The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-05-14

Nitro-glycerine is probably the most
popular Of the new remedies recently
adopted by physicians,
A dictionary for the scientific and
technical terms in all languages is pro,
jected by Prof. Villanova, and is Ell.
dorsed by the International Geological
Congress.
Two French investigators have found
that the germs of fermentation are not
destroyed or perceptihly affected by q
pressure of 800 to 400 atmOspheres CON.
tinued for several days.
BY o Japanese PROCESS sea-weed IL
made into paper 80 transparent that il
may be substituted for window glass.
When colored it makes an excellent
imitation of stained glass.
A French geographer reports that all
the peaks of the Alps, extending over a
distance of more than $50 miles, are
easily visible from the summit of the
Dole, which has an altitude of $500
feet.
In cannon foundry at Bourges,
France, electricity has been successfully
applied to mechanical purposes for
more than five years, two large move
able cranes, each weighing over twenty
tons, having been worked by electric
motors without difficulty.
A German Investigator, Semmola, has
succeeded IN producing musical tones
from a metal plate by electrifying it in
termittently from an induction machine,
the wires being attached to opposite
sides OF the plate and the path of the
current interrupted so that sparks strike
across.
The discovery OF hitherto unknown
lake in the Persian desert was annOunc-
ed at a late meeting of the Vienna Geo
graphical society. 1t Is at least twen-
ty-tive miles long, and from Mohamme-
dan evidence appears to have dried up
after previous existence, and to have
again filled up at quite recent date.
From recent experiments by DIR. Par
sons on the disinfection of clothes and
bedding by heat, the conclusion is
reached that the germs of the ordinary
infectious diseases cannot withstand an
exposure of an hour to dry heat of 220
degrees Fahrenheit or an exposure of
five minutes to boiling water or steam
of 2l2 degrees.
A curious phenomenon has Just been
brought to light by the removal of
lightning rod. To the end of the rod,
which has been imhedded in ferrugi-
pous earth for about fifteen years, was
found attached q lump of iron ore,
weighing ninety-six pounds, supposed
to have been aggregated by the action
of electricity from the surrounding
earth.
Evidence of the decay of forests in
Australia is found in the present exist
ence of few trees far exceeding in
size any of those about them, and sup
posed to be survivors of departed race
OF giants. A tree twenty-five feet i'm
circumference, at a height of thirty feet
above the ground, was described at a
late meeting of the Royal Society of
New South Wales.
In the recent English tests of light
house illuminants was brought out the
curious fact-of great practical as well
as scientific interest-that remarkable
changes in the transparency of the air
occur without any visible haze or mist.
invisible clouds seemed to float by, OBJ
securing the lights for q time; and it
sometimes happened that while the dis
tant French lights showed with un-
abated brilliancy. the experimental
lights, only mile and a quarter away,
had lost One-fourth to one-third their
power.
Franklin Institute tests indicate tn at
pne pound of coal burned under good
boiler yields Q light of about twenty
candles by the lncandescent electric
system. The same weight of coal gives
from the naked arc-lfght, about 1853
candles, only 80 candles being ordi.
narily available, on account Of the
shading of arc-lights. The gas from
Dne pound Of bituminous coal, Yields
from IA to II candles. The greater
Of fuel in electric lighting is
offset by the increased expense Tor
and attention.