Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-02-24
Scientific Miscellany.

Mr.. Leroy Brown, of WaitsburI,
has received letters patent for an
Improvement in the construction of
sulky plows. The improvement rem
ders it more substantial and so that it
can be more conveniently guided,
controlled and adjusted.
A piano teacher in Philadelphia
has for years studied the anatomy of
the hand with q view to discover
why it ia so much more difficult to
raise the third finger of the hand
above the keys of the piano than the
other fingers. He thinks if he cuts
a cord attached to that finger which
is wanting in the others the difficulty
will be removed and he has induced
a pupil to submit 20 the operation,
which will shortly be performed.
About twenty or thirty miles from
Denver, Colorado, between Cherry
creek and Running creek, the Den
yer and New Orleans Railroad forces
struck an unusual obstruction, it
being nothing less than buried
forest. The trees are all petrified
and agatized, are of all sizes and lie
buried at various depths, from ten
to twenty-five feet, which is as deep
as any excavations were made by the
workmen. They came upon these
relics of a by-gone age in at least
half dozen localities and have met
with not little difficulty on their
account. The trees are very perfect
and could be taken out nearly whole
if suitable machinery were employed.
Milk that is heated to much above
100 deg. F., loses for o time de-
gree of it's sweetness and density.
No one who, fatigued by over-exer-
lion of body and mind, has ever ex-
perienced the reviving influence of
a tumbler of this beverage, heated
as hot as it can be slipped, will
willingly forego q resort to it be-
cause Of its having thus been rem
dered somewhat less acceptable to
the palate. The promptness with
which its tonic influence is felt is in
deed surprising. Some portion OF
it seems to be disested and appro-
priated almost Immediately; and
many who fancy they need alcoholic
stimulants when exhausted by
fatigue. will find in this simple
draught an equivalent that will be
abundantly satisfying and moro en-
during in its effects.
Colorado has q subterranean lake
Of considerable extent, covered with
soil about eighteen inches deep.
On the soil is cultivated q field OF
corn, which produces thirty bushels
to the acre. The ground is a black
mari in nature and in all probability
was at one time an open body OF
water, on which accumulated yege-
table matter, which has been in
creased from time TO time, until now
it has a crust sufficiently rich and
strong to produce fine corn. While
harvesting, the hands catch great
strings of fish by making holes
through tho earth. A person rising
on bis heel and coming down sud-
denly con see the growing corn
shake all around him. Any one
having sufficient strength to drive q
rail through tho crust will find on
releasing it, that it will disappear al
together.
DIR. Collenette, Jersey physician
of temperance principles, lately gave
q lecture on the " Manufacture OF
lOld Crusted Port" One of the
audience was requested to purchase
from q local wine merchant of repute
a bottle of port, for which lie paid
six shillings. This, with cobwebs,
etc., was deposited on the lecturers
table. DR.. Collenette than stated
he would, in the course of few
minutes, produce o similar article
at q cost of fire tarthings. A Judge
"A gentleman said to be we'll quail.
tied-was then elected by the meet
ing. A committee was chosen to
come on to the platform and witness
the operation; this consisted of weigh.
ing out ingredients. The basis of
the composition was cider; bullock's
blood was used for rich tawny color,
tartaric acid to give age, cream of
tartar mixed with gum water was
smeared on the inside of the bottle
and gave q beautiful crust. Out.
side, cobwebs with dust and white.
wash were applied to give an ancient
look, and the bottle was stoppered
with well.stained cork. The erpert
was introduced. and tasted glass
from each bottle, declaring, with q
knowing wink at the audience, that
the wine Ia Collenette was the
genuine article; the temperance au-
dience of course applauded to the
echo.
Tho American Consul General ut