The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1879-08-15
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

, Experiments made by a German
| pharmacist indicate that under certain
4 atmospheric conditions there is danger
of the spontaneous ignition of fabrics
: washed with bcnzine having a low
boiling point.
A German patent has been taken out
for an apparatus designed to remove
nicotine from tobacco leaves by means
of benzine or petroleum either, the
! leaves TO be then made into cigars.
A German photographer has made
} seals and stamps with the portraits OF
his customers. A thin layer of gela-
tine sensitized with bichromate of pot
ash is exposed to the action of light iin-
der Photographic positive, by which
the parts acted upon are rendered in
soluble in water. The gelatine film is
immersed in water, and the parts acted
upon by light swell up, and we obtain
a picture in relief, of which a plaster
cast can be taken. A galvauo-plastic
copy of the cast gives a metallic fac
similc of the photograph, which can be
employed as seal. e
An electrical alarm compass has been
invented for use on shipboard. The
instrument may be adjusted to any
limit of variation in the ships course
desired, the automatic ringing of a bell
promptly announcing the passage of the
prescribed limit by the compass needle.
The alarm continues until the ship has
been restored to its proper course.
st. Petersburg journals announce
that discoveries of gold i'm the Oural
| nj ai inc lx,fn 4 10 oatH
that in the district of Sennigsei a mug
found.
A steam yacht has been built for the
purpose of illustrating the advantage
of deep immersion of the propeller.
The screw can be lowered until nearly
half its diameter is below the keel, or it
may be lifted until it is quite clear of
the water.
1t is said the Queensland Govern
ment propose Offering reward of Co.
600 for the discovery of gold field rich
enough to pay the working expenses.
The instantaneous photographs Sc
cured by Mr.. Uuybridge, OF San Fran
cisco, represent horses in the most un-
calmly attitudes, some of them appear
ing so absurd as to excite many express
sions of doubt as to their accuracy.
An English gentleman has, however,
so applied the pictures, by taking ad-
vantage ofa Dewly-improved toy called
the praxinoscope, as to form very in
teresting experiment, and at the same
time set at rest all doubts as TO their
faithful portraiture. Twelve plane
mirrors were arranged vertically in
circle with their rejecting surfaces out
ward. Twelve instantaneous photo
graphs, representing the twelve sue
cessive attitudes of a galloping horse,
were then fastened upon the inside of q
metal ring arranged so that each pict-
ure faced one of the twelve plane mir
rors. Upon revolving the instrument
rapidly the reflections from the mirrors
exactly reproduced all the movements
of galloping horse, every separate
movement of the head, tail and legs,
and the alternate contraction and ex-
pansion of the various muscles, with
the up and down movement of the rider
| being described as absolutely true to
nature.
An official report of the results of
the gas-lighting experiments in Queen
Victoria street, London, states that the
new system costs about three times as
much as the old but gives nearly four
and one-half times rs much light. Fifty
five ordinary lamps were replaced bv
thirty burning twenty-five cubic feet
per hour, aud five burning fifty cubic
feet.
Commander Cheyne, of the British
Royal Navy, proposes making prepara-
tions for his proposed polar voyage as
soon as the necessary funds are SUBJ
scribed. His plan is to proceed as far
as possible in sailing vessel, then to
make an attempt to reach the pole in a
balloon.
| AT a recent meeting Of the Man-
chester (EDg.) Geological Society, Mr..
w. j. Grimshaw exhibited several roots
which he had found in the joints of
limestone, eighty-five yards below the
surface, in lead mine near Holywell.
Some OF the roots extended to piece
of clay in horizontal crevice i'm the
stone, but he had made no examination
of them.
Herr Bunge, of Hamburg, has just
completed the construction of stand
, ard kilogram for the international
Commission of Weights and Measures
, at Paris. 1t has occupied him eigh
l months, and is of such delicacy that thu
person using it must not approach
within two yards, as the warmth from
his body might affect its action.
From data collected by the Mare
Polar Expedition, Prof Fries, of Up
sala infers that lichens may exist at III,
!, very pole if there is land there occa
S sionally free from snow and ice.
e During the excavations for the Tibe
o works in Rome, mural paintings wer
h discovered in the grounds of the Pala7
J. 70 Farnesina. Two experienced arr
r. lists were summoned from Pompeii :
}. detach the pictures from the walls
If which delicate operation is now YER
Ie nearly completed. These frescoes
|, thirty-two in number, are fine works i
the Graeco-Roman style. Very correC
d in drawing, in color and effect the fip
)" ures are said TO resemble Dutch sketcf
Ie es; and, although at least twenty Gel
ID tur'ies old, they are as fresh as if +,
< Gently painted. While the lower porto
* of the wall is devoted 10 Landscapes
IN above are dramatic, historical and IN,
Ell biological scenes, which the arch@olt
al gists are now endeayoring to interpre
H. During the past few years larg
in number of Germans-Christian al
7e Jew--have been establishing then
selves in Jerusalem, and probab
j. many will be surprised to hear that IL
at dominant language of the city is Ge
ct man. Twelve thousand Jews speak /
b. Recently the Germans in Jerusale
a have started quarterly review, d
signed TO give give an account of 0
id facts interesting to the country, and e
no pecially of researches carried on the
to BY associations or individuals. 1t h
ty been well received by the scientii