Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-05-11
pepuIar science.

a weak SOlullOu vi dqunioiti tio VI -
ric acid will remove moss aud weather
discolorations from marble.
The question as to what is the ex-
act mechanical equivalent OF heat has
long puzzled engineers. The latest
experiments show that one pound OF
water raised one degree Fahrenheit
is equal to one pound of water raised
760 feet.
Joseph Halevy, the Orientalist, Pro-
lessor Of the Hebrew language and
literature at the Sorbonne in Paris, is
at present in Constantinople. He
was invited thither by the director oil
the Imperial Museum to declpher the
Phmnician Inscriptions on tile tom ps
which we're recently discovered at
Saida, and which are now III that
museum.
Dir. Blache states in the Bulletin
Therdpe,tti; that in chronic and simple
bronchitis petroleum in doses OF a
teaspoonful before meals produces
satisfactory results. In phthlsls the
experiments have not yet been long
enough continued to ascertain whether
the results are permanently beneficial,
bit it diminishes the expectoration,
which also loses its purulent char
acter.
Though electrical storage batteries
have attracted attention only withla
the past seven years, the discovery
of the principle is as old as the cent
ury. Gautherot having first noticed in
1901 that platinum or silver wires gave
off a cnrrept after having been dis
connected from a voltaic battery with
which they had been used for decom-
posing saline water. The first SET ond-
ary cell of Plante was made in 1860.
The Indians OF the Pacific Coast
call the beautiful Arbutus Menaiesii
the Madrof1G. 1t is remarkable fact
that the Indians give this same name,
Madroaa to closely allied species
Arbutus 1'alapense, var. Terense. This
botanical fact may have some bear
ing on the identity of origin OF the In
dian races, and point to the Pacific as
the original home of the Indians OF
Western Texas.
A valuable disinfecting compound
for purifying the atmosphere is de-
scribed in q Berlin journal. Oils OF
rosemary, lavender and thyme, in the
proportion of ten, two and one-
half and two and .one half parts,
respectively, are mixed with nitric
acid in the proportion of thirty to one
and one-half Simple as it is the
vapor OF this compound is said to pos
sess extraordinary properties in con-
trolling offensive odors and efliuvia.
Paper window-glass is now said to
be an assured fact As described: ga
window-pane il made of white paper |
manufactured from cotton or linen and
modified by chemical action. After
ward the paper is dipped in prepara-
tion OF camphor and alcohol, which |
makes it like parchment. From this
point it can be nodded and cut into
tough sheets, entirely
translucent, and can be dyed with al
most the whole Of the anil ne colors,
the result being translucent sheet
showing far more vivid hues than the
best glass exhibits"
Mr.. Edison, in his "pyromagnetic
generator Of electricity" believes
himself able to get electric power
directly from coal with an economy
equal to, and probably greatly ex-
ceeding, that of the Indirect method
OF ordinary dynamos. His apparatus
is based on the principle that the
metals--iron, nickel and
cobalt - los, their magnetizability
when moderately heated, the heating
and cooling OF these metals in a mag
netic field.causing variations in their
magnetism which produce an electric
current in surrounding coil of wire.
The new French combustible lace
is quite novelty, and the compost
tion by which this result is achieved
is equally adapted, it seems, to rem
dering wool and paper infammable.
1t is mixture of so parts pure sui
phate of ammonia, 25 parts carbonate
of ammonia, 80 parts boracic acid, IL
parts pure borax, 20 parts starch and
900 parts of distilled or pure water.
These ingredients are most thor
oughly combined; the materials are
dipped in this solution while hot, SO
as to be completely impregnated,
after which they are dried and ironed
as ordinary starch fabrics.
Harper's Magazine says Of water as
medicine: Ordinary drinking water,
if taken ia large quantities, acts as a
solvent and a diuretic, and also in
creases the perspiration if the tenn
perature OF the air is high. Taken in
the quantity Of one or two quarts at
time, the dilueut effect of water is Of
ten sufficient to eliminate an excess |
of alcohol from the blood, as
after taking too much wine. |
Another effect OF large draughts
OF water is to make the pulse
slower and to diminish slightly the
normal Temperature of the body. In
crease OF weight has been claimed as
result of systematic water drinking
on retiring for the night. The latest
researches do not bear out this con-
clusion. Water thus taken will pre-
vent any actual loss of weight, but it
is not shown that it will do anything
more. With the addition of moder
ate stimulant, however, it has often
fattening effect.