The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-07-03
sCIENTIFIC.

a Scientific Paradox. The very re-
markable phenomenon of ice and snow
forming in the brief space Of few
minutes when the temperature indi-
Gated 81 deg. Farenheit, and men were
workln" in their shirt sleeves, occurred
at the Union Pacific railroad compahy's
transfer depot. Andrew Rosewater,
who was near by, was called by the Ia
borers to witness the strange phenOm-
enon, and, if possible, explain it. TO
his surprise he observed large portion
of the surface Of barrel of gasoline
covered with about half an inch of
what appeared to be ice and snow. To
make sure he was not deceived he
touched it and really found it cold and
frosty matter, In semi-solid state, re-
sembling snow In that peculiar half
frozen and thawing condition to which
the term slush Is usually applied. He
next took q portion to his lips, and,
though cold upon touch, 1t Immediately
dissolved into gaseous vapor, emitting
the distasteful odor of kerosene. Mr..
kosewater, who now became consider
ably interested in the phenomenon,
scraped OIL all the formation from the
surface. Under 1t he observed very
line streak between the slaves of the
barrel, through which, when it was
the gasoline seemed to leak. The men
who stood by then Informed him that
II he turned the barrel 50 that it would
leak, the formation of snow and ice
would begin. This he accordingly did,
and sure enough, instead Of seeing the
huld drop steadily upon the floor,
rapidly formed coating of frozen mat
ter, and IN less than five minutes a
surface of about eight by six inches
was covered with layer, a quarter of
an inch In thickness, OF snow and ice.
MIR. Rosewater states that tho only the
ory upon which lie can explain this
phenomena is that gasoline, like ether
and several other fluids, Is Of so volatile
nature that upon the slightest expos
ure it will vaporize. 1t is well-kuown
fact that all substances when changing
from solid to fluid, or fluid to q
Vapor Or gaseous condition, consume a
certain quantity Of heat in so doing.
IL IS thus that the outer surface of the
gasoline In dropping forms into vapor,
and, in 80 doing, rapidlp absorbs the
heat of the adjoining layer, making it
quite cold, and each layer in success
sion, as 1T evaporates, absorbs In turn
the heat of the other layer until so
much heat has been absorbed that ice
and snow are formed. It is thus that
spray of ether steadily poured against
a tin cup full of water will, by the
ether's rapid evaporation, absorb so
much heat from the water within the
cup as to freeze it,
A letter in the Florentine Malone
states that most interesting expert
ment was recently made at the Roman
Swimming Baths, 1t would appear
that certain Professor Balsamo' of
Lecce, has invented some mechanism
by means of which vessels are to be
propelled aJ will in any given
direction without recourse being had
to screw or rudder. The efficiency of
this new propeller was tested by means
Of miniature ironclad to which it was
applied. Though small, this vessel,
constructed by the professor himself,
was modelled on tho type of the largest
ironclad afioat, and was furnished with
furnace, cylinder with piston, steam
condenser, etc. The secret OF the new
propeller is not disclosed, no further
clew being given than that its aim is
not to allow the course Of the vessel to
be altered In virtue of the passive re-
slstance of the surface of the rudder,
but In virtue of component motive
forces varying according to resultant
motion required, titus utilizing nearly
the whole live force developed by the
engines. The experiment was made
In the presence of Admirals Albini and
Pucci, commissioned to report to the
ministry of war, as we'll as of several
professors of the Roman University
and the heads OF various scientific in
stitutes.
Raising Cream 6Y Centrifugal Force
German inventors have for some time
been attempting to accomplish the
quick separation Of cream in fresh
milk with the aid Of centrifugal ma
chimes; as the result CT their efforts we
may perhaps soon look for quite revo-
luton In dairy matters, since what
now requires several hours may be .as
we'll done in one hour or less. The
hrst attempts were far from successful;
but by the latest Improvement the
cream is drawn off while the Vessel
containing it is still in rapid motion
instead Of after stopping it and waiting
Till the milk had become quiet. The
apparatus is made with a capacity of
either 100 or 200 quarts; after it has
been revolving rapidly for twenty or
thirty minutes, and Is still in motion.
quantity Of skim milk Is allowed to
flow in; as the vessel was already full
before, the cream is crowded out and
escapes through an opening provided
for the purpose. Thus from 80 to 90
per cent of the cream may be obtained
In this short space Of time. We are
informed that an American inventor
has been recently working in the same
direction, and somewhat Oh the same
plan, and that with mis- apparatus he
mas so completely removed. the cream
III fifteen minutes that when the skim
milk was set aside for twenty-four
hours, hardly any cream was deposited,
and that he made butter from the milk
within an hour after it was drawn
from the COW.
HOW shaving OrIQInatAd.