Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-23
BITS OF SCIENCE.

DR.. Atkinson finds that a per cent.
solution of nitrO-gIycerine, applied by
means of plug of cotton wool. has the
same effect as nitrate of amyl in alleyiat-
ing toOthache.
Grant Allen says that almost all very
early or primeval types of animals or
plants yet existing belong to one or other
Of three peculiar Notwithstanding, fresh
water streams or lakes, and caves.
A correspondent of the Liverpool Aer-
curg declares that one ounce of cream of
tartar dissolved in one pint of boiling
water, drank cold at short intervals, is a
sure prophylactic anGic ure of smallpox.
The dryest flour, says the Scientific
Press, contains from 6 to Z per cent. of
water, and The average percentage would
be from IL to IS, as from II to II per cent.
can be driven out by heat of about 800
degrees Fair.
White birch-bark oil, which gives to
Russia leather its peculiar aromatic and
lasting qualities, when dissolved in
alcohol Is said to be excellent for preseTY-
ing and waterprOOfng fabrics. 1t renders
them acid and insect-prOOf, and does nOt
destroy the pliability of the fabric.
Prof. Knapp recommends a cheap paint,
made of three parts of crude petroleum
and one part of linseed oil, mixed with
mineral paint TO give 1t body. Such a
mixture, besides being much cheaper, is
said to be quite as durable and retentive
of color as pure lead and oil paint, and to
be particularly useful for Outbuildings,
fences, etc.
A paper has been published by NM. E.
Divers and kawakita on the formation by
Liebig Of Illuminating silver without the
use of nitric acid. When nitrous acid is
passed into an alcoholic solution of nit
rate of silver there occurs a separation of
crystals. These, the authors maintain,
are not Illuminating silver, as Liebig
stated, but nitrate of silver.
Herr c. Schneider, of Dresden, has in
vented a dry galvanic battery. 1t consists
Of two cylinders-the larger one OF copper
and the inner or smaller one OF amalgam-
ated zinc. Both cylinders are open at
each end, and the space between them is
filled in with mixture Of plaster of Paris
and a saturated solution of chloride of
zinc containing per cent. of chloride of
sodium.
If the expressed belief of some Cornish
miners regarding the probable develop
ment of the tin mine OF CajalcO, in the
Temiscal Range, California, turns out to
be verified later on, it will prove OF vast
Importance. They are of opinion that the
vein struck VIII increase in richness as it
increases in depth. Lately the mine
Z.
purity of 0.9S.
Lieut.. Dick, of the Russian army, has
discovered a new luminous powder which
has three cOlOrs-green, yellow and violet,
the last named giving the most powerful
light. Mixed with water in a glass
vessel an Illuminating liquid is produced
which my prove very useful in mining
and military operations. The illuminat-
ing powder lasts for eight hours, when
fresh powder must be added.
Discussing the resistance of disease
germs TO disinlectants. the GeSuHdheu re-
marks that IL is extremely probable that
the germ which produces smallpox cpl
denies is present in the form of living
baciu in the fiuid which is the principal
bearer of the infectiOn-the lymph re- |
moved from the pustules. The degree of !
vitality of the bacili varies in the different !
kinds of lymph, that from cOw-pox losing |
vitality much more readily than the So
called human lymph.
The dugong, a species of whale taken in
large numbers at Queensland, has prOba- |
bly, furnished the slender basis of fact !
upon which the mermaid and norman
stories have been founded. 1t is about |
eight to twenty feet in length, lives upon
submarine beds of seaweed, breathes by
means of lungs, has a humanlike head,
with hair resembling mans beard. The
flesh OF this animal is eaten, and is said to
have the flavor of beef, veal or bacon, ac-
cording to the part of the body from which
the meat is taken. Its oil has all the
medicinal qualities of cod liver oil, with
out the disagreeable taste and smell of the
latter.