Brookings County sentinel. (Brookings, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1890, 1882-11-16
SPARKS OF SCIENCE.


SPARKS OF SCIENCE.
A DRESDEN Matchmaker has made a
paper watch. The paper is prepared in
such manner that the watch il said to
be as eeIviceable as those in ordinary
use
ALKALoIDAL compounds having spe-
cific poisonous actions have been found
by Selmi 10 the excretions Of persons az
he il inclined to think that the death of
the sufferers is finally produced by these
poisons.
THE notion that dogs and cats con-
tract hydrophobia because they are
confined, chained, or muzzled does not
appear to be well sustained by fact At
any rate, rabies, according to Professor
Xavier Landerer, IS very common
among the wild dogs, cats, and iackals
OF the east.
An Italian named Conte is said to have
invented an artificial graphite OF great
purity. II is Of the same density
throughout, of a crystalline black, and
with a metallic lustre. 1t Is very dura-
BILE, and is, therefore, considered suita-
BILE for electric lamps. No description
Is given Of the process by which it is
made.
Two German chemists have discovered
that in the saliva Of the maxilary gland
of the horse there is present ferment
capable of converting starch into sugar;
that in the saliva of the parotid gland
,hara "a a ,aptnpiztpo alamant fhpnrb
in small quantity, and that the mixed
saliva emulsifies fats, but does not dis
solve them.
A PATENT has just been taken out in
Germany for an engine, the piston of
which is driven backward and forward
by small charges of guupowder supplied
at each end by an automatic arrange
ment. The ignition is effected by the
motion Of the piston, which draws in a
flame ot gas or spirit, the access being
regulated by side valves, which also cpen
outlets for the escape of gases Of COM
bustion.
4 MUNICH professor has invented a
bracelet that will remedy the aftiiction
known as writers cramp." The pen
holder is fastened to the bracelet i'll such
a manner that it can be used to write
with ease aud without bringing the fin
gers into use at all. The hand can rest
on the table, moving easily along as the
letters are traced, ana II Is said that lit
tie practice Is required to give expert
ness in the use OF the invention.
The most suitable water for slaking
lime is the softest that can be procured;
from melted snow or rain, so much the
better. Spring water is usually too
hard, and contains carbonic acid or car
donate of lime. Saline constituents in
water also prevents its successful use
for shaking lime; but, as a general rule,
it may be assumed that the fewer car
Donates there are in the water the more
economical it will be for this purpose.
The inventor Of a new engine in Eng
land is trying 10 demonstrate that a
tiercely burning fire can be as speedily
supprS ssed with plain water thrown at a
high pressure as with the chemical
agents which have hitherto proved so
successful. The difficulty found in the
liability of compressed air extinguishers
to leak is under long standing pressure
overcome by putting the air pressure on
the water only when the engine Is to be
used.
A MECHANIC in San Francisco, Cal.
| has perfected an arrangement 10 be at
tacbed 10 railway cars designed to pre-
vent anybody lying on the track from
being tun over by the wheels. 1t is
plow.shaped and automatically arranged,
so that when an obstacle is strnck it
falls on to and slides along the rail,
pushing aside whatever it encounters
1t has been thoroughly tested ou several
complished ali that is claimed for it.
y. JEpsoN, an English vegetarian, not
wishing 10 use poor and adulterated ami
NAL fats, has sought substitute and
found il in a composition for which the
following is the formula. Take four
ounces of the finest Brazilian nuts,
pounded very fine in a mortar; four
ounces Of pure olive oil; rub them into
a smooth Jelly; add eight ounces cf fine
wheat -four and quarter Of an ounce Of
sal.. Rub the whole into smooth paste,
and use As butter. This would certainly
be preferable to much that goes By the
name oil putter.
FoR the last seven years the officers of
the French navy have been testing the
efficacy Of zinc leaves in neutralizing
the effect of fatty acids IN steam boilers.
Commandant Frene has made an official
report. The zinc inside and the iron OF
| the boiler constitute q voltaic element
which iecomposes the water and hber-
ates oxygen and hydrogen. The oxygen
forms oxide of zinc, which combines
with the fatty acids mingled with the
feed thus forming "soaps" of
zinc, which, coating the tubes of the
boilers, prevent the adhesion of the salts
left by evaporation.
Ir is reported that mica face rssks
are proving very beneficial to workmen
exposed to great heat, acid fumes, fly
ing sparks or fragments Of stone or
metal. The mica plates are fixed in
metallic frames, protected with asbestos.
The masks cover the eyes more effec-
lively than mica spectacles do, and the
| whole face as well. The neck and shoul-
der may at the same time be protected
by a fireproof cape Of asbestos or other
proper material. The space between
the masks and the fsce allows the use OF
inner glasses for improving vision ol
shading the eyes. The tough and hexi.
BILE mica prevents the breaking OF the
glasses by heat or flying fragments.
|
ANGLERS in the Adirondacks repori