Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-12-31
CURIOUS AND SCIENTIFIC.
A GOOD GLUE,


GOOD GLUE.
Any fbrous mat erial can be stuck to
metal, whether iron or other metal, by
an amalgam composed of good glue dis
solved in hot vinegar with one third of
its volume of white pine pitch, also hot
This composition it is said, will give a
sure and certain result.
THE MIoRoPBoNE.
The Crossley modification of Hughes
microphone, which has been successfully
used as transmitter for telephones, SO
that church services are enjoyed by in
dividuals at their homes, is very sim.
pie continuance. 1t consists Of four
short rods of carbon jointed loosely into
four blocks of carbon, so that the whole
forms square.
NEW APPLICATION OF PAPER.
The Journal of Applied Science draws
attention to the substitution of paper
for wood, in Germany, in the msnufac-
ture of lead pencils. The paper is
stepped in an adhesive liquid and rolled
around the core of lead to the required
thickness. After drying it is colored to
represent an ordinary cedar pencil. The
pencils thus made sell in London at
about IS cents gross.
MECHANICAL GYMNASTICS.
A system of mechanical gymnastics has
recently been introduced by M. lander
of Stockholm. The various apparatus
are worked by steam, and are meant to
take the place of the gymnastics in Or
binary ESTABLISHING nts which work and
twist the joints of the person exercised,
Each apparatus corresponds to a special
movement. The system is said to be
especially adapted to weak and delicate
persons, as it is possible to graduate the
force of the machine very delicately be-
tween given maximum and minimum.
ARsENICAL DYES.
Notwithstanding all that has been
written on the subject the use of arsenic
in dyes and coloring matters continues
to be the cause of wide spread mischief.
We see by foreign journals that in France
the project of the Department du Nord
has just issued notice to book binders
and others concerning the danger incur.
red by the use of colors which have for
their basis arsenic or copper. These are
often employed in coloring papers or
the edges of books bound with green.
in case of any accident arising from
them the binders are liable not only to
civil damages, but for a criminal Of
fence.
COLORING BRASS.
In coloring and lacquering brass work,
says The Engineer, browns of all shades
are obtained by an immersion in solu-
ton of nitrate or the perchloride of iron,
the strength of the solution determining
the depth of color. Violets are produced
by dipping in a solution of chloride of
anthony. Chocolate is obtained by
burning on the surface of the brass
moist red oxide of iron, and polished
with very small quantity of blacklead
Olive-green results from making the sur
face black by means of a solution Of
iron and arsenic in muriatic acid, polish
ed with blacklead brush, and coating
it, when warm, with lacquer composed
of one part of lae-varnish, four of tuner
ic, and one of gamboge.
CURIOUS PHENOMENON.
LIE small bit of camphor is laid upon
water it begins turning and moving
about with great rapidity. If a few
grains of lycopodium or other light pow
der have been previously scattered on
the water they are drawn toward the
camphor by eddies in an inverse direc-
ton. These phenomena were observed
in 1748 by Romieu. Cassamajor has,
says Les Morsdes, resumed the study of
the question and adopted the views of
Romieu. He instances the following
crucial experiment: At the same time
the bits of camphor are thrown upon the
water insert q glass rod which has been
rubbed with flannel, the motion imme-
diately stops. lie the electricity is re-
moved from the rod by rubbing it with
tinfoil it loses its power of checking the
eddies.
A SINGULAR EXPLOSION.
The attention of the French Academy
of Sciences has been directed by M.
Delessa to remarkable and singular ex-
plosion of carbonic acid in coal pit at
Rochebelle, in the Department of the
Gard. There was no firedamp in the
mine. At a depth of 345 metres, two
miners heard to loud reports, but saw no
fame. Almost instantly their lamps
were extinguished. Soon the men became
so faint that it was with difficulty they
managed to reach the cage which brought
them in safety to the surface; but three
men at a much higher elevation in the
workings were smotnered. Near the
mine is large mass OF iron pyrites,
which give off sulphuric acid, and this