The Russellville Democrat., 1879-11-13
MECHANICAL AND SCIENTIFIC.

-1nc presence Ol afnluOD1H III WdtSI of existing seas is general, although its quantity is variable. It exists to nota- ble extent in gypsum, which, being a sedimentary formation, gives evidence that ammonia was also in the ocean water of the seas of early geological times.
 --C6rnhin tells of man who, being bit ten by cat which died of hydrophobia. was attacked by symptoms of the disease, and cured himself by violent physical exercise in the open air, although he suffered greatly. His physician says he was cured by a violent effort of the will.
 Dynamite was used with economy and success in removing the snags which obstructed navigation in the Waikato River, New Zealand. By means of a plain wooden tube, having piece of glass in the bottom of the part of the snag to be bored for, the charge was cas- fly selected. One peculiarity of the ac- tion of the explosive has been noted the stumps were invariably cut off clean at the bottom of the augur-hole, leaving a surface as flat as that which would be left by cross-c,it saw.
 The British Medical Journal remarks that during the last time the plague was epidemic at Vetrjanka, Russia, not a sim gle case occurred among the Kalmucks, who lived not very far from that place. The fact is surprising, as the Kalmucks live totally regardless of sanitary rules. Their religion does not permit them to eat flesh except that of animals which are found dead. They do not bury the bodies of persons who die, but simply throw them into the fields; and in person they are far from being clean. The con clusion seems to be that anti-hygienic conditions alone do not produce the plague, and that there is some other agent to which this disease is really due.
 The busy bee on Long Island has utilized novel receptacle for his hon. eyed product. The ancient homestead of the Van Brunt family stands Tn the town of New Utrecht. For 220 years it has weathered the storms which have beaten upon itsshingled sides. Recently repairs were needed, and workmen in tearing off the shingles which covered it in lieu of clapboards found their further progress opposed by an immense swarm of honey bees, which dwelt between the outer and inner walls, and resisted the destruction of their hive. By aid of sul- phur the bees at length were overcome, and forty pounds of honey were cap tured.
 --Dr. Moesta, ageologist, while search ing in the vicinity of Rotenburgh, on the Fulda, discovered subterranean oak forest, at depth of eight feet under the ground. The number of well preserved trunks is enormous. The wood is as black as Irish bog oak, in consequence of the influence of water for centuries; but it is hard and sound and an excellent material for wood carving and mosaic. The size of the trunks is astonishing. One of them, about IS metres, or 730 inches, in length, and 1.50 metres, or 60 inches, in breadth, has been preserved for exhibition at the Royal Museum at Berlin. The forest evidently belongs to a very remote period in the formation of the globe.
 A beautiful novelty, recently intro duced, says the Fdrber Zeitcng, is that of gilded and silvered feathers. It is chiefly goose feathers and the wings of pigenos which are selected for this curious art, and the process is quite simple. The feather is dipped in bronze powder and rubbed with piece of wash leather. In course of wearing, however, the bronze. thus acquired would, necessarily, be Very easily detached. To prevent this, the feather, before being dipped in the bronze powder is taken through gum water, pressed nearly dry through clothes, and in it's slightly adhesive state IS treated with bronze powder. Partially bronzed feathers and wings are also pro- duced by simply covering those parts which are to remain plain with paste board, and the bronze powder Is rubbed upon the rest with feather, a fine effect being thus obtained.