The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-05-12
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.


The manufacture of orange wine is
becoming an established industry in
Florida. The factory at Clay Springs
has just closed its season, having made
1000 barrels. For this quantity a mil
lion and half of oranges were pressed.
The price paid for oranges delivered at
the factory was s. thousand.
Prof. Peel, of St. Petersburg, has
found fifty per cent. of petroleum in
the cod liver oil sold by one druggist,
the adulterated article having the taste,
smell and appearance of the genuine.
Mineral oil is also frequently found in
olive oil.
"A Paterson. On. j. machineit has
completed silk loom which occupies
less space than typewriter, and
weaves silk handkerchiefs of pretty
pattern, four inches square. A child
can operate it. Silk manufacturers of
Paterson it is the smallest working
loom ever made.
In the early forms of electric in
candescent lamps the tiIament was of
platinum, and it was noticed that a
thin film of the metal soon formed on
the inside of the glass bulb. In recent
Investigations DIR. Alfred Berliner has
found the phenomenon to be due to the
tearing away of solid particles by the
violent emission of gases the platinum
had absorbed.
Curious effects are known to be
often produced by colors on persons
and animals. The sight of an obnoxious
color may induce an attack of Mysteries,
nausea, or headache, or it may cause
a violent fit of i'll temper. The offend
ing color is sometimes blue, sometimes
yellow, but oftener red or scarlet.
Scientific attention is being directed to
these phenomena.
Fifteen years ago there were only
two shoe manufactures in Portland,
Me, where now are several, employing
775 persons. For the current year these
factories have turned out 81, 900 pairs
Of boots, doing business estimated at
So, $50, 900. There have been no threat
ened strikes, and only once or twice in
the history of the trade has there arisen
disagreement between employer and
operatives.
According to various practical
tests, the gradual loss of elasticity fire.
quently observed in articles made OF
vulcanized India rubber is due to the
slow formation of sulphuric acid by the
action of atmospheric moisture on sui
phur present in the rubber. This action
of the acid may be prevented by occa-
sional prolonged washing of the article
with water, or with water rendered
slightly alkaline. In this way drainage
tubes may be maintained in supple
condition for considerable time.
"A very good quality of artificial
ivory can be manufactured from the
bones and hides of animals. The bones
are macerated and bleached in chloride
of lime for two weeks; then heated by
steam, together with the hides, until a
fluid mass is formed and to this a
small quantity of alum is added. After
filtering and drying in the air it is
huloOLC1t III Sstl ttluIl DdIl, anu 1lCluo
white, rough plates, which closely re-
semble ivory and are more easily
worked than the natural product.
An effort was recently made in
France to prove to u number of peas
ants that a piece of "solid iron" is not
in fact perfectly solid, but only rela-
lively so. The iron was hammered in
the presence of spectators until it be-
came of perceptibly less dimensions
than it contained before the hammer
ing began. The experimenters consid-
cred this triumphant proof of the
elasticity and condensability of tho
iron; but the peasants explained the
lessening of the irons dimensions by
saying that "some of the substance had
been hammered out of it," and would
not believe that it was bit more solid
after the hammering than it was be-
fore.