The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-03-24
SCIENTIFIC.

Copper has been detected in the soil
of church yard, and in portions of e1-
humed bodies.
A new scientific instrument is the
e'rluviometer," which registers the
quantity of rain falling within a certain
period, and the duration and hour of
the fall.
According to London journal, the
orange specks of the gaslights along the
Thames embankment were seen TO shine
dimly through a recent fog while the
brilliant white glare of the electric
lamps was indistinguishable.
Mr.. w. N. Lockington states that
of three hundred and eight species of
fishes, mostly marine, occurring on the
Pacific coast, all but thirty-seven are
found in California. OF the five hum
dred and forty fresh-water species
known in the United States, but thirty
seven are found in California.
The authorities of the postoffice in
Glasgow, Scotland, are about to mako
arrangements for the permanent light
ing of the main departments of the
building with the Compton electric
system. Satisfactory experiments had
been made with that system for some
time in the sorting room and in the tel
egraph instrument Office.
If aloes are believed to be present in
cordials, elixirs, liquors, or beer, Hugo
Borntrager gives this rapid method OF
testing the question: A portion of the
liquid is well shaken with twice its
volume of benzine, and the behavior of
the mixture with ammonia is observed.
If no red coloration is apparent. aloes
ooy, <p1x, bo r,vocouf II, uo,-v If
quantity or not there at all.
With the view of approximately as
certaining how long after death phos-
phorus can be detected in cases of poi
soning, DR.. L. Medicus killed hen
with that substance. Twenty-three
days afterward the fowl was dissected.
The digestive organs were observed to
be quite luminous, and the presence of
phosphorus was easily detected.
Opium is harvested in this manner in
the Province of Kweichow, China: AS
soon as the petals fall an incision is
made in the poppyhead with a small
three -bladed knife again and again,
until all the milky juice escapes and is
secured in bamboo tube. When the
juice is dried in the sun and turns
black it is considered fit for market.
According to the experiments of M.
Grehant, air containing 1900 of its
volume of carbon dioxide proved fatal
to dog which inhaled it for fifty min
utes. With another dog of the same
size the fatal dose was 1-250. A rabbit
resisted various proportions of mixtures
of air and carbon dioxide until the lat
ter rose to 1-6O of the volume of air;
while sparrow died with $500
A new method of producing light
from electricity has been patented in
England. Small balls of platinum or
iridium are arranged at the ends of
small platinum rods enclosed in pairs
in the center of a suitable globe, and a
rapid succession of sparks is passed be
tween them, whereby they are raised to
incandescent heat. A disadvantage is
the noise attendant on the rapid sparks.
An easy method for showing whether
butter is adulterated with beef fat has
been submitted by Hager. He satu-
rates a cotton wick with suspected
sample, which is first melted. He then
lights the wick and permits it to burn
for. about two minutes. At the end of
that time, when the wick is extinguish-
ed, an odor like that given by tallOw
candle when its flame is blown out is
readily perceived if the butter is arti-
fetal.
The Photographic News describes q
detective camera, the invention of Mr..
Bolas. 1t is like shoeblack's block,
and may be slung over the shoulder
with a strap. 1t carries gelatine plates
already in position and lens that is
always in focus for any distance from
twenty to thirty feet. 1t may be drop
ped in the street any time the owner
sees group he wants picture of.
When it touches the ground a bulb is
and the exposure is made.