Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-06-23
CURIOUS, USEFUL AND SCIENTIFIC
BROMINE AS A DISINFECTANT.

BROMINE AS A DIsINFECTANT.
Bromine is likely TO go into extensive
use as a disinfectant, now that it can be
had in solid form, or, more strictly
speaking, as a compound which readily
yields the bromine, and which can easily
be transported. A Prussian chemist has
hit upon the happy idea of causing
bromine to be absorbed by silicious mari
or the shells of infusoria, which has
been employed to take up nitro glycerine
in order to make dynamite.
LUBRICATING OIL.
An oil for lubricating small articles,
and one that will remain fluid in varying
temperatures, is thus described by the
Journal of Industry: Take olive oil
and dissolve it in boiling alcohol; add
it drop by drop to the hot alcohol, until
it is no longer taken into solution. Upon
cooling, it will let fall crystals, and leave
a considerable portion still fluid; the fluid
part is to be poured off, filtered through
piece of white blotting paper, and
either used in this form, or the alcohol
may be distilled off for fresh processes,
and the pure lubricating oil which will
remain can be obtained for oiling watches
and delicate machinery. This will not
oxidize or gum up, and will remain per-
fectly fluid, even when exposed to great
cold.
A SENSIBLE WINDOW.
The American Journal of Industry
calls attention to an improved window
described in his late English papers. and
designed to do away with the Danger of
accident in cleaning windows, and also
furnish better and more regular ventila-
ton. Window cleaning has been fruit
full source of accidents, frequently at
tended with loss of life, owing to the ne
cessity of persons performing the work
having to get outside of the window.
The invention is simple, consisting of an
extra groove in the frame, fitted with
swing bearings, into which the sashes are
fixed. By this plan the windows are
readily reversed, so that they can be
cleaned from within. Perfect ventilation
is secured by the revolving arrangement.
The cost of applying the Improvement is
said to be quite small.
TO EBONIzE CHERRY WOOD.
The ebon1zing of cherry wood is now
very successfully accomplished by the
following simple process: Brazil wood,
powdered nutgalls, and alum are boiled
in water until a blackish color is obtained,
this liquid being filtered and applied to
the wood, which is next washed in
liquor made by digesting strong vinegar
and a little oil of vitriol for some time
with excess of iron turnings-the wood
after this being thoroughly washed,
dried, and oiled In the operation of
staining, the following method is found
most effective, viz: Four ounces of
gall nuts and one of powdered log-wood,
one-haf ounce green vitriol and the same
of verdigris, are boiled with water;
this solution, filtered hot, is applied to
the wood, and the latter is coated with
solution of one-half ounce of fine iron
filings dissolved by digestion in small
quantity of hot wine vinegar.
wHITE-METAL BEARINGS.
For some time it was judged by the
officers of the Frankfort and Zebra rail-
road, Germany, that the practice of
casting white-metal bearings around steel
axles had been the primary cause of sew
eral breakages on the line, and series
of experiments were consequently under
taken to ascertain the possibility of such
being the case. It appears from the
report that by repeating the casting
process number of times on the same
axle, it was found in every instance, and
with every kind of steel tested, cracks
appeared sooner or later-sometimes on
the second trial, sometimes not till the
forty-ffth. The white metal used con-
tanned seven parts copper, fourteen parts
anthony, and seventy-nine parts zinc,
and melted between $40 and 932 degrees,
F. Thus, there seemed to be no doubt
that the plan of casting white metal
round the axle is dangerous one.
BoRAX IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
According to the Lancet, M. Poll has
recently reported to one of the medical
societies of Lombardy the results Of
numerous experiments made by him to
ascertain the antiseptic properties of
various substances. 1t appears that the
energetic disinfecting power possessed
by boracic acid and borax, and the
facility with which these substances can
be absorbed into the economy, have led
M. Polli to recommend their use In
diseases concerning the Infectious nature
of which no doubt exists, or In which
sceptic conditions readily arise. He adj
duces several examples In which the
febrile conditions of tuberculosis under
went diminution. In chronic cystitis,
the muco-purulent discharge quickly
diminishes, and even altogether dis
appears in few days, and rapid i'm
provement has occurred In cases of bad
suppurating wounds, when applied ex-
ternally.
HOW TO MAKEAND Use GLUE.
A writer In the Furniture Gazette
gives some practical hints on glue and
gIueing. His method for making the