The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-09
POPULAR SCIENCE.


1t is stated that there has been no instance Of
the failure of oil to still troubled waters when
the oil used was vegetable or fish OIL
A Boston bark recently sailed for three hours
through cloud OF dust near New Zealand It
was just after a volcanic eruption on the island.
A soldering fluid. composed of teaspoonful of
chloride of zinc dissolved in two ounces of alco-
hol will not rust and tarnish, and has no bad
smell.
Out Of one hundred brain tumors DR.. Hale
White finds that ten. or possibly fourteen, might
have been treated surgicaly provided, of course,
a diagnosis could be made.
The West Indian birch is said to be the weak
est and the nutmeg hickory of Arkansas the
strongest wood. The lightest and most brittle
is the blue wood of Texas, and the tamarack the
most elastic.
1t has bean clearly established that lead pipes
are little affected by water if constantly filed,
but readily affected is alternately filled and
emptied Unless always full, they are not fitfor
carrying drinking water.
In lecture at the Royal Institute, London,
Prof. Oliver Lodge has endeavored to show that
electricity might be employed to clear the upper
atmosphere of great cities of the overhanging
clouds of dust and smoke.
DR.. De la Rue has concluded that the height
of the MOST brilliant display of the aurora
borealis is thirty-e eight miles; that faint glow
may possibly be produced as high as elghty-two
miles. bat that at height of Ia miles no aurora
discharge is possible.
The French government has not yet given up
the hope of finding really successful method
of steering balloons. At Meudon very large
balloon is now in course of constructions it is to
be steered by means of a continuously rotating
sail-rudder, driven by electro motor, tor which
primary battery will supply curr emit
A safe, portable and convenient electric rail-
way reading lamp was shown at a recent meet
ing of the British Association. A cubical box of
about four inches and containing four cells,
weighs six pounds and will burn twelve hours;
another form of battery one-third this width and
half the weight is not more cumbrous than a
book; the little lamp is fastened by hook to the
waistcoat. The one exhibited had startled many
a fellow passenger of the exhibitor and had done
good service for a fortnight.
An inventor at Shanghai, China, has contrived
an electric sword which, when the point touches
the party attacked sends powerful shock
through him, and, if not Immediately killing,
will at least put him hors du combat The sword
is ordinary military saber but along it's
whole length is let In a fine platinum WIRE
which ends at the point of the weapon. A small
but very powerful storage battery is carried
strapped about the waist, much the same as
cartridge box. Insulated wires connect this bat
terry with the sword, and. by pressing the but
ton, the holder can complete the circuit at pleas
ure.
Hystera in soldiers is a con dtion which, until
a comparatively recent date. has been entirely
unrecognized. Its existence, however, may now
be regarded as established. especially convincing
evidence having been lately adduced by Du-
ponchel, who. in the Revue de Medicine, 1886,
No g. records in extenso the clinical histories of
numerous soldiers in the French army who suf-
fered uneQuivocaly from hysteria, and in some
cases from the so-caled grande hysterie. Ignor-
ance Of the facts here presented has undoubtedly
caused those actually suffering from hysterical
commissions TO be regarded either as malingerers
or epileptics
OF all building materials the first in its fire.
resisting qualities is fre-clay. This material
has become of late years invaluable adjunct
to various classes of buildings, and it is safe to
say that the near future will see it used in a
great number of directions now scarcely
dreamed Of In its various forms it can be so
cheaply made and so easily and inexpensively
applied, that there is no excuse for the prevail
ing indifference to it. 1t can be made in forms
much lighter than brick, and consequently can
be used in many cases where. for reasons of sup
port a brick wall is not possible. Moreover,
being made in hollow porous forms. its air
cells make it an ideal non-conductor of heat, and
consequently excellent protection against
cold