The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-03-09
POPULAR SCIENCE.

Water in which flax has been stepped not
only kills fish but is injurious to vegetation.
Although he had examined over 100
hearts of children and grown-up people, DIR.
Langier discovered blood-vessels in the heart
valves in only one case, that of woman of
sixty, in whom they are evidently the result
of a pathological process,
The well-known lemon verbena Is syste-
matically gathered in Spain, where it is re-
gsrded as fine stomachic and cordial, used
in the form of decoction. 1t is said that
/ # it be used one need never suffer from
tiatulence, nervousness, diarrhea or loss OF
appetite.
after an experience of fifteen years he has
found nothing to equal the following as a
cement for leather betting: Common glue
and isinglass, equal parts, soaked for ten
hours in just enough water to cover them.
Bring gradually to boiling heat and pure
tannin until the whole becomes ropy or ap.
pears like the white of eggs. Buff off the
surface to be joined, apply the cement, and
clamp firmly.
At a recent meeting of the Royal Horti-
cultural Society of England Mr.. Shirley
Hibberd exhibited lot of homegrown
water-cIesses which created considerable
interest among the members. The display
consisted of a series of pans fifteen inches
in diameter, each filled with a luxurious
growth of the tender crosses. The exhibitor
claims that the pan culture of watercresses
may be proftably pursued with the aid of
frame or cool plant house during the Sc
verest winter weather. The crosses shown
were produced in the course of six weeks,
and had been daily gathered for the table,
thus showing how rapidly andsprolific they
grow. According to the testimony of Mr.
Hibberd any one may supply his table with
this wholesome ana delicious salad any time
of year without much trouble or expense
Scientific American.
The following is said to be an excellent
method of fastening cloth to the top of the
tables, desks, etc. Make mixture of two
and one-quarter pounds of wheat flour, two
tablespoonfuls ofpowdered alum; rub the
mixture in suitable vessel, with water, to
uniform, smooth paste; transfer that to a
small kettle over fire and stir until the
paste is perfectly homogeneous without
Jumps. As soon as the mass has become so
stiff that the stirrer remains upright in it
transfer it to another vessel and cover it up
so that no skin may form on its surface
This paste is applied in very thin layer to
the surface of the table; the cloth, or the
leather is then laid and pressed upon it and
smooJhed with roller. The ends are cut
off after drying. If leather is to be fastened
on, this must first be moistened with water.
The paste is then applied and the leather
rubbed smooth with cloth.
What a wonderful thing the venom of a
serpent isl Chemical analysis fails to de-
tect anything in it to account for its action.
Water, little albumen, some mineral
salts, and traces of mucus, epithelial cells,
etc, Jumped together as 'extractive."
Nothing more-nothing specific about it at
all Tasteless, colorless and inodorous it may
be rubbed on the sound skin, or applied to
the eye, or taken into the mouth without
any result whatever. The bites of different
kinds of snakes produce different effects;
some act as depressant to the vascular
system, some as a powerful mar ,otic, some
cause Inflammation of the spine, while
others seem to give rise TO disorgsnization
of the structural constituents of the blood.
All are attended more or less with rigors,
delirium syncope, commissions, paralysis and
coma. Whether the poisons of any two or
more species are identical l do not know
it seems probable; but in the FIVE species
with which l have experimental on myself
so far L have found five distinct and sepa-
rate venoms.