The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-01-19
THE DAILY BULLETIN.
POPULAR SCIENCE.

Recent experiments by Piazzoli mp.
pear TO establish the fact that the te-
nacity Of iron increases on magnctzl-
ton.
A new process of refining copper is
reported from Germany. IL is using
the phosphide of copper-or phos-
phor-copper--to get rid Of the oxide.
The common grinding and polishing
of glass articles, for various uses is ef-
fcctcd by revolving wheels Of iron,
stone or wood, horizontally mounted
and supplied with stream of water
from hopper or can above the wheel.
A good paint for wire-work is made
by boiling linsccd oil with rs much
litharge rs will make it Of the consis-
tency to be laid on with the brush;
add lanpblaCk at the rate OF one part
to every ten, by weight, Of litharge;
boil three hours over gentle fire.
Tho first coats should be thinner than
the following coats.
The uniform appearance Of the mi
crosCopc shells, and the almost total
absence among them Of any sediment
from the sea Of foreign matter, sug-
gests most forcibly the idea of perfect
rcposc at the bottom Of the sea. Some
of the specimens are rs pure and as
free from sand as the fresh fallen snow
flake Is from the dust Of the earth.
A new anBsthetic by W. Il. Mac
lcne is undergoing experiment by the
Edinburgh Odonto Chirurgical Socic-
~. Ii consists in combining the ad-
ministation or exhibition Of ethylen-
dichloride with nitrous oxide Gas ; and
this is effected by placing small
quantity Of the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES on
II little sponge held by a clip in the
way-tubc Of the nitrous oxide inhaler,
leaving space enough Oh each side OF
tie sponge Tor the free passage OF the
nitrous oxide.
Nitro-Glyccrine is produced by mix
ing glycerine with nitre and sulphuric
acid "a most dangerous and explosive
compound, much more powerful than
gunpowdcr. 1t Is used mostly for
blasting purposes in mines and quar-
ric9. The pure glycerinc isa swedish
liquid, without color or smell, and is
distilled from many fats and oils. 1t
will keep meat, fruit and flowers from
dccaying and natural history spCci-
mems are often preserved in it. As it
does not freeze easily it is added to
water in gas metres. The Russians
rub it Oh the face in Winter to prevent
being frosl-bittcn incxposed parts.
Herr Bottgcr says that there is no
method 50 convenient and 50 sure as
that by glucose in alkaline solution
for reducing the salt, Of silver. Take,
for example, chloride of silver freshly
precipitated aud wclI-waShcd. suspend
it in sufficient quantity of diluted
caustic soda, and add small portion Of
glucose. Ina few minutes, upon boil
ing, the reduction takes place. The
silver can be collected, washed, and
slightly calcincd, in order to obtain
the metal pure under the form OF a
light sponge of a dull white. The
same method furnishes an exceedingly
active platinum black, and with the
salts of copper it gives an oxide OF a
beautiful red.
Dr. lIuggins has found that certain
stars, such as Vega, give a complete
spectrum of hydrogen; Others, more
ycllowish in color, such as Sirius and
Ursa Major, shows a thinning of these
lines; others, again like Arcturus,
Aquila, and Nirginius show the III
trusion OF more pirangiblc lines while
Capclla give, a complex spectrum like
THAT OF the sun. The spectrum Of the
flame OF spirit lamp presentsa strong
group of lines, and he considers
it to represent the light emitted by
the molecules of water. The spectrum,
he considers, very sensitive test OF
the presence of carbon. These results
were lately illustrated by him at a
meeting Of the Physical Society, Lon
don, by Photographic spectra takenac-
cordiug TO his new method.