The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-09-03
POPULAR SCIENCE.

One bushel of real Graham flour is said to
have more nutriment in it than barrel of
superfine flour and so pounds of beefsteak.
A moth proof paper is made from a mix
ture of wooden, cotton, and hempen waste;
it is then saturated with a mixture of crude
carbolic acid, heated thin coal tar, and the
residual oil from the rectification of naptba.
The paper is then pressed and dried and
serves to wrap up articles liable to be dam
aged by moths.
DR.. Winnecke, of Strasburg, has discovered
a record of observations made in $780, or at
least 80 years before the invention of the
telescope, in which the places of IL stars of
the Pleiades are given. On comparing these
with modern observations it appears that the
places were determined with a probable
error of only q; hence there can be little
doubt that all these stars were seen by the
naked eye.
Mr.. w. Mattieu Williams, who for more
than 80 years has closely studied the subject
of the electric light and noted every new
deyelopement, does not hesitate to affirm
that, although as a scientific achievement
the electric light is splendid success, its
practical application to all purposes where
cost is a matter OF serious consideration is a
complete and hopeless failure, and must of
necessity continue to be so!'
Large numbers of trichina splralis have
been detected in cured meats imported
into Alsace from America. In Switzerland
too, the discovery has been made that
American hams are full of the trichlna, and
Government commission has been appoint
ed to decide upon the precautionary meas
ures to be taken. The cantonal authorities
are recommended to warn the people against
| the use of American hams, especially in the
half raw state, and to arm the police with
discretionary powers over the sale of the
| article.
| ton of telegraph poles has been devised and
| put to the test at Titusville, Pa. A man
| drives q crowbar into the ground to the
| depth OF four or five feet, and into the hole
30 made drops four-0unce cartridge of the
so-called electric powder" The fuse hav-
site of the next pole. In the meantime a
dull sound is heard, and q hole about the
| diameter of q -four barrel, and four or five
feet deep, has been made by the exploding
cartridge.
NJ Companys, a military phi ysician, who
served in Algeria, and was engaged in the
sanitary arrangements of the Suez canal
works, Is about to be sent to the Isthmus of
Panama, there to ascertain what measures
will have to be taken for the preservation OF
| the health of the laborers. As regards the
latter. agents are to be appointed to recruit
| them from among the Inhabitants of South
| America best fitted for the supporting fatigue
4
written to the emperor Of Brazil TO ask for
his cooperation in procuring hands.
The amount of labor performed by bees in
collecting honey may be seen from certain
calculations made by Mr.. Andrew Wilson.
| He finds that 125 heads of clover yield ap-
| proximately one gramme of sugar (abopt 15H
gralns), and that lbs. 900 head yield one kilo
gramme (2.2 pounds). Now. as each head of
clover contains about go forets. it follows
| that the bees must suck Z, 500. 00c distinct
| fiorets in order to obtain pounds of
sugar. And as honey roughly may be said
to contain 75 per cent. of sugar. we have one
kilogramme, equivalent to $500, 600 flowers
IN round numbers, or say $500. 900 visits Tor
one pound OF honey.
Bending hard wood. especially beech, by
means of hot water or steam, Is known r. be
somewhat costly as regards fuel, and, m1fe-
over, requires long time. But an lnven-
ton has recently been brought from Ger
many, it appears, for making sieve hoops
and similar objects by . dry process, more
cheaply and in less time, from simple cut
wood. Two rollers are employed in thu
operation, one above the other, and having
less velocity, so that the upper acts By hold
ing back, while the lower extends the wooc
fibres. When the board, thus bent leaves
the rollers. it IL fastened in the mouth OF tn
meve tho upper roller IL duted, the undel
one smooth. II two smooth rollers wer!
used, . very much greater pressure would
Of ooursss % required,