The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-03-07
CURIOUS. USEFUL AND SCIENTIFIC

For the illumination Of balloons NJ. Man
gin uses an incandescent electric light, sur-
rounded by water contained in glass vessel.
So late as las. year DE-. Proust, in q paper
to tho Academy of Medicine, made the
statement that there were then no fewer
tnan 219. 270 houses in France without O
window.
If III. Risler has made correct observations
the wheat plant never grows on any day
when the temperature of the air does not for
6 period Of several hours 81 least rise above
43 Fahrenheit.
Mechanics who desire to produce bril-
liant black upon iron or steel may try
the following receipt: Apply with q fre
hair brush mixture of iurpentine and sul-
phor which had been boiled together.
TJwn sewage does not, according to CON-
pe.ent authority, affect iron pipes with lead
joints so much as ordinary water. The
greasy matters appear to form g coating on
the inside of the pipes giving the needed
protection.
To detect fusil oil in alcohol which is
fairly strong, DIR. Hager dilutes the liquid
with 81 equal amount OF water, then adds
glycarine and evaporstes the whole upon
filter paper. When the alcohol escapes
the odor of the fussl oil may be very easily
perceived.
Last year the Japanese Government hav-
ing coed many old bronze guns and anti
quated field pieces on hand, had them melt
ed down, refined, and converted into coin
at the Imperial Mint. Probably, however,
the money will go for the purchase Of more
deadly weapons, The millennium is no
nearer Japan than the United States.
Upon examination DR.. j, Scbenkel finds
that petroleum which gives off more than
five per cent Of volume below 140o, and
more than ten per cent. below 300' is to be
rejected. He asserts that the commercial
value of petroleum is determined by the
volume percentage which distilles over be-
tween the temperatures OF 145o and 300o
DR.. luke, in lecture lately delivered be-
fore the Edinburg Health Society, remark
cd that one of the great causea of over
strain in early youth was the vicious sys-
ten, of competitive examinations. It de-
f1ected the mind Of the child from the
proper object of education, and too fire.
quently lett the physical, as well as the
mental, constitution wreck.
Drunkenness has been investigated by
Professor Verge, OF Milan. Men or wo-
men given to intoxicstion are, strange to
say, never given TO kleptomapia or suicide
A woman is lees apt to take to liquor than a
man. but when she does she can hardly be
reclaimed. She becomes shameless and
abominable, but seldom dangerous. Cold
weather seems to cause men to take strong
drink, and mild weather has tie same in
auence upon women.
In the southern portion of the country
drained by the river Congo, in Africa, there
has been found by Lieutenant Wissmsn o
very dense population. During his journey
from Loands TO Zanzibar this traveller
does not seem to have met with any serious
Obstacles. On the contrary, the noted Mi
rsmo gave him every assistance. At one
portion of his route be found 9 tribe OF
dwarf negroes. The full details of his Jour
ney will be reap with interest when they
are published.
Il novel, if not very practical, way Of
disposing of the dead, so that the remains
win not tend TO imperil the existence of the
living, hiss been brought forward by Dr.. A.
Mayer. He advises the adoption of solid
glass cofins, which after the introduction OF
the corpse, are TO be closed alright with
cement. Two holes are in the coffin.
Through one of them carbonic acid is forced
and by the other atmospheric air escapes.
When the ordinary air is supposed to be all
driven out the holes are closed.
From the Finnish Observatory at So
dankyls there comes an important fact to
students of the electrical condition of the
earth. Prof. s. Semstrom had placed on
the hill of Orstunturi 9 galvanic battery,
with conductors covering an area of 900