Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-12-06
CURIOUS, USEFUL AND SCIENTIFIC.
TO TEST SILK,

v.
flares and blazes, it is partly cotton, or
some other cheap stuff is mixed with it;
II 1t burns slowly and makes an ash, it is
silk.
Outgoing OIL.
This oil, which is yielded by an herbi-
VorOus cOtacean of the waters of Aus
tralla and the Eastern Archipelago, has
all the medicinal qualities OF cod liver
OIL, without the repulsive taste and odor
and the tendency to decay. The dose is
the same IN quantity as cod liver oil.
TO PROTECT CASTINGS.
Sawdust Is said by some one to be
better than hair in protecting roughcast
from peellng and scalding under the in
tiuence of frost and weather. The saw
dust should be first dried and then
thoroughly sifted, in order to remove the
coarser particles. A mixture is then
made of two parts sawdust, five parts
sharp sand, and one part cement, which
should be thoroughly stirred together
and then Incorporated with two parts of
| lime.
COLORED BOTTLES.
In an article published in one of the
German scientific journals on the effect
OF the color of glass bottles on the
| liquids contained III them, some interest
ing facts are stated. 1t appears from
this that liquors contained in colorless
bottles, when exposed for some time to
! the light, acquire q disagreeable taste,
Notwithstanding the fact that they may
have been Of q superior quality before
being SO treated; liquor contained in
| brown or green bottles, however, remain
unchanged III quality, even II exposed to
direct sunlight. Since, then, the results
III question are due TO the chemical &C.
tlon OF light, it follows that red, orange,
yellow, green or opaque bottles are es-
sential to the preservation of liquors,
while colOrless, blue, and violet ones
are to be discarded
NICKEL-PLATING.
Light nickel plating may, it is said,
| be effected by boiling DR.. r. Kaizer
prepares bath Of pure granulated tin,
argols, and water, heats it to boiling,
and then adds small quantity of red
hot nickel oxide. A portion of the
nickel, as is shown by the green col,
which the solution assumes-that is
above the grains of this immediately
| dissolved. Ii a copper or brass article
is now immersed in the solution it al
most instantly becomes covered with
silver-hke coating of almost pure nickel.
If little cobalt carbonate or cobalt
tartrate be added to the bath a blush
tint is produced, which may be made
lighter or darker according to the guam
tlty added. When the article is rubbed
with dry sawdust or finely powdered
chalk very brilliant polish is obtained.
ELECTRIC CLOCKS.
A company was incorporated at AL
bany, n. Y, recently, for the manufac-
ture, use, lease, and sale of instruments
for the indication of time by electricity.
The mcorporators express no doubts
that, In the principal establishments OF
large cities, where correct time is ne
cessity, the clock will soon be a thing of
the past. A synchronized dial-plate,
connected with a central time-piece, will
take its place. The Elevated Railway
Company, of New York, is completing
arrangements for placing III all its sta
tons synchronized dial-plates connected
with standard time piece. The new
company aforesaid is about to introduce
the practical workings Of its invention to
the New York business community.
Important enterprises in time telegraphy
are on foot and will shortly be made
public.
A CAR STARTER,
An apparatus is in satisfactory use on
one of the street tramways in London
which lightens very greatly the burden
upon the horses in starting a car. It
+c - 10
the latter being keyed on to the axle. A
small spring attached to the catch sup
plies the motive power, and simple
treadle worked by the driver brings the
apparatus into play. Totestits value as
a starting auxiliary, the car was pro-
PEELED by this apparatus alone for some
considerable distance, the driver simply
using the treadle. The cost of the APP
paratus will not exceed seven guineas,
and its weight is about hfty-six pounds.
1t is said that the average life Of tram
car horse does not exceed three to three
and a half years, the brevity of life
being in main due to the immense strain
in starting these heavy vehicles, many
of them when loaded weighing from four
to five tons.
CELLULOID.
Celluloid is composition of fine It's
sue paper and camphor, treated with
chemicals by patented process. A
rather common impression that 1t con-
tains gun cotton is mistake, which
arises from confounding it with COLO
dion. Celluloid, it is said, is entirely
non explosive, and burns only when in
direct contact with fame. When crude
it looks like transparent gum, and its
color is light yellow brown. It can
be made as hard as ivory, but is always
elastic, and can be nodded into any con
ceivable form. With equal ease if can
be colored in any tint desired, the dye
running through the entire substance,
and being therefore ineffaceable. Large
amounts are used for combs of every va
riety, for the backs Of brushes and hand
mirrors, and for all kinds of toilet ar
ticles for which ivory has been employed.
Among many other articles in which
celluloid takes the place of ivory or In
dia rubber are whips, cane, and umbrella