Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-08-01
POPULAR SCIENCE.
Some Scientific Facts for the General
Reader.

Some Scientific Facts for the General
Reader.
CARBoLIc ACID IN Respiratory Dis
BAsEs.-A series of cases of phthisis and
chronic bronchitis, in which very decided
aud favorable results followed frequent
iuhalations of vapor of boiling water con-
tanning carbolic acid, are reported In the
Glasgow Medical Journal. Cases Of tibrous
phthlsis and chronic bronchitis, in which
there was excessive expectoration, were, 1t
seems, especially benefited by this method.
An inhaler, although convenient, is not
essential in the operation, pitcher or jug
holding boiling water being all that is
ueeded-care to. be taken to use it several
times in the day, and to inhale completely
the rising vapor, instead of merely draw
ing it int the mouth.
ISIPoRTANT DIsCovERY.-It is said that
cotton seed oil forms most satisfactory
substitute for lard. If so, it will effect
quite an important revolution, not only in
household economy but In the profits OF
cotton culture as well. Col. 0. 0. Nelson,
OF Huntsville, Ala, says he has repeatedly
used the oil at his rouse, and finds it equal
to the best article of lard. A hotel-keeper
at Memphis publishes statement to the
same effect. 1t has been tried by several
citizens of Tuscumbia, Ala, who say they
can discover no difference between the oil
and the lard. The re6ued oil is only about
one.h&lf the cost of lard. This vegetable
substitute for lard cannot meet with any
similar objection to that which is encoun-
tered by the oleomargarine manufacturer
in his substitute for butter. Should this
alleged discovery prove reality, 1t will
effect most important revolution in two
of the leading Industries of the country.
The EARTH'S INTERNAL STRESS. In a
paper recently read by G. II. Darwin, on
the internal effect caused by the weights OF
mountains and continents, it stated that
the existence of dry land proves that the
earth's surface is not figure of equilibrium
appropriate for the diurnal rotation
hence the interior of the earth must be in
q state of stress. Ii the earth be formed
of crust with a semi fiuid interior, the
stresses must be greater than if the whole
mass be solid. On evaluating the stress
differences arising from given ellipticity in
a rotating sphere of the size and density OF
the EARTH. II appears that If the excess or
defect OF elliptlcity above or below the
equilibrium were one-thousandtb, then the
stress-dilference at the center would be
eight tons per square inch !; and that If the
sphere were made of material as strong as
brass, it would be just ON the point of rup-
ture. Again, If the homogeneous earth,
with elhpticiJy of 232, were TO stop ro-
Eating, the central stress difference would
be thirty-three tons per square inch, and
1t would rupture if made of any material
OF less strength than the finest steel.
ELECTRIFIED CLoTH.-In a wax cloth
mandatory at Grlesheim, near Frankfort,
the finished pieces OF wax cloth are hung
up to dry in an artificially. heated room,
being supported in successive folds on
wooden bars placed across near the roof,
and the lower parts being about yard
above the floor. The air Is kept about a
day at the temperature OF 40 to GO c. By
means of the furnace gasses passing through
earthenware pipes in the ground, but also
and especially, an air current heated by
these. On opening the place 1.-THE heat
having been shut off for short intervai),
the wax cloth is found strongly electric:
The boys 90 under it to have their hair set
on end, and a distinct shock is received on
touching the cloth, more or less strong ac-
cording to the size of the piece The ex-
PLANTATION, as Herr Krebs says, is doubtless
TO be sought in friction by the hot air on
the wax.cloth in its rapid passage through
che room. This is the more probable,
since it has been noticed by the work.peo-
pie that the electric shocks are more
violent when the drying occurs in calm
weather, which favors the passage of the
air-current through the room.
IMPROVEMENT IN GUNNERY -Messrs.
krupp have succeeded in perfecting pro-
cess which will lead TO material reduction
IN the expenditure on ordnance for the
German navy and army. All the heavier
Knapp guns consist of steel body strength
ened by hoops, the 30s centimetre guns
having three tiers of hoops the 26-eenti-
metre and 24.centimetre two, and the re-
mainder one tier. be interior of the
body, or the bore of the gun, being the
part subjected to the greatest wear and
tear, becomes rapidly worn out, and hith-
erto it has been found necessary, after at
the very most l 900 rounds have been fired,
to melt up the whole gun on account OF the
damaged condition of the bore, although
the outer parts Of the piece were practic-
allv as good and sound as ever. Since the
construction OF these outer hoops is very
costly, the idea occurred to one OF the
members of the firm that it might be pos
sible to localizs the melting operation +;
aud this it has now been found possible to
accomplish by treating the body of the
piece with cold. producing preparation of
carboaic acid, which contracts it to such
an extent that the hoops, expanded at the
same time by the application of heat. can
be easily removed.
cRUgLLY TREATED coNy1crs