Wichita eagle., 1888-06-10
SCIENTIFIC soules

We rope Is only one-third as tensile a
when dry, and CREASED rope is even weaker.
Astronomical photography has succeeded
in reproducing stars down TO the thirteenth
magnitude
1t is predicted that the borings through
the Straits Of Dover VIII reveal the existence
OF extensive coal beds
Basic Stag, the refuse Of steel work. when
freed from iron and reduced to powder,
proves 10 be valuable fertilizer.
Medical authority can be found for the
theory that it is the early riser who catches
miasusa If there be any in the air
Florida promises to become largo pro-
Queer of opium Sixteen plants win produce
an ounce, and an acre Of peoples viii yield
1900 worth Of opium
1t hiss beer ascertained by careful experi-
ments conducted by n Roger that poisons
lose fifth Of their toxic power when taken
into the system by fasting.
An instrument called The autocraphomeser
has lately been devised, which. when in use.
indicates the Topography and differences Of
level Of all places over which il passeA
japanese engineers propose to suopt q sys-
tenn of earthwork defenses protected by an
iron shield one foot in thickness, and extend
ing twenty-five feet each side Of the gun
In China there are over 400 species OF
plants used for food, and in the world proba-
bly, ten times that number. Sawius: in Swe-
den is used in bread and found digestibla
A light, silicious earth is found in France
and Germany. from which are made bricks
that will aoat in water. Such bricks are
mentioned by Pliny; they were also made in
Tuscany in the Eighteenth century.
A Nuremberg inventor has produced a
shoe sole composed OF wire net overland with
a substance resembling India rubber These
soies, which cost but half the price of leather
have been tested in the German army, and
found to be twice as durable.
A new double pointed nail Is the invention
Of an ingenious woman. The points turn in
opposite directions They are especially use
full for invisible mailing in wood word 1t is
simply two nails joined firmly, the sides Of
the heads being placed together.
Professor Schmidt, Of Gatz university, has
hit upon the plan of cutting off pieces OF liv-
ing sponge and planting them in a suitable
place in the sea, rs if they were willow twixs
In this way he has succeeded, at the end OF
three years, in producing 1000 sponges at a
cost of S45.
DR.. Worms, of the Paris Academy Of Medi-
cine, has ascertained that bees, ants and
wasps show marked dislike to the new sac
charine To the human palate there is no
difference in the taste between il and sugar.
1t has been shown, however, that its use dis
turbs digestion
A physician Of Philadelphia analyzed
black japanned hat band worn by a patient
suffering from headache, and found it con-
tanned three grains of one of the lead salts
From this case be concludes that many head
aches are often due to the absorption Of the
lead in the hat band
Supervising Inspector Lubbock, Of San
Francisco, having reported to the treasury
department that petroleum is not safe fuel
for large boilers, has been instructed by Sec
rotary Fairchild TO withdraw all permits
heretofore given for its use except in the
case OF small steam launches
In drilling glass, stick piece Of stiff clay
or putty on the part where you wish to make
the hole. Make a hole in the putty the size
you want the hole, reaching to the glass, of
course Into this hole pour little molten
lead, when, unless it is very thick glass the
piece will Immediately drop out-Trades-
man.
Both in China and Japan soapstone has
long been largely used for protecting struc-
lures built of soft stone and other materials
specially liable to atmospheric influences. IL
has been found that powdered soapstone n
the form Of paint has preserved obelshs
formed of stone for hundreds of years which
would, unprotected, have long ago crumbicd
away. For the inside painting of steel and
iron ships il is found to be excellent. 1t has
no anti-fouling quality, but is anti-corrosive.
A writer IN The Economists Francois esti-
mates the total loss 10 France from the raw
ages of the phylloxera since 1875, when this
scourge of the French vineyards first made
its appearance, at the enormous sum Of TO-
Geo 600, 900 Of francs, or about f400, 900 600
This estimate is based upon French Official
statistics giving the aggregate area Of vine
yards destroyed in the country at about 2, 500
600 acres; and on the assumption that, in adj
dition to the acreage of vines thus utterly de-
stroyed, the extent of vineyards more or less
infected with the pbylloxera amounts TO
about 10000 acres, making thus together
Z, 900 600 acres