Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-12-27
MECHANICAL AND SCIENTIFIC.

In communication to French
journal. 1t is stated that if through
reservoir filled with a solution of tannin
an electric current is passed by means
or plates OF gas-carpon placed in the
bottom and connected through wires
covered with gutta-percha with the
positive pole of a magneto-electric ma
chine, and through plate of zinc,
covering the upper surface of the
solution with the negative pole, the
heaviest leather. instead of requiring
twelve to fifteen months, will be tan
ned in thirty to thirty-five DAYS, the
hides nearest the positive pole being in
yariably finished first.
-Signol, a French veterinary sur
geon, claims to have established be-
You'd a doubt, by numerous expert
ments, that While the blood in the
superficial veins is harmless, that in
those that lie deeper is SO highly pois-
onous, sixteen hours after death, of
every perfectly healthy animal.
whether slaughtered or suffocated;
that twenty-four drops of it intro
duced into the circulation of horse
or sheep will produce death in few
hours. This poisonous blood is undis-
tinguishable by sight from ordinary
blood, nor does its appearance or odor
indicate putrefactien, but under a
microscope lacteria is easily recog-
niZec.
According to one of the French
tnnh nipa1 Innrnnlc nnng,1arnlN1n NJ
ton has been given of late in Belgium,
to method for refining cast iron, to u
certain degree, previous to pudding
a method put into successful practice,
it seems, by Nj. Hamour, metallur-
gist of Maubeuge. AS described, the
process is quite simple. 1t consists in
submitting the cast iron, at the in
slant it is tapped from the blast fur
mace, to a current of air from the
same blast that is being supplied to the
tuyeres of the furnace itself. This
unique process is represented to be
very rapid, and the apparatus for ef-
fectlng it is quite inexpensive and free
from complication, while the advan-
tage obtained is, that the pig iron is so
far refined that one charge more per
twenty-four hours can be worked in
the pudding furnace.
"A few weeks ago it was noticed by
the residents of the surrounding coun-
try that large tlocks of owls were fly
ing southwark from the north. Since
that time the flying tlocks have been
seen every now and then, and many of
them have been captured. These owls
are nearly all white, and those of
them that have been captured are fine
specimens of the bird. One taxider-
mist in New York city had sixty
taken to him to stuff ten days ago;
and Capt. James Buchanan, of New
burgh, has had half dozen of them
brought to his store. There are sew
eral theories given toeXplain the cause
of the extraordinary fight; but the
most plausible one is that the sudden
ice-fow of the north has caused the
owls to leave their Northern homes
and seek warmer quarters. What
ever the cause, the circumstance is an
interesting one, and worthy inyestiga-
ton on the part of those interested in
irds and their flight. Fort Jercis
union.
An important suggestion to own
ers and users OF steam power is made
in the Manufacturer and Builder. 1t
saws, speaking of the accidents arising
from the ENHANCEMENT of some por-
ton of an operators garments in a
swiftly-revolving shaft--of such fire.
quent occurrence in large manufacto-
ries, and of such distressing and fatal
character-that one of the simplest
methods of rendering these casualties
impossible, without introducing the
necessity of constructing railing or
fender about the moving piece in dan
gerous places, is to cover the shaft
with IA loose sleeve along its entire
length. This may be made Of sheet
tin or zinc, and be removable if de-
sired. 1t should also be covered with
in and at the ends with leather, 80 as
to prevent any noise. Arranged in
this manner, the friction between it
it and the revolving shaft would be
sufficient to cause the sleeve to rotate
with the latter; but, in the event of
any decided resistance being brought
to bear upon it, as in the case of the
ENHANCEMENT of workman's gar
ment, the sleeve would at once be
brough. to rest and permit of extrac-
ton without accident. The same idea
of loose covers-remaiks the journal
already cited-may also be applied to
cog wheels or pulleys, and prove AN in
valuable protection against loss of life
or injury to person.