, 1876-11-18
CURIOUS CLIPPINGS.

to cut narQeneu COIu Steci. ho acoOm-
pished it at length by means of a saw
of soft wrought iron-merely circular
disk-rotating at high velocity. With
low speed this would not cut at all; but
when running about $4,000 feet per
minute the disk cut through steel rapid
ly; giving an immense cascade OF sparks
in the operation. It was found on ex-
amin1ng the debris beneath the disk
that the particles Of steel were not slni-
ply rubbed off. They were welded to-
gether in n pyramid like staligmate or
the snow circles ON the top of Mount
Washington. Prof. Hedrick ascertained
that real fusion had taken place among
the particles of STEEL, The disk Is very
little heated, but the steel is actually
melted and drops down. Yet the bar
on each side of the cut is not heated
enough to draw the temper or orodlze
the metal; Solid bars of steel OF two or
three inches in diameter are thus cut
through in rs many minutes. The soft
metel disk is about forty-two inches i'll
diameter. The naked hands may be
passed through the jet or stream OF fly
ing sparks during the operation without
being burned, since the particles of
melted metal are in the condition known
as the spheroidal state.
When brain substance is placed in
alchohol,it loses its water and its mobil-
ity of particles, and becomes more solid
and firm. The question here arises, Is
this thing possible with the living brain?
1t is possible that, in cases Of deilrium
tremens, so much alchohol has been
consumed rs, by its diffusion through
the BRAIN. it has robbed nerye-matter OF
its mobile character, and consequently
of its power to throw off thc products
of its life functions? That alchohol
may, in this way, act upon the brain OF
the enebriate, is an opinion which. as
vet, can hardly be demonstrated directs
ly; but an experiment made by MIR.
Charles 7. Kingzett seems to render 1t
highly probable. He places in dilute
solution of alchohol pieces of brain-sub-
stance derives from the OK. at the tenn
perature Of THE blood, viz, 100 deg.
Fahr. At this temperature it is diges-
ted fer some hours. and the liquid is
then filtered. On cooling, the tiltrate
throws down white deposit of matter
which the albhohol has dlssolved-a
phenomenon which would seem to IN
dicate some actual truth liz Shake
speare's words. 20 that men should
put an enemy in their mouths to steal
away their brains''
The curative effect OF color upon
health is destined to receive much at
teution, though Gen. Pleasanton' claim
that blue color vii! cure spawned hor-
ses. deaf mules. and rejuvenate the hais
and the blind, is not well founded. An
Italian, DR.. Papza, had several rooms
prepared with different colored windows
and walls painted to match, and placed
insane patients in them. A somber,
mournful lunatic in red-coiored room
became in three hours lively and cheer
full. maniac in the same room who
refused food had marvellous appetite
tie following morning. In blue room
raving maniac in strait-jacket be-
came perceptibly quieter within an
hour. A day in violet room so restor-
ed an insane patient that he asked to 60
home; and is Low entirely restored.
Violet possesses the most intense electro
chemical action; red has the caloric
rays, and blue is devoid Of either, and
thus, being a negative Of all excitement
the wonderful effect on -maniacs is not
so wonderful, after all. Such results
should not wait long for the scientific
in other countries to investigate and
practice.
In commenting upon the bill for reg
ulating the practice of vivisection in
England, Iron remarks upon the absur-
dity of Parliament of sportsmen, sup
ported by mob out-of-doors. passing
such law Either Of them" (sports-
men or mob) "for the mere pleasure of
killing. or in the treatment of domestic
animals, intticts more unnecessary pain
on the animal creation in one day Than
the whole body of physiological inquir
ers do in ia year. The physiological
worker will, if this bill passes, have to
pursue his unrequited labors nnder the
supervision of policeman, and with a
ticket-ofleave; and the result will be
that original, unremunerated research
of II most important class will not only
continue to be persued without endow-
ment, but under the risk of penal servi-
tude, tho tournament of doves. pheas-
ant. battues, and horse-racing, being all
the while in full swing" A petition
signed by all the leading members of
the medical profession, has been pre-
sented to the House of Lords, demand
ing certain notifications in the bill.
After years of failure by dredging and
other systems to keep an opening suffi-
GENTLY deep to adrmit the passage of
heavy draught vessels into the mouth
of the Mississippi, the success achieved
thus far under the engineering super
intendance of Captain James B. Eads,
of St. Louis, has suficed to vindicate
the jetty system when applied to our
great American river. 1t will be rocol-
lected that in May last a steamer draws
ing fourteen feet six inches of water
passed in safety through the jet:ies.
The latest information from these jet
ties if, that from the head of the South
Pass to the sea there is channel from
twenty-five to thirty feet deep, across
a width OF two hundred feet, complying
with the Requirements of Congress. A
few weeks time will suffice to complete
the work.
In a recent Italian work. measure
ments are given Of the skulls of Dante,
Petrarch. Ugo Foscolo, and Volta
Volta's skull is of extraordinary capa-
city. In the skull of Petrarch the
Etruscan type is evident, viz, q volum-
inous brain, strongly developed in all
its parts, and of superior psychological
power; but the posterior predominates
hover the anterior portion, leading to
the conclusion that the sentiments and
instinct prevailed over the intellect
The new tunnel being built under the
river Thames is intended chiefly for the