The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-07-23
SCIENTIFIC CHAT.

A leading optican says he would not advise
any person to wear tinted glasses without frs
consulting an oculist in order to get nearly a:
possible the precise shade TO be worn. People are
not so cautious they ought to be about the treat
ment of their eyes.
- The summit of Cotopaxi the ioftiest of active
volcanoes, has never been reached This greatest
of mountain wonders is 1900 feet higher than
Vesuvus, and shoots forth its fire from a crest COW
cred by $3.50 feet of snow, with voice that has
been heard GOO miles.
In North Borneo and Western Texas are the
two greatest deposits of bats suano in the world
that in the latter place covering an area of more
than two square miles to the depth of 80 feet This
guano Is as rich In ammonia as the best Peruvian,
and is now being shipped to England and France
in vast quantities.
lightning is reflected for $50 to 200 miles, and
thunder may be heard for 20 or IS miles.
- Many manufacturers declare that paper is the
coming king that is destined in great measure 10
drive wood and iron out of general use.
The century plant is the American aloe. It's
botanical name is Agave Americana and it is called
the maguey i'll South America, and in Mexico the
mescal. Ii Is plant of the cactus kind having q
short stem, which terminates in a circular cluster
of feshy, sharp pointed bush-g green leaves, COW
cred with spineS. Each of these leaves lives for
many years, that but few have withered when
the plant has reached its maturity. 1t is popular
error that this only occurs once in 100 years where
fore the name century plant" is used. The period
of maturity OF the plant varies generally, accord
ing to climate, from 10 to 20 years.
Lightning does its work before the victim
knows anything. Two men were struck while
taking refuge under tree. Both were carried into
revived, and after weeks of terrific suffering and
intirrnity he got out again and is still living lie
said that he knew no more about having been
struck by lightning than he conscious of having
lived before the flood. II ali news to him when
he was told of the fact.-ChicGgo. Current.
"A man. walking in n field near Cincinnati. was
killed by lightning, the fluid passing up from the
earth TO the cloud. This was proved by the per-
sons who the line of fire go upward by the
leather driven into his foot from the sole of his
boot and by the perforaton IN the top of his hat
the ragged edge pointing upward.-Chicdgo Cur
rent
"A photographer of Prague has succeeded in
producing good picture of waves of sound which
were made visible by taking advantage of the
irregular refraction of light by the waves set in
vibration by sound.
1t is contemplated to use the electric light in
Agers for night work during harvest time, in or
der to escape the heat which is almost nlurderOuS
for Europeans and is an obstacle to their carrying
on agricultural work.
Over 5000 pounds of arsenic have been sent to
the San Joaquin Cali Valley during the past week
for use in fighting grasshopperS, and the new idea
is being practiced successfully.
If your blacksmith insists upon burning your
horses feet says the National StocknaR. in order TO
make the shoes fit, hunt another farrier at once.
The horseshoer who will do such thing is either
an Ignoramus or Is too lazy to do his work as 1t
should be done.
An American publisher is producing an excel
lent substitute for glue for the of okbinders.
1t is called gum gluten and is free from smell very
adhesive and strong. BY its use it is claimed that
saving of % per cent be effected in book
bindery in a tweivemonth 100 weight of gluten
going far rs six of glue.
Tactic acid is one of the chief agents that give
acidity to the gastric juice of the stomach in health
This is the acid of sour milk. and therefore, one of
the best Summer diet drinks that we can use is
buttermilk II satisfies the craving for acids by
giving to the stomach natural supply and at the
same time furnishing in its cheesy matter a good
supply of wholesome nutrition A man will en-
dure fatigue in hot weather better on buttermilk
than on any diet drink he can
"A new industry in the Southern forests is the
utilization of the needles of the longleaved pine
Pinals patustris. The leaves soaked in a bath
to remove the glazing, and then "crinked" for
stuffing cushions and other upholstering purposes.
They are specially valuable on shipboard and
other places where furniture is in danger of becom
ing infested with insects. The tRrpentine which
remains in the leaves makes most inhospitable
abode for these annoying visitors.