The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-04-26
CURIOUS, UssTuI AsD s0IEEElFIo.

Explosive gelAtine, a substance used for
blasting purposes, 10 liable 10 spontaneous
decomposition ander osraln conditions,
as Professor Charles T. MnnFoe reports la
the Journal OF the American Chemi cal Be
oiely,
Galvanized iron water tanks must not be
employed on board OF French men .0f,waf.
DR., Nepable ia a paper read before the
American Chemical S9oisty, has shown that
water passed through 200 yards OF galvanized
iron pipe took up % grains Of zlao carbon
ale per gallon.
Balfour Stewart and William Liant Car.
penter have made preliminary comparison
between the dates OF cyolOnic storms of Great
Britain and those Of magnetic disturbances
at the Kew Observatory. Finding that in
thirty cases compared twenty-three pre-
tented distinct magnetic disturbance some
what more than day, the investigators con-
sequently intend to pursue the subject ex.
haustiTely.
At a meeting of the Geographical Society
OF Paris, M. Schrader read paper on the
ma ses of snow moved about by the wind
among mountains. These masses are not
moved about by chance-they obey very
simple laws which cause them to be de-
posted at spots where the wind is dimin-
ishtd in intensity, and give them forms
which may be easily ansly zed II the quality
of the snow, the force and direction of the
" ind, and the contour OF the mountain be
taken into account
Nj. CASTOR Trouve is said to have con.
stTucted q portable electric glow lamp, in
tended for use where there is an explosive
atmosphere. This lamp is intended 10 be OF
service in mines, oeslulose factories. -four
mills, spinning mills. etc. Ii is automatic in
action, and il is stated to be very simple in
cor sIuction. There are two varieties of the
lamp made: one of which will only light
itself when taken up in the hand; the OF ner
Wub IN 10 n or 10 rn ~.
rent IS produced by s battery contained in
the lamp.
Three coats OF soluble glass, each applied
at sn interval Of day, the Pottery and
Glassware Reporter says are sufficient to
preserve porous materials indefinitely at
cost OF about fifteen cents Der tquars yard.
When applied upon Old materials IL is rec.
es airy 10 wash them thoroughly With water
first The degree of con centrstion Of the So
buttons TO be used varies with the materials.
For hard stones the solutio should mark =
to s. Baume; for soft stones with coarse grit
s. 10 20; for cglcsreous sionss of soft texture
Sc to-. The last coating sd ould always be
with dilute solution Of 3 TO 4 only.
Admiral F. S. Tremlett writes that on the
sculptured dolmans OF the Department OF
Morbinan, FIance, about eighty sculptures
had been found, invariably on the interior
SUI aces Of the capstones and their supports.
II is q remarkable that they are confined
a
are situated near the sea coast beyond which,
although the megsliths are numerous, there
is complete absence OF sculptures. The
sculptures vary in intricacy. from some sim
pie wave lines and cup markings to some
that have been compared TO the tattooing OF
the New Zealanaers.
Major Allen Cunningham says: Tnere
il defect OF eyesight common among the
natives of India known as ratsnahi, lit,
night blindness Persons affected with this
have either ordinary powers of vision by
daylight or else powers 50 little less affected
than ordinary as 10 feel no inconvenisncs, so
that usually no defect is noticeable; while in
FEE bic twilight their sight fails in tue most
extraordinary way. and In the dusk they
become in bad cases. practically blind. Of
course there are all degrees OF this affection,
but the strongly marked cases alone sre
likely 10 attract attention. By medical msR
In Indis this affection Ia said 10 occur mostly
among men living 90 allow diet, (chiehy OF
cereals and the palliative treatment g 70
prescribe 8 meat diet. This affection is- rarely
noticeable among Europeans IN Iadia.
though / have sometimes noticed marked
differences in clearness OF sight amcLg them
a'so amounting TO slight night blindaer. =