The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1888-06-02
SCIENTIFIC SCRAPS.

Sinrlc-lcggcd elevated railways are
again proposes, with the cars slung ovcl
single central rall reaching well W
into their interior.
Amalgams present many pcculiari-
ties. Thus iron, antimony, sodium,
silver and gold will dissolve in mercury
but if aatimonY amalgam be mixed with
sodium ama.g gam, the antimony is
thrown out---iron also.
A recent invention is the manu-.
facture of maple sirup from any ordi-
nary sirup. The process simply in
wolves the mixture of an extract from
the hickory tree with the strip, thereby
producing an excellent imitation of the
genuine article.
Medicine may be introduced into the
human system by electricity. The
electrodes of battery arc saturated
with the medicine and applied locally
to the skin. Experiments show that
there is an actual absorption of the
medicine into the system.
Gerhard Kruss reported to the Chcmi-
cal society of Munich that he had found
the new metal 'Germanium" in euxe-
mite. This metal was first discovered by
Winkler In 1885. in argyrodite, and had
not been observed In any other mineral.
Euxenite is a tItanate and niobate of
yttrium.
Pneumatic steering gear for vessels is
now being tried in New York harbor.
1t is c,aimel to give the underlined a
cushion, to give ventilation in the en-
gine-room or hold, to be simple, COM
pact, noiseless and always ready for use,
while the officer on the bridge can al
ways have coatrol of the ship.
A new method of preparing ccllulose
has, according to German paper, been
recently patented by Mr. Kellner, of
Podgera, Austria The inventor pro-
duces the pulp 10y decomposing electric
ally solution of certain chlorides, such
as common salt, and allowing the
chlorine gas thus obtained to act on
straw, wood or other material of similar
constitution.
An English physician, who has in
vestigated the characteristics and sur
roundings of centenarians, Says he finds
that the average qualities were a good
family history, wcll-madc frame, of
average stature, spare rather than stout,
robust, with good health, appetite and
digestion, capable of exertion, good
sleepers, of placid temperament and
good intelligence. with little need for
and little consumption of alcohol and
animal food.
The growth Of the nails is more rapid
in children than in adults, and slowest
In the aged. 1t goes on more rapidly in
summer than in winter; so that the
same nail that is renewed in 1872 days in
winter, requires oily 116 in summer.
The increase for the nails OF the right
hand is more rapid than for the left;
1t also differs for the different fingers,
and in order corresponding with the
length Of the finger. 1t is most rapid
for the middle finger; nearly equal for
the two either S; lie of this; slower for
the little finger, and slowest Tor the
thumb.
A correspondent writes to the Frank. |
furter Zcltung that the discoveries late
ly made in cave at Riibeland, in the
Harz, are Of an interesting character.
The quantity of bears bones is estimated |
at nearly 10 hundredwelght, among
them beng seven very well preserved
skulls. A set of stays antlcrs, frag-
ments of skeletons of hyenas, and some
hne slender bones which experts assign
to the ptarmisan and the lemming.
These remains are regarded as relics of
the Arctic fauna Of the ic, period in the
Harz, 1t is proposed to keep them in
the cave, which will be lighted by cleo
tricity for the benefit of scientific
visitor