
and Lard can be kept from getting ran
cid by the following process The tall
low or lard is first treated with carbon
ate of soda in the proportion of two
pounds of soda to every 900 pounds
of lard, and is then subjected to @ di-
gestion with alum in the following man.
ner: Ten pounds of alum are dissolved
in 500 pounds of water, and one pound
slaked lime added to the solution and
boiled. This solution is stirred well
with ], 900 pounds of lard at tempera.
ture OF $50 degrees, or 200 degrees,
Fab, for about half an hour. The
AAtAoA 10 blACI bCHltIabCu from Lne lard,
and the lard is treated with the same
amount of pure water again. This lard
will keep for an exceedingly long time.
The fact is that the alumina in the alum
applied acts very readily in disinfect
ing manner upon those compound
which are liable to give rise to rancidi
ty. The lime is added to the alum il
order to render the alumina more activ,
By ITS GlyiRF ia sI8GEa9U afut hAASi drftp th
vantages of restoring tho original havo
and of producing a lard OF a create
whiteness.
A New TEXTILE PnANr.-The ordina
ny wood nettle, as is we'll known {,
many of our readers, is found in pro
fusion on the Allegheny mountains, OF
ten at level of over 5000 feet abov
the sea. A short time since M. Roze
succeeded in transporting to Europe
number Of living specimens of tn
plant, some of which he dispatched {,
the PrussiRn minister of agriculture, il
order that the value of the weed, If an
1t had, might be determined. It appear
that quite favorable results have bee
obtained IN using the plant for textil
purposes, and for such employment j
rs now attracting considerable attention
IN Germany. 1t is known botanicall
as the tdpOTteG pJtst,tlG, and is perez
NAL. AS it is, therefore, unnecessary
SOW the seed each year, the plant ha
IN this respect an advantage over HON
or flax, while it is stated to necessitat
less labor and expense in preparing til
fiber. In q wild state the nettle attain
height OF two or three feet, but W
learn that such as has been cultivated ]
Berlin has already exceeded this limit
and 1t appears possible that, by care m
proper soil, even a still greater altitud
may be gained. Experiments TINS "a
made point to the fact that the plar
will prove not unimportant additio
to our textile materials.
FOG SCREENING AMONG ENGLISH CA
TnE.-The recent heavy fogs about Ior
don and its vicinity, have been productiy
of an unusually large outbreak of sicl
ness among the cattle gathered at eli
Smithheld Club show. The sufferln
OF the animals are described as yer
great, and are so clearly traced {
the peculiar state of the weather as I
excite apprehension that some simila
malady may attack the stock on TIN
side of the water, il the dense mist
which have prevailed to such an ord
nary degree during the present winter
continue. The Field says, that on tn
third day of the show, which opene
with every appearances Of a successfr
exhibition, and with fine variety {
prize cattle, ninety of the animals wer
removed, seemingly choking, and it wa
found necessary to slaughter fifty in
mediately. The illness was not confine
to the single locality, but affected th
horned cattle in the markets and in tn
suburbs so 1t was not, as has been suC
gested, due to foul air or lack of yer
tilation in the Smithfield Club builG
ing. Sheep aud pigs, moreover, wer
notaffected. The treatment used, was a
abundant supply OF pure air and 81
dative tincture of aconite The sick
ness lasted about FIVE days, until tn
dissipation of the fog.