Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-08-12
MECHANICAL AND SCIENTIFIC.

The scenograph is Belgian inven-
ton. in the shape of small Photographic
camera mounted on cane. The negative
being prepared beforehand, it is only nee
essary to place plant, an insect, or any
other object in the focus of the instrument
for a minute or so to obtain a correct rep
resentaton. This can then be developed
at leisure.
Animal charcoal or boneblack is an
excellent antido;e to The poisonous effects
of phosphorus. A number of experiments
warrant the belief that it is far more effica-
cious than the oil of turpentine, which, al
though valuable for the purpose, frequent
" produces severe headaches. The bone
black is administered in the form Of pills
made with gum tragacanth or other mucl-
laginous e.-Sctentttc Ameracdn
--Thin'sheets of copper, secured to the
inside of locomotive boiler and forming
an internal skin next the water, have been
tried with success in Austria. The engine
ran 1900 miles and was then examined.
The copper was found to be only slightly
incrusted, and the iron plates under 1t
we're perfectly bright and clean. 1t IS es-
timated by the builder that the life of the
boiler may, by this means, be extended 20
more than double its usual limit.
An Austrian chemist has succeeded in
producing a paper which looks exactly
like leather, and may in many instances
be used as "A substitute. He uses the So
called parchment paper, which, by his
process, he renders so pliable and supple
and SO similar to leather in color and gloss
that ii would even be capable Of deceiv-
ing the most skillful in the trade. This
leather paper may be used as a substitute
in bookbinding, box, case and etui work
and can be well gilt, pressed, gummed and
rolled like natural leather. For bookbind-
ing 1t is especially appropriate, as its
surface withstands with great resistance
the effects of wear and tear, does not get
dirty, and is even mpervious to wet.
All "A late meeting Of the Royal Horti-
cultural Society of England Mr.. Darwin
communicated the results derived from
certain experiments in producing hybrid
plants by grating. In the summer Of
1874 Reuter-, the head gardener at the I'm
perial Palace of Potsdam, cut out all the
eyes in long white Mexican potato.
Then, cutting a wedge-shaped piece con
tanning an eye from a dark, gray black
kidney variety, he grated ii into the eye
less Mexican potato The tubcrs produced
by this union combined the characters of
the two original species in numherless
varieties. Similar experiments were per
formed in 1872 by DR.. Max lIillmann with
similar results; Also in Stuttgardt, DIR.
Neubert has recently met with the same
experience in like attempts
The French papers speak OF a method
al rendering paper extremely hard and
tenacious by subjectng the pulp to the
action of chloride of zinc. After it has
been treated with the chloride it is sub
mittes to "a strong pressure, thereafter be
coming as hard as wood and as tough as
leather The hardness varies according
to the strength of the metallic solution
The material thus produced can be easily
Colored. 1t may be employed in cover
ing floors with advantage, and may be
made to replace leather in the manulact-
IRE Of coarse shoes, and is good mate.
rial for whip handles, the mounting of
saws, for b0tlons, combs, and other arti-
cieS of various descriptions. Aa excel
lent use of it is in large sheets for roofing
Paper already manufactured acquires the
same consistency when plunged, unsizcd
INTO a solution of the chloride.