New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1881-07-13
SCIENTIFIC.

Vines are said to extract yearly from
the soil only about three fourths Of the
quantity Of potash and phosphorfc acid
that the cereals take up.
Underground cables for telegraphic
purposes are being laid in France from
Nancy to Paris. A line OF twelve in-
sulated wires is placed in large tube
of cast iron. At suitable distances doors
are constructed SO that q section can be
removed and replaced without having
to open the ground, as in Germany,
where the cables arc imbedded in as
phalt.
As the result of his personal obser-
vations, N. Carlet states that the walk
ing of insects may be represented by
that of three men in Indian file, the
foremost and bindmost of whom keep
step with each other, while the middle
one walks in the alternate step. The
walking of arachnids can be represented
by four men in file, the even-numbered
ones walking in the alternate step.
Mr.. E. Bright has described to the
Society of Electricians, England,
method of diselectrifying dry wool, mo-
hair and alpaca SO as to enable these
substances to be spun with facility. II
consists in putting the b0bbins into an
exhausted chamber of iron having =
metallic connection with the earth. The
raretied air permeates the yarn and
discharges the electricity in from ten 70
thirty minutes.
Besides tho superheated steam SYSTEM
of Barff, and the heated-air system oil
Bower for preserving iron from rust, =
new method for efecting the same puf.
pose has been invented by Mr.. Wartt,
London. It Is called s.inoxidizing."
The articles are coated with silicato
composition, and heated in furnace
until the composition is fused into tho
metal. The result is said to be very
satisfactory.
Some of the remedies for disease
sought out by modern medical science
| are peculiar. Fuchsine-a bright ami
line dye-was, not long since, recon-
mended in Bright's disease, and now we
have nitro-glycerine as q remedy for
certain chest affections. It is given.in
doses of fifteen drops of one-per-cent
alcoholic solution, and is also sold in
tablets for prevention of seasickness and
the relief of neuralgia, headache, etc.
i A paper on the presence of alcohol in
the earth, in the water, and in the air
was read on March z, before the French
Academy of Sciences. The author, NJ.
Muntz, has developed the method de-
pending on the change of alcohol into
iodoform, so that one-millionth of alco-
hol in water can be detected. Alcohol
is found in all natural waters except
Il ~.
quantity in snow. Rain water and tho
water of the Seine contain about one
gramme per cubic metre. Alcohol no
doubt also exists as vapor in the atmos-
phere. In soils, especially those which
are very rich in organic matter, there is
considerable quantity. The wide diff
fusion of alcohol in nature is due to the
destruction of Organic matter by vari-
Gus agents of fermentation.
| One of the most simple and effective
processes, it would appear, for preserv-
ing the dead has recently been brought
forward in Germany. By this method,
it is stated, the dead bodies of human
beings and animals fully retain their
form, color and f1exibility continuously,
and may be dissected, while decay and
offensive smell are completely prevented
THE muscular flesh, upon incision,
presenting the same appearance as in
the case of a fresh dead body. The
liquid used for this purpose is prepared
as follows: Three quarts boiling water
81 ounces alum, 6 drachms common
salt, 3 drachms saltpetre, 2 ounces pot
ash, and q drachms arsenic acid; the
salts are dissolved in tho water, and
then there are added two pints of ely
cerino and one-haf pint of wood alco
hol. The embalming is accomplished
by simply saturating and impregnatinG
the bodies with this composition, from
II to five quarts being used for single
body.