Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-10-11
Scientific Notes.

DR.. J. A. Fleming, Of the Edison 4
Swan Electric-Light Company. has heen
appointed Professor Of Electrical En-
gineeriug by the Council Of University
College, London.
Mr.. K. F. Friswell, in a paper read
before the Chemical Society, London.
says that the results Of his personal
experience with tonghened glass, during
a period Of eleven months, has caused
him TO regard that substance, when
formed into laboratory utensils, az n
complete failure.
A permanent commission has been
appointed in Austria for investigating
the causes OF explosions in mines.
Among the subjects to be dealt with
are ety-lampS, coai-dust explosions,
meteorological observations, the en-
ploymen Of gunpowder for blasting,
and ventilation of mines.
DR.. Albert Rosenberg, of Berlin, has
found in a solution Of method useful
substitute for expensive cocaine in cases
requiring local anGsthesia of the mu-
cous membrane of the nose, pharynx,
larynx, &c. 1t is said to be more tran
STORY in effect than cocaine, and, on re-
peatiDg the application, to give evidence
of cumulative action.
There is qualitative test for butter.
so simple that any housewife can put it
into successful practice. A clean piece
of white paper is smearcd with little
of the suspected butter. The paper is
then rolled up and set on fire. If the
butter is pure the smell Of the burning
paper is rather pleasant but the odor
is distinctly tallowy if the butter"
is made up wholly or in part Of animal
fats.
Magnetic has been introduced az a
new substance for linin, furnaces. It's
approximate composition is carbona-
ceous magnesia, 90.30 to 1882 per
cent. carbonaceous limestone, O.05 to
0.Gl per cent. argillaceOus earth, 10
per cent. iron oxide, 40 per cent.
insoluble residuum, 3.73 per cent.
Magnesite after having been burned,
is chiefly employed in the form of mag
nesia stone for furnace bottoms.
Professor Joulcs Arnould contends
in the Journal de Pharmacie ct Il,
Chimie that the only Objectionable part
of the process of the manufacture of
luamarine, from a sanitary point Of
view. is the calcnation of the materials,
which gives off large quantities OF sui
phurous acid that ought to be absorbed
by suitable means and prevented from
doing the mischief it does when liberia
ted in abundance into the atmosphere.
DR.. Bonavin. Of the Lucknow Horti-
cultural Gardens, has but little faith in
the statements as to the suitability and
value Of the Eucalyptus glcbuius in
swampy and marshy districts. The re-
suits Of his experiments with the tree
confirm the unfavorable results that
have also been obtained with it in Italy,
and he is surprised that it should ever
have been deemed fitted to discharge
the efiicscious and salutary functions
that have been so universally claimed
in its behalf.
An appliance for drying and super
heating steam has been devised by null
Tubular boilers by Max Genre, OF
Hanover. As superheaters in the fire.
box act unequally, and are liable to
great strain, the Gehre apparatus is
placed in the smoke-box. The appa-
ratus itself is traversed by tubes FORM
ing continuation of those in the boiler,
but OF rather larger diameter. The
steam is thus superheated by contact
with the sides Of the tubes and Of the
chest, which are continuously heated by
the products of combustion.
A great many "land-locked " salmon
were lately placed in the river Thames
by the Thames Angling Preservation
Association, in the presence Of several
gentlemen who have deep interest in
the development Of fresh-water fishe.
ries. This species Of salmon is consid-
cred 10 be admirably adapted for a life
in the Thames, as 1t is not migratory
one. Fish that quit the waters Of that
river for the sea are not likely to return
TO 1t ever again, as the lower portion OF
the Thames is little better than huge
sewer.