Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-04-04

Capt. Riddle writes to the Nautical
Magazine that he has measured ocean
waves over 40 feet high, and moving at
the rate OF % miles per hour. Scientific
experiments show that the height, force
and velocity of the greatest sea waves
have been greatly moderated by practi-
cal mariners.
THE "sALT FROG"
A curious experiment sometimes shown
TO medical students is that of the ''salt
frog" One of these unfortunate batra-
CHAINS has its abdominal vein opened,
and into this injected salt water. Sin
glIlarly enough, the animal does not die,
as might be expected, but carries on its
vital functions for several days, thus en-
abling the experimenters to determine
whether certain drugs act upon the
blood or some other part of the frog
economy.
BoRACIC ACID.
Boracic acids white, crystalline, non
volatile substance, quite bland, unirri-
tating IN solution, and not poisonous.
IT is odorless, almost tasteless, and gives
colorless solutions. It is often obtained
by deeomposing the biborate of soda
with sulphuric acid. The supply is
therefore abundant and its manufacture
inexpensive It is peculiar as to solu-
bility. Cold water and alcohol dissolves
and holds in solution only eighteen
grams to the fluid ounce of water. Hot
glycerine, however, dissolves $50 grains
to fluid ounce, and holds it perfectly on
cooling. 1t is not soluble in vaseline,
paraffine, wax, oil, or spermaceti.
DETERIORATION OF BOILER PLATES.
A French paper points out that the
chloride of magnesium decomp0ses into
hydrochloric acid and magnesla. The
former in contact with the iron attacks it,
forming chloride of iron, which is solu-
BILE in water. When the chloride of
magnesium is deposited by the salt
water on portions of the boiler. this result
takes place; and the chloride of iron,
disselving in combination with the car
Donate of lime already III solution, forms
chlorideof calcium and red oxide of iron,
which is found In the scale. A means of
combating this action, IN marine and
other boilers In which sea water is used.
Is a desideratum. The portion Of the
iron dissolved is ultimately found in the
scale or the mud, to which it imparts a
brick-red tinge.
CHEAP BLACK INK.
The Industrie Batter recommends the
following formula as furnishing good
and cheap writing ink: French extract
of campeachy wood 100 parts. lime water
800 parts, phenol (carbohc acid) parts,
hydrochloric acid 25 parts, gum arabic 80
parts, red chromate of potash parts.
The extract is first dissolved in the lime
water on steam bath with frequent
stirring or shaking, after which the car
bollc and hydrochloYic acids are added,
and change the red color to a brownish
yellow. It is then heated half an hour
on steam bath and set aside to cool. 1t
is next filtered, and the gum and bichro-
mate, dissolved in water, are added.
Enough water is then added to make
up the solution to 1900 parts. This ink
Is a fine red when used, but soon gets
black.
PnE-DRIvING BY DYNAMITE.
In the course of executing some mum
icipal works at Buda-Pesth, the piles
driven were required to stand greater
load than had been originally contem-
plated It was, therefore, necessary to
test them, and drive still deeper those
that yielded On account OF the expense
of bringing pile driving machine sue
cessively over each pile for so little
work, it was determined to try the effect
of dynamite, and the city engineers ap.
piled to Col. Prodanovic, OF the %
regiment of Austrian engineers, to carry
out the experiments. According to the
account published In an industrial paper,
the piles were cut square, and wrought.
iron plate 10 inches IN diameter and A.
inches thick was placed on the top Of
each. On its center, and Immediately
over that of the pile, was placed charge
CT No. 2 dynamite, in the form of {
cake. inches In diameter and of al
inch thick, and weighing IT. ounces
avoirdupois This was wrapped in parch
ment paper, covered with clay, anC
fred. The effect produced was found or
an average to be equal to five blows from
a 14s hundred weight monkey falling
from height of feet 10 inches. The
iron plates stood from 20 to "a explo
sions. The system is not considered
applicable to a pile standing consider
abiy out of the ground, but saves grea
expense when piles already driven have
TO be sunk deeper. In this country gun
powder has been used for many years
particularly IN Philadelphia, for pile
driving, though employed generally t.
force the driver upward.
COMBUSTION OF AIR IN COAL GAS.
In lecture experiment exhibited be
fore the Newcastle-upon-Tyn Chemica
Society, Mr.. j. I. Dunn said: There il
nothing very new in this form of the ap
paratus, save that it is handler thar
most forms in use and does not requir,
any reservoir Of air. 1t consists of an or
binary argand chimney mounted on
stand OF convenient height. The uppe
end Of the glass is covered by cap 0
wire gauze, in the center of which hol
of about four or five mn. diameter ha
been punched. The lower end is fitte'
with a cork pierced with hole Il
the center, through which passes glas
tube level with the cork beneath an,