Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1886-12-01
- SCIENTIFIC~ 4


round pene-hammer.
The amount of force exerted by heat
and cold in expansion and contraction
of metal is equal to that which would
be required to stretch or compress it to
the same extent by mechanical means.
In experiments with cast gears it was
found that when dry the loss by fric-
tion was about thirty-iive per cent of
the total power, but when thoroughly
fabricated this loss was reduced to
thirteen per cent.
At late meeting of the microscopy
cal Society of London, Prof. FL Bell gave
an account of what he regarded as the
most extraordinary biological discov-
cry of the last twenty-five years-that
of third eye at the top of the head of
certain lizards.
M. Palmeri of the Vesuvian Observa-
tory has made some interesting expert
ments showing that when steam is
condensed by cold negative electricity
is developed. but that positive electric
ity is manifested when evaporation
takes place.
To produce red stain on wood, first
plunge it in a solution of one ounce of
curd soap in thirty-fve fluid ounces of
water, or rub with the solution and then
apply magenta sufficiently diluted to
bring out the tone required. All the
aniline colors act very well on wood.
A fabric has been patented which is
made insect proof by sleeping in solu-
tion of tobacco and cascarilla bark
macerated in benzine, then drying and
sleeping in tobacco, cascarilla bark and
hot water, the fabric to be used in
trunk Innings. etc, as protection from
moths or other insects.
In some experiments conducted by
the German Government on steel and
iron girders. the soft-steel girder proved
twenty-five per cent. stronger, and the
hard-steel girdcrs sixty-six per cent.
stronger than the iron girder. The
strength of steel gir,crs appeared to be
about the same for the two nanges, if
made alike in sections.
German photographers have sue
ceeded in photograpljng a ap"pjectile in
the course of its ilght, Il / some of
these photographs show 70 head of
condensed air which pr edes every
shot. 1t is said to be this "head"
which prevents even s'ilful riflemen
from hitting an empty egg Shell when
hung on a long thread. The air blows
the shell out of the way of tie bullet.
The Ottawa lumbermen are building
furnaces to burn their sawdust, as fol-
lows: The structure is o. tire brick, in
cased in plate lrou. is "cular tower,
and when iinisli wil 10 feet high,
and is thirty-siX ~ f.. :eet in dame
ter. This has become 're5Sary because
this refuse was chrk:1; the river.
The composition of metallic mirrors
of the present day differs very little
from that used by Sir Isaac Newton.
Many and different alloys have been
suggested, some including silver or
nickel or arsenic; but there Is little
doubt that the best alloy, taking all
things into account. is made with four
atoms of copper and one of tin, which
gives the following proportions by
weight: copper, 252; tin, ll7s.
A Manchester (EnclanD firm has
completed new rope-making machine,
which, whilst enabling any lengths of
ropes to be manufactured. dispense en-
tirely with any necessity for a rope
walk. The complete machinery does
not occupy floor space Of more than
three yards square, and is very simple
both in construction and working.
The yarn is wound on series of bob
bins, and the whole process of manufac-
ture is finished on the machine, the
rope being transferred direct to
drum, on which it is wound i'm coils
ready for delivery. The machine can
be readily regulated to give any twist
or hardness to the rope that may be
required.
If it were possible to rise above the
atmosphere which surrounds the earth,
we should see nothing but an intense
and sharply definel ball of fire, while
everything else would be wrapped in
total darkness. There could be no diff
fusion of light without an atmosphere
or some similar medium for it to act
upon; but If the air about us extended
to height of 700 miles, the rays of the
sun could not penetrate it, and we
would be left in darkness. At the depth
of zoo feet in the ocean the light ceases
altogether one-half of the light being
absorbed in passing through only seven
feet of the purest water.
The discovery that heat influences
one set of nerve points in the skin,
while sensations of cold are received by
another set, has been followed by an
interesting investigation by two Italian
Psychologists, whose experiments seem
to indicate that the various tastes re-
suit from the exciting of distinct sets
of nerve-fibres in the tongue. The pro-
longed application of ice removed the
sensbility for all tastes-sweet, 'sour,
salt and bitter. Cocaine destroyed
temporarily. of oursc-sensibility for
for bitter only. Other substances such
as caffeine and morpliia. reduced the
power of discriminating between differ
ent degrees of bitter. Dilute sulphuric
acid had peculiar effect. causing dis
titled water ani even quinine to taste
sweet at the tir"i fhc tongue, although
the bitter of the Iuinine was elsewhere
tasted as usual.
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