The National tribune., 1884-09-18
PRACTICAL SCIENCE.

Black walnut sawdust formerly thrown away,
is now mixed with linseed gum and moulded into
heads and flower pieces for the ornamentation of
furniture. When dried and vanished it Is as hand
some and much stronger and more d1rable than
carved work.
The latest telephone dispenses with electricity
altogether. Its diaphragm is split willow or other
wood closely woven, dried and vanished. The
drying contracts the fibers and produces d very
high tension. In the center of the diaphragm Is q
strong copper plate, to which the wire is attached
For distances less than two miles the new tee-
phone conveys sound better and more distinctly
than the Bell. The difficulty in switching the
wires, however. limits its use
"A French physician has discovered new dis
case called "atremia." The most pronounced
symptom of the disease, he says, is unconquer-
able aversion TO getting out of bed in the morning.
The French physician must be joking. That dis
case, if disease il be, is old the hills in this
country.
The amount of chrystallizahe sugar in the
juice of mature sorghum varies between Ii and 10
per cent; there are also present about one or two
per cent. of uncry llzable sugar glucose
two three per cent of other solids part of which
are removed from the juice by the purifying pro-
ccsses employed in sugar making. When well
purified, sorghun cane and beet sugar are identi-
cal in composition and properties.
"A correspondent of the New York Tribune says
that locomotive engine has been so perfected that
perfect combustion Is secured Jets of steam play
through the flames ascending in the box from
the burning coal, and as result ii Is entirely
sumed. Nothing. escapes from the smokestaek
except long thin trail of steam no smoke, no
cinders. For passenger travel these engines must
come into universal Use: possibly also for freight
trains, as no more fuel is consumed than in the
old fashioned locomotive.
- DIR. Felix Fremont has written article for
the journal d Hygiene, in which he gives tobacco
smokers this good advice Cigar smokers should
always long holder and renew it frequently.
Havana cigars by far the least hurtful. Dry
cigars contain less nicotine than damp 1t Is
better to smoke slowly than quickly. Cigarei
smoking is the most pernicious form of smoking
while the smoking of pure dry tobacco from po-
rous pipe, frequently renewed is the nearest posi-
bic approach TO hygienic excellence.
The faces of Europeans rule, are broader
than those of Americans. The common distance
in this country between the center of the eyessiS
three and three-eighths inches, but among for
eiguers it is three and half. Sometimes this j:
increased from one to three-eights of inch more
/ If spectacles with the frames too narrow
| the focus of one eye conflicts with that of the
other and an effect is produced very similar to thai
/ OF being cross-eyed
The French inventors of a steerabie balloon
not unlikely to be forestalled By German conf
petitors in the same field. According to letter
| from Kiel DR.. Woelfert has just accomplished
there two successful experiments in aerial navisa
l ton. The balloon, like that of Capt. Renard, i
i half hours during which Woelfert is said to hay,
] navigated against "a northeast breeze. A specia
motor of five-horse power is in of eonstruc
with which he feels confident of being able I,
4 navigate IN the face OF strong winds.
| The burrashuta, earnivorous fly heretofor
confined to South America, has made its appear
anee in Florida. Its bite, though not poisonous, i
very painful and the loss of blood is eonIparaiyei.
great