The gale., 1888-03-24
SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL

In experiments during the past year,
celluloid has proven an excellent sheath
ing for ships, in place of copper, over
which it has some advantages.
A new tanning agent has been OBJ
tanned by digesting coal dust with caus
tic soda at boil, and neutralizing the
resulting liquor with hydrochloric acid.
A solution composed of alum, two
pounds; water, sixty pounds; blue vitriol,
two pounds; gelatine, one pound; ace
tate of lead, half pound, thoroughly
mixed, will prevent mildew from affect
ing wood. clothing, fabrics, etc.
A remarkable engineering feat has
been successfully accomplished at Go
kak, India, where the $50 horse power
of three turbines is transmitted by rope
gearing 739 feet away, the first 800 feet
being up the face OF perpendicular
cliff.
A non-speaking telephone is exhibited
in Pittsburgh. A sensitive plate presses
against the larynx and glands of the
neck, and as the jaws are moved in con-
versation the motion sends the words
along the wire as distinctly as the tele-
phone now in use.
According to the Electrical Reoieao
medicine may be introduced into the
human system by electricity. The elec-
trodes of battery are saturated with the
medicine and applied locally to the skin.
Experiments show that there is an act
ual absorption of the medicine into tho
system.
A vehicle wheel has been patened by
Mr.. Walter Knight, of 'San Andreas,
CAL 1t has double series of inclined
metal spokes, the wheel being made of
combination of wood and metal whereby
great simplicity, durability, and strength
are secured, and the wheel may be easily
repaired when required.
According to Mr.. E. G. Ravenstein
the English foot is used as the standard
of length by countries having 461, ,O00,-
900 inhabitants, the meter by BAT,
900 people, and the Castilian foot by
5, 905, 0OO Denmark and Russia are the
only countries in Continental Europe
which have not adopted the meter.
A tricycle. which is designed to be
easily and conveniently propelled at
high rate of speed, without much exer-
ton on the part of the operator has been
| patented. 1t consists of rocking chair
! located on suitable frame and operat-
ing at its free end on a segmentalGgear
wheel, connected by train OF gear
wheels with the axle of driving wheel.
Curious effects are known to be eOften
| produced by colors on persons and ami
/ mails. The sight of an obnoxious color
| may induce an attack ofhysterics, nausea
| VII an
fit of ill-temper. The offending color is
sometimes blue, sometimes yellow, but
oftener red or scarlet. Scientific atten-
tion is being directed to these phenom-
ena.
Several of the French railway compa
nies and other public bodies have resolved
to have their printing done on green in
stead of white paper. The reason of the
change is that they believe the combina
ton of white paper with black charac
ters endangers the eyesight of their work
a people. Black on green has always beer
recognized as a good combination, anc
many railway tickets are SO printed.
Investigations concerning the effect
of different forms of artificial illumina
tion on the health have shown that the
tallow candle is the most unwholesomt
agent and the electric the best. The in.
candescent electric light produces only
about /. 80 as much heat as the tallow
candle, while it gives out no carbonic
acid or water. One gas-jet in room is
said to vitiate the air as much as six per-
! sons.
According to the american Druggist,
an excellent substitute for gum-arabic is
made as follows; Twenty parts of pow
dered sugar boiled with parts of fresh
milk, and this then mixed with so parts
of a 36-per cent solution of silicate of
sodium, the mixture being then cooled
to 1899 F. and poured into tin boxes,
where granular masses will gradually
separate which look very much like
pieces of gum arabic.
Euston Station, in London, England,
is lighted by new light which is be-
lieved to possess many advantages. Or
dinary coal gas, mixed in about the pro-
| portion of one to eight of common air,
is supplied under the usual gas service
pressure to burners over which are placed
caps of platinum wire gauze The mix
ture, when lighted, burns without fame
around the cap. which is raised to q
brilliant white heat by the combustion.