Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-12-30
MECHANICAL AND SCIENTIFIC.

The mmission Of French scholars
appointed by the Project of the Seine to
report upon lightning. conductors and the
method of constructing them recommend
The use of copper terminal points instead
Of platinum.
"A scientific journal suggests that in
cases where men are accidentally buried
IN the earth, iron pipes, of the sort used
for drive wells might be driven down just
nj the edge Of the soft earth until the
proper depth is reached, when, by the APP
plication of a pump at the top, an album
dance of fresh air could be forced down to
sustain lite until the men are rescued by
digging.
DR., Dyce Duckworth, of st. Bartholo-
news Hospital, London, when using ont
mcnts for the cure Of disease or ahrasions
OF the skin, applies them on waxed paper
instead OF lint. This is the material used
by pharmacists for covering gallipots,
etc, consisting simply OF thin tissue paper
dipped in melted wax. A piece is cut
large enough to extend beyond the mar
gins Of the sore the ointment is smeared
on the center, not too thickly, and it is
then carefully applied TO the affected part.
Its adhesiveness does away with the
necessity OF strapping or bandaging. 1t
has also the virtue of cheapness, and is
said to be cooler than lint DR.. Duck
worth uses 1t even for extensive eczema of
the limbs.
In memoir on cyclones and water
spouls M. Mouchez publishes some OBJ
servations made by him while upon the
ocean, and which, If correct, are quite i'm
portant. According to his account at or
near the surface Of the ground TIE cur
rent Of air IN the cyclone is always from
below upward, while in whirlwinds the
movement Is, on the contrary, from above
downward In the former case the winds
are winds of aspiration, in the latter case
the wind descends from the cloud in the
form OF bag or tube, which terminates
in point. NJ. Mouchez is consequently
led u believe that water-spouts have no re-
lation whatever to cyclones, having, in
fact, IN opposite appearance and cause, an
opinion In which some other scientists
concur.
DR. G. NJ. Beard, the eminent scien-
list, OF New York, has been investigating
the new force lately discovered by Mr.
Edison while experimenting with electric
ity. DR.. Beard sustains Mr. Edison in
his belief that the force Is really one
hitherto unknown, He says that the re-
cults OF some experiments with it are very
interesting. The fact that It's transmission
does not depend upon the insulation Of
the conductor, nor upon complete cir
cult being made, may render it Il very val
uablc discovery for practical telegraphy
However, 80 far AS observed it Indicate
its presence only by a spark; and befor,
II can be pu, to practical use some entirel,
new method Of registration will have TO b,
contrived
The Boston Journal of Chemistry sug
gcsts the following experiment in vibra
ton Place n glass tumbler, filled Will
water TO about half an inch from the top
on u table, holding the glass to the tabl
with the left hand, and using a common
fine grained tobacco pipe for a bow; TAX
ing the bowl OF the pipe between the iinge
and thumb draw the stem hriskly an,
evenly, withi only downward strokes, OF
the edge of the glass, causing the water t,
vihrate This continuous vibration ele
Yates the water in the center of the glaS
into the shape of an inverted cone dixie
convolvulus t1werl, siiitusing il by cen
Gifugal force tGr some distance around tn
glass. where 1t falls In circular shove
of dew or mist