Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-11-22
SCIENTIFIC NOTES.

When in the formation Of coal all the
other circumstances were alike, \. Carnot
is OF the belief that different species of
plants gave rise to coal OF vecy different
properties.
Water filtered through porous unslazed
porcelain is absolutely free irola micro
5ia. With a single such vessel, 0.20 meter
long by OBS meter in diameter, c. Cham
berlain obtained about 20 liteis day of
physiologically pure water.
1t is stated that pressed glass is turned
out in the Siemens works that is as hard
and tough as cast iron. 1t is far lighter
and not affected by temperature, etc. 1t is
intended to make out of this hard crystal,
street lamp posts, stairs and gas and water
pipes. 1t is thought these articles can be
made 80 per cent cheaper than in east iron,
but will not, of course, be so heavy.
An exceedingly delicate and very i'm
portant instrument among the French ex-
hibits at the Philadelphia Electrical Ex-
hibition is Professor Regnard's apparatus
for the study of the respiration of animals.
BY means OF this the scientist can meas
ure the quantity Of air breathed by the
animal in given time, and can make
complete analysis of it afterward.- TPhil-
adelphia Press.
Experiments on an extensive scale have
been made by the Dutch Government to
ascertain the relative strength of iron and
steel girders. The soft steel girders proved
to be % per cent. and the hard steel
girders &C per cent. stronger than the
iron girders. 1t was pretty well estab-
IIlI,n cd bot 10 -, - L
about the same for the two fianges if they
are made alike in section.
The latest treatment of brain irritation
consists Of seclusion in darkened room
for from ten to fifteen hours day, while
increasing the hours of sleep;
and the excessive use of bromides and
other stupor-inducing sedatives is discour-
aged. 1t is claimed that the soothing eff
feet of deep twilight is alone thera-
putic agent of great value in cases of
extreme cerebral irritability-[ Boston
Budget.
A new application of granolithic, spe-
cies of concrete recently introduced for
road-making purposes, is proposed by an
Edinburgh inventor. He coats the back
of photographic stones with backing of
granolithic which strongly adheres to the
stones and forms one solid mass capable of
sustaining great pressure If extraordinary
strength is demanded bars of iron or steel
may be imbedded in the granolithic mix
ture while it is yet plastic. Lithographic
stones thus fortified, if only an inch thick,
are made thoroughly servieeable and con
tinue to be so until worn TO thin film.
The gossamer waterproof fabric is made
more impermeable by the following method:
The material is first immersed in Il hot
compound Of boiled linseed oil, lampblack,
litharge and a suitable drier mixed in due
proportions. When dried the article is
placed on a mold, and a coating of the
mixture applied with sponge or brush
and rubbed smooth with the hand A sec
ond and third coating is applied the same
way, and rubbed down with pumice stone.
These fabrics are now worn by all classes,
and are almost necessary of life, and all
methods to make them more serviceable
will be welcomed.
DR.. Beyrinck, distinguished Dutch
naturalist, has been investigating the orr
gin of the masses of gum collecting on the |
limbs of certain kinds of trees notably the |
plum and apricot. He finds that the
exudation is due to a disease pro-
dueed by the presence of parasitic fungi, |
and when healthy trees are inoculated |
with the gum thus produced they speedily
contract qthe disorder, which is highly |
contagious. The disease is disseminated |
by the drying of the gum by oxidation and |
its circulation in the wind, which thus
watts the germs for many rods, 50 that
one diseased tree may infect whole
plantation.