The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-08-14
USEFUL AND SCIENTIFIC.

DIR. B. w. RICHARDSON, who first in
England investigated the merits of Lie
brech's discovery of hydrate of chloral
as narcotic, says that after ten: years
he almost regrets that he took any part
in its introduction, and he ranks the
toxicants in the following order as to
extent of use or misuse: Alcohol, tobac-
co, opium, absinthe, choral hydrate,
chloradyne, ether and chloroform.
ACCORDING to the London Lancet it
is, doubtless, in the first instance, as the
cause of local skin disease that paper
collars prepared with arsenic in some
form are deleterious; but when once the
cuticle has been removed the toxic eff
fects may become general, because the
absorption is then very likely to take
place. 1t is impossible that arsenious
acid can be used unwittingly. As a
matter of fact, white paper is often pre-
pared with this poison, and if it is
brought into close contact with any ab-
sorptive surface evil consequences may
ensue. 1t is time that the process Of
manufacture should be placed under Of
fetal inspection, if, for the sake Of
cheapness or to give artificial luster to
their goods, makers will use dangerous
dyes and dressings, regardless of every
thing but their own commercial success.
The recent investigation by two
French doctors of the influence of men
tai labor on the growth of the brain and
skull was full of interest. They meas
ured the heads of persons of many diff
ferent pursuits, educated as well as H.
literate. The results were in favor of
educated men leading an intellectual
life; that is to say, the heads of these
men were much more fully developed
than those of other men. It was found
that both halves of the head were not
always symmetrically developed. In
students, for example, the development
of the left frontal region was fuller than
that of the right; but in illiterate sub
jects the right occipital region was larger
than the left. In the students the 'front.'
al region was more developed than the
occipital; in illiterate subjects the oc-
cipital region was the largest.
A NEW and very simple Photographic
process is largely coming into use
among engineers and architects for
copying drawings, engravings, etc. A
solution which is quite sensitive to the
light is made by dissolving 7 s OF. OF
ammoniocitrate of iron and 1 IA or. of
ferrocyanide of potassium in 16 OF. of
water. Paper of any kind, though a
fair quality Of drawing paper is the best,
may be sensitized by carefully brushing
the surface with sponge dipped in the
solution. Of course the making of the
solution and sensitizing the paper must
be done in darkened room. After the
paper is dry, it is placed on a board
covered with few thicknesses of cloth,
to form a cushion, the drawing laid on
it, and III whole covered with piece of
glass. Ten or fifteen minutes exposure
to the bright sunlight is generally
enough, and the picture is rendered
permanent by washing the paper for
some time with water. The parts of the
paper exposed to the light will be turn
ed to deep blue, while those protected
by the lines Of the drawing are white.
DEATH FROM LIGHTNING. Nearly
all the medical authorities, and those
who have been fortunate enough to re-
cover from stroke of lightning, agree
that the electricity acts with such ex-
IRENE rapidity as to be abs olutely pain
less. Prof. Tyndall relates that while
standing in the presence of an audience,
and about to lecture, he accidentally
touched wire leading from charged
battery of Is large Leyden jars. Life
was absolutely blotted out for a very
sensible interval, without a trace of
pain. In another second or so con-
seriousness returned. He saw himself in
the presence of the audience and in con-
tact with the apparatus, and realized
that he had received the discharge. The
intellectual consciousness of his position
was restored with exceeding rapidity,
but not so the optical consciousness. To
prevent the audience being alarmed, he
stated that it had often been his desire
to receive, accidentally, such shock,
and his wish had at length been graft
fed. But while making this explanation,
the appearance which his body present.
ed to himself was that of being in sep
arate pieces. His arms, for example,
seemed to be detached from his body
and suspended in the air. Memory and
the power of reasoning and speech were
complete long before the optic nerve re-
covered from the electric shock.
The Boy GOethe's Duel.
There was war at one time between