The National tribune., 1885-12-10
SCIENTIFIC CHAT.

= Probably the best way TO ascertain what par
sicular stone will Withstand exposure to the atmos-
phere any particular locality is to step into the
grareyurs of The district and observe the condition
of the stones employed for monumental purposes.
- Engineering Describes. under the name OF
mystery goid, an alloy resembling gold IN ap-
pearancc, weight, and ia witfistanding the jewelers.
test of strong acids Its analysis il given follows
Silver, 24s; platinum. $40 copper, by difere ice,
article made of ii is left in ii for time has ap
parently no effect upon the alloy, which is coming
extensively into use.
NJ. Either proposes in the Rerue badustrielte this
simple method for testing the quality OF the leather
used for belting small piece cut out of the belt
aud placed IN vinegar. If the leather has been per-
1ecty tanned, ana Is therefore OF good Gualty IL
will remain immersed in the vinegur-even for
several months-wthout any other change than
becoming little darker in color. IT. on the con-
trary 1t Is not well impregnated with tannln, the
tibeFs will promptly swell, and after short time
become converted into a gelatinouS mass.
An improved railroad tie, just invented, Is
formed of two inverted bowls having plain upper
surfaces, two fastening clips secured to the plain
surface OF each bowl by bolts, with n bar connect
ing the two bowls, and secured by the fastening
DoitS OF the inner clips; the concave side oil the
bowl is filled with earth well tamped, or with con-
crete, the object being to furnish tie which shall
be practically indestructible
- Pasteur has fully measured the strength of
his aitenuated preparations of Inocuatiye virus
against hydrophobia that he is about to commence
their application 10 human beings. But Pasteur Is
an honest investigator, and acknowledges that
even with the aid of the most powerful lenses he
has not been able to discover "a microbe of hydro
phobia. He says that section of the brain of a
person who had died of hyclrophoba did not differ
in appearances, microseopicay, from that of q
brain affected by disease that had not infringed
upon its substance.
Chloride of lime has been popular prescrip-
ton for driving away rats, but correspondent of
the Boston Transcript that his rats eat chloride
of lime as If 1t We're sugar and do not seem to suf
fer in health in consequence,
A halt-breed Inaian in the Dead River region
mas domestlcated bull moose and uses him III ms
farm work. He is good worker and q lively
stopper. In the Winter, when he bitches the moose
i'll his sled and strikes across pond, there is no
horse in the region that can keep up with him.
The half-breed turns his steed into an inclosure
with fence of ordinary hight. Once in awhile
the moose jumps out and goes on an excursion,
but as he never fails to return this privilege is not
begrudged him.-LewistOn (Me) Journal.
Prof. BiIiz finds that coffee is an absolute
antidote to alcohol, if it be taken in sufficient
quantity. Dogs saturated with caffeine could not
be made drunk.
"A recent investigator into the causes of con-
sumption says that the disease is often inherited
because the heir has taken for his personal the
decedents Old mattresses, upholstered chairs, and
carpets.
The Lancet states that a German observer has
found that cows miked three times n day give
much more milk than when mlked twice only
and that the proportion of fat is the same in both
cases.
-Bisulphide Of carbon, NJ Pasteur thinks, will
become the most eficacious of all antiseptics it
Is also the cheapest costing but fraction of penny
per pound IN large quantity. 1t is likewise the best
insectcide known, and for this purpose may, it is
Thought, be useful for preserving woodwork In
tropical countries Some idea of the il is al
ready put to may be gathered from the fact
that more than 5000 600 pounds of the substance
used annually TO check the ravages of phylloxera.
Carbon blsuphide, as produced, though an ex-
tremey offensive compound in respect to odor, is
capable Of complete publication.