Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-03-02
Scientific and useful.

TELEPaoNY.-The most important OF The
tests made recently by Professor A. Graham
Bell in the practicle development of tele
phony, is dispensing with the use OF the
battery entirely, so that now all that is re-
quired to communicate between the most
distant places is simply line of wire and
the telephones. Recently successful expert,
ments were made between Boston and Salem
on the Eastern Railroad wire. At the Bos-
ton end were Professor Bell, Mr.. Nutting,
the operator, Mr.. E. Ii. Foster, Mr.. Will
lam Aud and Mr. j. B. Parker and at the
Salem end Mr.. S. A Watson, who is associ-
ated with Mr.. Bell, and the lady operator.
Two japanese gentlemen also conyersed in
their own language through the telephones,
and had no difficulty in understanding all
that they said. An experiment has been
made in overcoming an artificial resistance
greater than the Atlanctic cable, and there
is no doubt but that it will be possible to
talk across the Atlanctic
PROTECT TIE HoRsEs.-A French pharma-
ceutical chemist has discovered way to pro-
tect horses from attacks of flies, according to
a London medical paper. His invention con-
sists in rubbing the horse, especially the
part most subject to attack with little con-
centrated oil of laurel There is not the
slightest danger in its use and the cost is said
to be very small. Another repelent suggest
ed bv the same person is solution of 60
grammes i pound and ounces advoirdu-
pois) Of assaiutiia in two glasses of water,
and one of vinegar. If horses be well wash
ed with this not fly will settle upon them,
as the odor of the assafetida drives the flies
away This drug has no deleterious quail
ties as an external application and may be
used unhesitatingly.
Blue LAMP CHINSIEs Es-NOted oculists, for
instance, Graft, Art and Stellwag- Carton,
recommended either blue, blueish-gray or
SIN oke-colored glasses as q protection for weak
eyes against the unpleasan. effect of red,
orange and yellow light. On The same princi-
pie, the trying reddish yellow light of can
dies, lamps and gas, on normal eyes as well
weak ones, can be pleasantly modified by the
use of blue chimnies or globes (or at least of
shades for the reflection of The light colored
q light ultramarine blue. A remarkably near
approach to light as agreeable as daylight
is said to be produced by petroleum lamp
with round wick and light-blue chimney
of twice the usual length, the latter causing
so great draught that the petroleum burns
with nearly pure white fame.
A NEw SOURCE OF lLLUMISATIoS.-Betwee
Bordeaux and Bayonne, in France, there is a
large stretch Of sandy desert, wbereon there
is little vegetation save here and there patch
9. of pine trees. From these trees there runs
a resinous matter, which is collected and
sold by the inhabitants Of the region. This
substance has recently been studied by NJ.
Guillemare, and he now announces, to the
French Academy Of Sciences that he has pro-
duced three kinds Of oil from the material,
all rich in carbon. contain = respectively
so, 90 and 81 per cent Of tba, element. The
light yielded on burning the oils is remarka-
bic for its whiteness and steadiress, and is
said to be suitable for lighthouse illumination
and even for photography.
A MAGAZINE GUN INVENTED IN l775.-A
writer in La Nature states that in l775, one
Charriere, gun-maker of Paris. devised
musket capable Of being discharged "ten
times in minute" The description is pre-
served in the archives of the French Navy,
whence it appears that after trials the gun
was rejected as dangerous. The cartridges
were all placed in the single bore and sepa-
rated by movable partitions so that but one
could explode at a time.
VEGETABLE 0Hs AS LUBRIcAToRs.-On and
about pistons and journals which have been
fabricated with animal and vegetable oils,
Jumps Of dirty matter are found, consisting
Of iron oxide and fatty acids. DR.. Scbon-
dorf has found that the oil is decomposed by
steam into glycerine and fatty acid, and that
the latter attacks the on, causing enlarge
ment of the cylinder. lie therefore recon-
mends the use of heavy mineral oils and lu-
bricators.
WHITE LEAD vs.. ZlSc-W c-WHITR.-White
lead, as pigment, is chiefly valued for its
body" and for the ease with which it is
laid on but it produces lead poisoning and
also tends to lose its whiteness. Zinc-white
is not open to these objections. Properly
prepared, it has Is good covering properties
as white lead, and the addition of magnesia
10 the manufacture makes it as easy to work :;
besides, it has no injurious effects on the
health Of those who manufacture or use it.