The Osceola times., 1883-06-09
SCRAPS or SCIENCE.

Geological examination reveals in the
delta of the Mississippi, along space of
800 miles, ten distinct forests of buried
trees. Bald expresses with a diameter OF
% feet have been found.
A delicate scale for weighing dia-
monds, balance screws for watches, etc,
is the subject of patent issued recently
to Mr.. Ferdinand F. Ide, of Springfield,
III. The importance of simple weigh
ing machine for precious stones and like
valuable and delicate articles which
shall b. weighed accurately is well un-
derstood. Mr.. Ide, in his newly patent
ed scale, claims 10 accomplish this, ard
certainly his mechanism is very simple
A novel musical instrument called a
piano-violin is the subject of patent re-
Gently issued to Messrs. j. Parsons and
j. w. Trinkle, of Kent, Ind. A case is
provided, containing two sounding box
es, one resting behind and connected to
the other. To the front side of the inner
sounding box is secured bridge trans
versely to the box. To the front of the
bridge series OF jaws are secured, be-
tween which the strong bar are passed,
Ai'' is'et'i VI WIN Il
spring tongue. An endless belt is made
to pass by the springs in the instrument
ny means of a treadle, and as the keys
are depressed, the corresponding strips
will be drawn downward, bringing the
lower end of the corresponding string
bar toward the belt, which coming in
contact with the string produces vibra-
tion and sound as long as the belt is kept
in contact with the string.
The danger of contagion from rags was
illustrated short time ago in a large pa
per mill at New Cathcart, Scotland. A
number of the work.people were engag-
ed in cutting and sorting rags in the usu-
al way when four Of them, in the course
of a few days were seized with smallpox
The rags were consigned from Conig :
burg, Germany. A form of blood-poi-
soning among factory people is also
known in Yorkshire, which has come ia
be known as the "wool-sorter's disease
The germs are introduced in bales OF
mohair, which come from certain locali-
ties in the East; where the people are no
torious for their disregard of all sanitary
precautions and regulations. The NOR
tality among those attacked by the
"wool-sorter's disease" is said TO be very
high, and death ensues with sudden
ness that is appalling.
The late transit of Venus curiously
proved the accurate calculations of the
ancient makers of that famous horulogi-
cal curiosity, the Strassburg clock. A
few days before the transit visitors to
the cathedral, inspecting the planeta-
rum attached to the clock, noticed that
one of the small gilt balls representing
Venus was gradually moving toward a
point between the sun and the earth,
and on the day of the passage the ball
stood exactly between them. Old Con-
rad Dasypodius, the Strassburg mathe-
matician, superintendent the manufacture
ofthe clock and its accompanying plane
tarium some time between l57l-74, the
dates differing according to various au-
thorities; and it is interesting to note
that, after 800 years of existence, the
clock faithfully fulfills the calculations OF
its dead inventor. Scientists doubt the
story.
Experience has demonstrated that the
most effective apparatus for extinguish-
ing fire in manufactures is convenient
ly arranged and well-cared for number
of pals of water. Their importance is
shown by the fact that it is mattar OF
record that Of the losses in mills paid by
the insurance companies twice as many
fires are put out by pals as by any other
means. These pals must be kept full
and used for no other purposes whatever.
The best fire pals are made of strong
galvanized iron without covers, and they
will last much longer if painted with hot
coal tar, asphaltum, or some of the roof.
ing compounds. This also helps to re-
serve the pals, as their black color
makes them easily distinguished from
other pals used for washing or drinking
water. 1t should be the duty of some in
dividual to keep the pals full, examin-
ing them at least once week and re-
plenishing the whole of the water be-
fore it becomes foul. A further reserve
is furnished by casks of water kept on
porches or corners of rooms.