The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-17
CURIOUS, USEFUL AND SCIENTIFIC.

The opinion is en- tertained now by many
men of science that the art of making artifi
clal stone for structural purposes is prehis-
toric, and that the pyramids were, in fact,
built of artificial blocks manufactured from
the surrounding plain.
The production of caraway sc ed has been
estimated at $780, eco bales year. All the
northern parts of Europe and the United
States are the principal centers of the con-
sumption Of this article. The manufacturers
OF et sen tial oil in Germany use great deal
OF the seed, and the plant In some parts of
IL at country Is to be found in every meadow.
The Importance OF wholesome potable
water for cities is shown in Vienna. Since
the introd uction into that city of water
drawn from the Syrian Alps q constant and
very considerable decrease has been OBJ
served in stomach aud Intestinal troubles,
and cases OF typhus fever have become
rare.
The expenses in connection with the ex
periments in ascertaiuing the best source OF
light for lighthouse illumination has cost the
British Government good round sum.
return shows that up to the end of last No.
yember the outlay was more than $40 600,
and other Indebtedness was subsequently,
incurred in connection with the same ob
jac'.
According 10 the Bulletin of the Society of
Naturalist of Moscow the hitherto unac
countsble destruction OF pine forests is caused
by the ravages of species of mushroom
wood and afterward pen etIates and destroys
the tree. Maps are given in which the path
OF the destroying fungus is traced through
tAe pine woods of Russia.
The following is given as cheap mode OF
rendering fabrics uninfammable. Four
parts OF borax and three parts OF sulphate of
maenesia are shaken up together just being
Tha 49, Co. h,x, Il 80
from 20 to 80 parts parts of warm water. Into
the resulting solution the articles TO be pro-
tscted from fire are immersed, and when
they ere thoroughly soaked they are
wrung out and dried, preferably in the open
air.
A distillerY has lately been put ia opera
ton at Charleston, s. c., for manufs cturiDg
OIL from pine wood. The material is subjec
to intense heat in sealed retorts, and one cord
OF it Is said to yield fifteen gallons of turpsn-
tine, eighty gallons of pine.wood oil, fifty
bushels CT charcoal, $50 gallons of wood vim;
egar and quantity Of inf ammable gas and
vegetable asphaltum. The oil alone is worth
about twenty-five cents gallon, and is led
by painters and ship-builders.
As means of producing an artificial sea
atmosphere in houses, the use has been sug-
gested of solution of peroxide OF hydrogen
conta ming per cent of OF onic ether, iodine
to satGra,ion, and 90 per cent. of sea salt.
The solution. placed in steam or hand
spray diffuser can be distributed in the fn-
est spray in room at the rate OF two fluid
ounces in q quarter of an hour. 1t commuu-
icafes a pleasant oder and is said to be as
good a purifier of q sick chamber as ever
used, besides being powerful disinfec
tent.
a new volcano has been developed in Rus.
STA twelve versts from the town of Ielns, in
the Government OF Smolensk On the top of
a bill there it was noticed tan years ago that
snow never remained for any length OF time.
Three years back subterranean noises were
heard in the neighborhood OF the hill, and
smoke wss seen to issue from Its summit.
Lately flames have shot up, aud melted iron,
cinders, and sand have been thrown out OF
freshly formed crater. The ground is 30 hos
that pole thrust into it is burned in few
minutes. ALI around the hill there are evi::
dent eigns of true volcanic energy.