The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1881-10-22
POPULAK SCIENCE.

Oxalic acid is found in the common sorrel
and rhubarb plants.
Gun cotton is made by dipping the fiber
into strong nitric acid
A poultice of fresh tea leaves. moistened
with water, will cure sty on the eyelid.
The bricks of Nineveh and Babylon were
only sun-dried, not baked, as is the modern
practice.
A solution Of common salt given imme-
diatey is said to be a successful remedy for
strychnia poisoning.
For earsche, dissolve ASA oct da in water,
warm few drops and drop in the ear, then
cork the ear with wool
The microscope shows the hair to be like
coarse, round rasp, but with the teeth ex-
tremely irregular and ragged.
The judicious use of oil of turpentine will
efectually exterminate red ants. 1t may
be injected into cracks and crevices in clos
cts and elsewhere from an ordinary sewing
machine oil cam.
Says the Boston Journal of Chemistry
the vegetation that sometimes forms in solu-
tioDs of arsenic can be avoided. according to
Perschne, by replacing one-fourth of the
water with glycerine.
Electric lighting is in successful opera
tion on. more than sixty steamers of the
Mississippi River and its tributaries. 1t is
believed to add much to the safety of that
kind of traffic and travelling.
1t is proposed by Mr. Benner to print
aniline black along with dyed alizarn
violets He prevents the colors from spread
ing or running by adding acetate of lime
in large excess to the violet mordant.
1t is believed that at last the engineers
have mastered the quicksand formation in
the st. Gothard Tunnel under Andermati by
means of granite vaulting, and that the
great work will be finished next month.
1t is reported that the results of recent
geological explorations made in Russia have
shown that there exist in that empire phos-
plate deposits of sufficient magnitude to
supply the wants of Europe for an indefinite
period. VI 1.s slr s4
To prevent choking, break an egg into a
cup and give 1t to the person choking to
swallow. The white of the egg seems to
catch around the obstacle and remove it. If
one egg does not answer the purpose try
another. The white is all that.is necessary.
Smooth strong and pliable parchment
can be made from the palmetto of Florida
and other Southern States. 1t can be
washed, rubbed and handled like cloth,
and the writing will not be effaced. AS much
as go per cent of the palmetto can be util-
lied in the process. -u i
One of the sim plest and best remedies to
be given to children if they are troubled
with worms is poplar bark. A we'll known
physician has used this foryears with marked
success. 1t can be bought at any drug store.
Takea little pinch of the bark, about as
much as one would naturally take up on
the point of .penknife, and give it before
breakfast. 1t has clean, bitter taste, and
there is no difficulty in getting child to
take it. r.s ~ e..
A Congress on the education of the deaf
and dumb was lately opened at Bordeaux
and during the sittings M. Claveau pub
llshed series of Articles in which he en-.
deavered to prove that the art of teaching
the dumb to Speaks as old as the latter
part of the ninth century. that it was in
vented and practiced by st. John, of Bever-
~, Archbishop of York, England, and that
T. was explained in the writing of the Ven-
cradle Bede. .-...t. :, - j.
The new data lately obtained by the
-NAS'o Ncoct anu StOucltc sLSdHPr
Blake, Commander j. r. Bartlett. u. S. N.
arrived at Providence X. l., August II,
show that the Bahama Banks extend in an
almost level plateau, nearly 200 miles wide,
off the Carolinas, and drawing to point at
Cape Hatteras, only twenty-five miles off
shore, there being nearly 1000 fathoms
The average depth on the plateau was found
TO be little over 400 fathoms ~ iii'
= Rheumatism is so rare in the earlier years
Of life as to be hardly even mentioned by |
such writers as West and Vogel DR.. Gar
len, in the London Practitioner, gives the |
case of an infant of nine months who caught
,old from bathing in cold water. Rheuma-
ism followed, affecting the knee and ankle
oints. These were wrapped in cotton, and
.hree grains of salicin thrice daily were pre-
cribed. The patient recovered in a fort
hight, without. showing any signs of heart
n .-g 4...1 4.,.l