Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-01-17
SCIENTIFIC SCRAPS.

ANIMAL ELECTRICTTY. - An important
paper on the results of recent researches il
animal electricity is published in the Ma
tire. The author, DR.. L. Herman, state;
that the whole of the electrical phenomena
of muscle and nerve may be readily de.
duced from very few simple propositions.
Irritable protoplasm responds both to de-
structive and exciting influences by an
electromotive sign. The altered substance
takes on a negative potential with respect
to the unaltered. This, together with the
doctrines of internal transverse polarization
and of the polarizational increment of ex-
citation, appears fully competent to ex-
plain all the facts hitherto observed.
INSTRUMENT TO Detect Color BLIND
NEsS.-Herr Hirschberg has devised an
improved instrument for detecting color
blindness, which may be of interest, as the
incapacity OF many employees of railroads,
steamboats,, ETC., to distinguish colors is
attracting much attention in this country
His apparatus is an adaptation of the spec
troscope to the requirements of the special
case. The spectroscope contains fixed
and a movable collimator tube, so that one
spectrum can be moved above the other
By means of slide in the eye-piece any
portion of the double spectrum may be pre-
sented to the eye alone, and will then con-
stitute good object for comparison.
1NCoMBUSTIBLEAND lAIPERMEABLE WooD.
Nj. Folbacci uses the following preparation /:
Sulphate of zinc 50 lbs, potash % lbs, alum
"A lbs, oxide of manganese % lbs, sulphuric
acid of CO., % lbs, water % lbs. All the
solid ingredients are put into boiler con-
-. Al /, l
as soon as they are dissolved the sulphuric
acid is poured in gradually until the mass
is completely saturated. The pieces of
wood are kept about five centimeters Q.77
in. apart, and after three hours boiling
they are dried in the open air. The natural
appearance of the wood is not changed to
whatever heat it is subjected, it resists
combustion, the surface being simply COW
cred with thin charred coating which is
easily rubbed of. Il Ann. du Genie Civil
ANTIsEPTIC FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
Prof. Klebs, of Prague, announces that the
benzoate of soda is the best antiseptic in
all infectious diseases. 1t acts, as the ex-
periments of the author show, very pow
erfully. 1t is claimed that daily dose of
from 80 to so grammes to full-grown man
will render the poison of diphtheria mop
erative. The benzoate is prepared by dis
solving crystallized benzoic acid in water,
neutralizing at a slight heat with solution
of caustic soda, drying and then allowing
the solution to crystalline over sulphuric
acid under bell glass. Large doses do
not appear to be absolutely necessary.
Good results may be obtained by the daily
administration of about grammes.
THE CAMPHoR EDDIEs.-If small bit
of camphor is laid upon water it begins
turning and moving about with great "a
pidity. If few grains of locopodium or
other light powder have been previously
scattered on the water they are drawn
towards the camphor by eddies in an inverse
direction. These phenomena were at first
observed in l74S by Romien, who attrib-
uted them to the difference of electricity
between the water and the camphor. Sub
sequent investigators thought they might
be due to the camphor vapor striking the
water and producing recoil. NJ. Casa
major has resumed the study of the ques-
ton and adopted the views Of Romien.
He instances the following crucial expert
ment At the same time that the bits of
camphor are thrown upon the water insert
a glass rod which has been rubbed with
flannel; the motion Immediately stops. If
the electricity is removed from the rod by
rubbing it with n-foil, it lessons its power
of checking the eddies. Les Mondes.
The CoLoRING OF AUTUMN LEAVES. -
The green coloring matter of leaves has
been recently re-investigated by NJ. Frenzy,
and his results shed some light on the
cause of the celebration OF autumn leaves,
although further study is still necessary to
account for the manifold brilliant tints to
be found in American autumn foliage. NJ
Fremys previous studies on chlorophyl
tended to prove that it was not simple
coloring matter, but composed of two
different substances-a yellow which he
named Ply lloxanthin and blush green
named Phyllocyanic acid. His more re-
cent investigations have had for their object
to ascertain in what conditions these
constituents of chlorophyl exist in the
organic tissue, whether mixed or combined,
suspended in the liquid or united with the
cellular tissue. By means OF experiments,
he finds that they exist in the leaves as
mere mixture. 1t yet remains to ascertain
whether the phyllocyanic existed in free
state or combined with base or united
with the cellular tissues by sort OF capil-
larry affinity. Analysis showed the pres
ence of notable quantity of potassa.
The green matter of leaves, then, can be
considered as phyllocyanate of pOtassa,
mixed with phylloxanthin. cit has long
been known" says NJ. Frenzy, that
leaves in autumn lose their green appear
ance, changing to Yellow, and also give off
large portion Of their alkali. Now we
know that this process depends upon the
decomposition Of the phyllecyanate OF
potassa.-[Ex,