New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1879-02-05
MECHANICAL AND SCIENTIFIC.

The Papier Zeitung says: .'Any
ordinary drawing-paper may be pre-
pared for making indelible such pencil
marks as are put upon it by laying the
paper carefully on the surface of bath
consisting of warm solution of
bleached colophonium in alcohol, until
the entire surface is moistened. 1t is
then dried by hot air. After the draw
ing is made the paper is again warmed
on stove."
Recent investigations made by mi
croscOpists with the most improved
microscopes reveals the astonishing
fact that the atmosphere contains at
least hundred times more germs than
has been stated, and probably the num-
bers will be increased if the future in
struments surpass the perfection of
those now in use. The average number
Of microbia of the air, small in winter,
augments rapidly in spring, remains
stationary in summer and diminishes
in autumn.
"A simple method by which the
purity OF water may be tested is the
following: A pint of water is to be
placed in clear bottle perfectly clean,
and lump about the size of pea of
the purcst and whitest loaf-sugar is to
be dropped into it. The bottle is then
to be laid on a sheet of paper and ex-
posed to the sun on shelf or window
of the room, and allowed to remain
eight or ten days. If, after time, the
water becomes turbid, it shows that it
contains foreign organic matter, prob
ably resulting from sewage infiltra-
ton. According to Prof. Franklin,
who suggests the experiment, the col
grafton of the water results from the
fungoid growths which are developed
by the sugar, and from traces of phos-
phoric acid derived from the organic
matter.
m. Duponchel, Engineer-in-C Chief
of the Ponts-et- Chaussees, was lately
sent out to Algeria to examine the
geological formation of the land to the
south of the colony, with view to the
establishment of trans-Saharan rail-
way, and to explore as far as practical
bic the borders of the great desert. He
has now made his report, from which
it appears that the projected railway
would run from Algiers to Timbuctoo,
distance of about 1900 miles. The
great difficulty to be overcome would
be the want of water. NJ. Duponchel
considers that this even can be sur
mounted. He calculates that, for three
trains daily, the amount of water re-
quired would be 1900 cubic meters,
and believes that the engineering
science of the day is quite sufficient to
supply even much greater quantity
at the requisite points.
New uses have been found for the
Erie Canal. It is to be used not only
as route of transportation, but as q
shopping street. The furniture deal
crs in Utica are greatly exercised over
floating furniture mandatory on
the canal, which has been anchored in
the canal at that city for the winter.
In this operation, three canal boats are
employed. One is used as a manufac-
tory, one is elegantly fitted up as o
show and salesroom, and the third ia
used for storage of furniture. The ap-
pearance of this fotilla at Utica, and
its competition with street dealers who
pay large rents, have caused quite a
CONSERVATION among the latter. In
other sections, enterprising brewers
have fitted up boats and are selling
lager along the canal. In the winter
months these new enterprises are COM
PEELED to tie up in some city, but when
navigation again opens, they are ex-
pected to traverse the canal.
In Washington, the other night,
DR.. King lectured before the Medical
Society on The Conservative Influence
of Disease in Producing Longevity
He labored to prove that disease was
not the terrible enemy to mankind that
it had been painted by the terrors of
humanity, but in reality was a true and
benefcent friend. He quoted from the
celebrated DR.. Austin Flint that "the
existence Of disease, rightly considered,
was an inestimable boom" He said
that disease was not, in itself, better
than health, but that it tends to pro-
mote longevity, relatively to circum-
stances. He cited morbitic conditions
known as gastritis, rheumatism, hem
orrhage, mumps, and insisted, with an
earnestness that commanded attention
and subtlety of logic that inspired re-
spect for his originality of thought,
that these diseases prevented sudden
death. In gastritis the patient naturally
refrained from eating, and demanded
copious draughts of cold water, treat
ment which the most skillful surgeon
found to be the best. In rheumatism
the acute pain demanded rest, and rest
was found to be just the thing needed,
for the articular symptoms proved that
heart disease was the real enemy, and
muscular exertion was the most fatal
thing for affection of the heart. So
with other diseases.
PERSONAL AND LITERARY.