Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-12-23
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.
rComniled for the SPECTATOR.

HOUSEHOLD sCIENCE.-A simple me1nou
of ornamenting wood or sized paper Is TO
brush over it thin coating of very con,
centrated cold solution of some salt mixed
with dextrine, which gives to the surface
beautiful mother of-pearl appearance. 10
cause the adhesion of the mixture to glass
an extra coating of an alcoholic shellac soiu-
ton is necessary Sulphate of magnesia,
acetate of soda, and sulphate OF tin are
among the salts which produce the most at
tractive crystalline coatings.
An investigation by Mr.. W. F. Smith, an
American chemist, indicates that good cider
never contains less than three and one-half
per cent of alcohol, and should have about
five per cent. The acetic acid in genuine
cider vinegar may fall below four per cent,
but good article should contain five per
cent, and from five and One-half to seven
per cent when prepared from the better
grades of cider.
It is often matter of surprise that drunk |
en- men sustain little or no injury from falls
which might have been expected to result
fatally. The reason of this immunity is
that the nerve centres are so paralyzed IN
the drunken man as not to be affected by
the shock of the fall, which, in a sober man,
would have acted upon them so violently as
to stop the heart, arrest the circulation, and
cause instant death.
The Japanese Government proposes max
ing adequate provision for instruction IN
medical science by dividing the country in
to six sections, in each of which will be e.
tablished college for the training OF future
physicians and surgeons.
A German chemist has ascertained that
poisons-such as prussic acid, corrosive sub
Innate and sulphuretted hydrogen-destroy
the terminating power OF seeds
ORANe 1NTELLeENcE-''We will not
say anything about the place the orang has
in the long chain Of evolution" observes
Hornaday; s'but while abstract argument
leads hither and thither, according as this
or that writer is most ably gifted for the
same, there is still one argument or intiu-
ence tcluai oh every trl' 2 % o.
.Alsos Uc-oay--who is prejudioed against tn
Darwinian views, go to Borneo. Let hin
there watch from day to day this strapgel
human form in all its various phases O
existence. Let him see the orang climb
Walk, build its nest, eat, drink, and figh
like human rough. Let him see the fe
male suckle her young and carry it astrid
her hip precisely as do the coolie women q
Hindostan. Let him witness their human
like emotions Of affection, satisfaction. pair
ana rage-let him see all this, and then he
may feel how much more potent has beer
tnls lesson than all he has read in pages OF
abstract ratiocination.
PAPER PIANos.-An Interesting exnor;
ment has been made in Germany With com.
pressed paper-capable of high polish-as
material for piano-cases. The tone of the
instrument is reported to be not loud but
very sweet; and, unlike the short broken
note Of the ordinary piano, the sound is
soft, full and slightly continuous. resem-
phng somewhat that of the organ. This
modltcation of tone is ascrlbed to the even
ness OF texture of the compressed paper.
Unclean hands seem to be an unavoida.
Die evil. DIR. Forster, an italian investiga-
Gor, mas Shown that after the most thorough
washlngs and brushings with carbolic acid
and dlsinfectants of various kinds. the
hands are still so impure that upon touch.
ing them to sterilized gelatine micro-organ.
1sms are developed.
YELLOW FEVER VACCINATION Some
experimental yellow fever inoculations nv
DIR. Carlos Finlay, of Havana, have been
made IN somewhat curious manner q
mosgnito being caused first TO sting val
low 1eVeT patient and then the healthy sub.
5ece. "A mild form of the disease resulted
"hlcn became more severe when two mos
SeiCos ware employed to convey the poison.
VI eleven cases of this incubation, six were
ns6fnfcacious, one doubtful, and four negative.
Inc period of incubation varied from five
TO fourteen days, and the fever lasted. az in
the ordinary form, from five to twenty ono
Gays. DR.. Finlay believes that the arti. |
nciai yellow fever produced by this method
Will effectively protect against the natural
and dangerous forms Of the disease.
CENTENARIANs.-Alis list of persons who
nave exceeded the age of 100 years has bean
compiled in France. It is Surprisingly
large, as may be judged from the fact that
during the years 1924 to 1887 France con.
famed between III and It's centenarians
wnlle there were no less than 1888 in Rms,
ga IN 1888. The published list includes the
famous Thomas Parr, who died at the AGE
OF i52 years, and Frenchman named
Priou, who died in 1888 in his 15sth wear.
one OF the Oldest persons now living.pos.
sloiy the oldest-is Madame Girard. who
was born in France March 16, 1851. and is
therefore nearly 1875 years old She is still
active, and her sight and hearing are good.
CUT her memory is greatly impaired.
DIR. G. Rolhfs considers woollen clotbino
to be unhealthy for wear in the tropics. he
nnds support for this theory in the fact that
sneep from cool countries soon lose their
WOOL IN Central Africa and become covered
with thin coat Of hair, while lions lose
their heavy names in hot regions.
The birds Of Labrador, according TO Mr.
l.. M. Turner, embrace 1854 species. g