Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-12-18
USEFUL NFORMATION.

IHE VALUE OF FRUITS AS EOOD.-A
contributor to the report of the Michi-
gan P Pathological Society writep: Fruits
directly aid in maintaining the essential
equilibrium in the system. The n1alic
acid of apples and kindred fruits, the
tartaric acid of grapes and berries, the
citric acid of lemons, ETC., consists
largely of oxygen, the element of COM
bustion, so that when eaten in sufficient
quantity these fruits serve as the heat
producing element. Also the fluids
which they supply aid in carrying
of, through the lungs, skin and kid
neys, the waste of the system, matter
no less essential to life than is food it.
SELF"
The Uses OF THE LEMON piece
of lemon bound upon corn will re-
ieve it in a day'or so. It should be re-
newed night and morning. The free
use of lemon-iuice and sugar will a.
ways relieve cough. A lemon eaten
before breakfast every day for q week
or two will entirely prevent that feeling
of lassitude peculiar to the approach OF
spring. Perhaps its most valuable
property is its absolute power of de-
tecting any of the injurious and even
dangerous ingredients entering into the
composition of SO very many of the
cosmetics and face powders in the mar
ket. Every lady should subject her
toilet-powder to this test. Place Il
teaspoonful of the suspected powder i'll
q glass, and add the juice of a lemon.
If effervescence takes place it is an in
failible proof that the powder is dan,
gerous and its use should be avoided,
as it will ultimately iniure the skin and
destroy the beauty of the complexion.
How're RENDER WooD TNcoMBUsTIBLE.
Tho following compound is claimed
to render wood incombustible without
affecting its natural color: Sulphate
Of zinc, 30 pounds; American potash,
22pounds; American alum, A pounds:
oxide ofmanganese, 22pounds ;sul phuric
acid of go degrees strength, % pounds,
and water, 55 pounds. The solids are
first placed in an iron vessel containing
the water at temperature OF 55 degreas
centigrade, and, when they are dis
solved, the sulphuric acid is added, in
small quantities at time, until the
whole is saturated. ~The wood is then
laid, with half an inch space between
each piece, on iron gratings on a suita-
bic apparatus, into which the mixture
is pumped until all the spaces are filled.
Heat is applied and the wood is boiled
in the mixture for about three hours,
when it is taken out and dried for use
in the open air. After this treatment,
it is said, wood resists very intense
heat, its surface only being charred
slowly, while its fiber remains intact.
FIRE-PRooF CoMPosITIoNs.-Various
combinations of ammonia and borax
have been suggested in Paris for
rendering textile fabrics uninfamma-
bic. Here is one. applicable to all
kinds of goods: Sulphate of ammonia
(pure), 8 kilos; carbonate of ammonia,
2.5 kilos; boracic acid, S kiios; borax
(pure), IL kiles; starch, 8 kilos; water,
100 kilos. 1t is simply necessary 10
steep the fabrics in hot solution COM
posed as above, until they have become
thoroughly impregnated, after which
they are drained and dried sufficiently
to enable them to be ironed or pressed
like starched goods. A second com.
position to be used for theatrical seen
cry Tor the mounted but implanted can
vas to be used for this purpose), and
also for woodwork. furniture, 6oor and
window-frames, ETC., is to be applied hot
with a brush like ordinary paint.
1t is composed of boracic acid, 8 kilos;
hydrochlorate of ammonia or sal am
moniac, Is kilos; potassic feldspar,
5 kilos; gelatine, 1.5 kilos; size, so
kilos; water, 100 kilos; towhich is added
sufficient quantity of suitable calca-
reous substance to give the composition
sufficient body or consistency. Another
composition, applicable to all kinds of
paper, whether printed or not, including
securities, books etc., is formed of SUI
phate of ammonia (pure), s kilos; boz
racic acid, 8 kilos; borax, IL kilos; wa
ter 100 kilos. The solution is heated
to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. If the pa
per be in sheets or printed, it is simply
immersed in the solution, spread out to
dry, and afterward pressed to restore
the glaze destroyed by the moisture.
The above compositions insure high
degree of incombustibility. The pro-
portions of the several ingredients are
given as examples only, and may be va.
ried as found necessary in practice.