The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-09-12
Scientific and USeful.

Toclean and polish dirty and tarnished
brass, dip the article for a short time
in strong hot aqueous solution of
caustic alkali, rinse in water, dip for a
few moments in nitric acid diluted with
an equal volume of water, rinse again,
and finish with whiting.
In lecture recently delivered by an
eminent scientist, on the utilization of
heat, he showed how heat can be made
to do a greater amout of heat than ever
by means of electricity. Evidently the
best means of employing the available
forces for work have not yet been put
into use, and the neglect of wind, water
and tide power is surprising when the
whole subject is considered.
To prevent the shrinkage of flannel,
French manufacturer has found high
pressure steam of great value. He folds
the flannel loosely and puts it in box
containing perforated bottom, through
which superheated steam is admitted;
that fixes the fiber of the wool in such
manner that fulling as well as washing
causes no shrinking.
The imitation of mother-of-pearl is
somewhat difficult. 1t is made on glass,
and contains gelatine layer with
concentrated solution of some
salt. Several salts may been chosen for
this purpose, such as white vitriol,
EPSON salts, etc. After the crystalliza-
ton of this salt solution, and when dry,
essence of pearlsi spread over the whole.
| The latter material is made from the
exceeding fine and silvery shining belly
scales of the bleak, which are scraped off
and washed out thoroughly. To the
| gelatine layer thus prepared a coat of
glue is applied, and the article is COM
plete.
An officer of the Paris Jardin des
| Plantes reports on baits for insects
that beer and water caught eight hun
dred and fifty flies and other winged
creatures, pure beer six hundred and
thirty one. Crushed pears, weak wine,
and pure wine came next in the order
given, and pure honey at the bottom OF
the list, with only seventeen victims.
This would seem to disprove the literal
truth of the old sayiDg-correct as it is
in its moral-that we may catch more
flies with spoonful Of honey than with
a gallon of vinegar" No doubt, how.
ever, the odor of the beer, which was in
a highly fermented state, had much to
do with attracting the flies.
The following is said to be specific
against the poison ivy quite common
in all parts of the country: Bromine
should be dissolved in olive oil, cosmo
line or glycerine, in the strength of ter
or twenty drops of bromine to an ounce
of oil, and the mixture rubbed gent J
on the affected part three or four times
day. The bromine is so volatile thai
the solution should be renewed withir
twenty-four hours from its preparation
The eruption never extends after tht
first thorough application, and i
promptly disappears within.twenty-fou
hours if the application is persisted in
and the patient is entirely cured.
The veteran temperance leader Nea
Dow has published letter in which tn
serious physiological results attendin!
the use of beer containing rosin are dwell
upon a considerable length. He neg
lects, however, to offer any evidence tina
brewers ever use rosin in the manufaC
ture of beer. He, like many other.
, labors under the erroneous impression
that every article embraced in brewers
supplies is somehow made an ingredien
, of beer. Rosin, however, is only use
for coating the insides of beer barrels +
prevent the escape of the gas or q life
of the beer, purpose for which it woul
be useless were it not insoiuble in beel