Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-02
SCIENTIFIC GLEANINGS.

A piece of tallow wrapped in tissue
paper and laid among furs or wooden will
prevent the ravages of moths.
By new process of steaming White
wood and submitting it to pressure it can
be made so tough as to require cold
chissl to split it.
The eyes of poisonous snakes have been
found by DR.. Benjamin Sharp to have
eli ptical pupils, while in the harmless
species they are circular.
An observer must stand 6,667 feet
above the level of the sea TO discern a
vessel loo miles distant, and 1856 feet
when it is distant 200 miles.
A German astronomer has found reas-
ons for believing that the zodiac Iig ht aud
the aurora borealis result from the refec-
ton of sunlight by water and ice.
To remove kerosene from carpets lay
blotters of soft brown paper over the
spot and press with q warm iron. Repeat
with fresh papers and tho spot will be re-
moved.
Whales are not fishes. They have no
scales; they have warm blood; they give
milk to their young, and finally, they
would be drowned if they were 10 remain
longer than half an hour under water.
It has been predicted that the amazing
popularity ia which ceHuloid is held will
one day get Set back by serious expIo-
sion in some store or private dwell ing in
which there Is a quantity of the stuff.
Cut al earth worm in two aud place the
two halves IN flower pot with earth kept
instantly moist, and in less than year
ycu will find two whole worms. A head
will have grown on the half that had bat a
tail, while tail will have gIoNn to the
half that had none.
Ink stains on mahogany furniture will
disappear if treated As follows: Put six
drops of spirits of nItre into a teasp@on-
fnl of water, and touch the stained part
with a feather dipped in the mixture.
Immediately after this ruo with soft
cloth and cold water to prevent white
mark.
Professor Baird says that as fish has
no maturity there is rothing to prevent
it from living ind fnjtely and growing
continually. He cites in proof pike liv
ing in Russia whose age dated back TO the
fifteenth century. In the royal aquarium
at st Petersburg there are fish that have
been there 14G gears.
Oswadus Nothingers is said TO have
made 1900 dishes of turned ivory, all
perfect and com plete in every part, yet
so thin and slender that all of them were
included at once In a cdp turned out of a
pepper corn of common size. They were
so smsll as to be almost invisible to
the eve. They were presented to Pope
Paul Y.
It is said that for years there has been
held before the eyes of am bitious inves
tors an offer of prize of $4,000 Cor the
first ten bales of iute grown and prepared
for market in the United States at cost
which will admit of successful com petit
ton with the Indian article, but the prize
is still unearned.
A CON pany has been formed TO dredge
the Carson river in Nevada for qulcksil
yer and amalgam. Eighteen miles of
river bed have been located. 1t is est
mated that 10 per cent. of the bullion
product of the Comstock mines ha- flow
ed as tailiBgs into the Carson river, and
that at least S4O,O0O,0OO will be recoV-
cred.
Singularly favorable reports continue
to be made concerning Dr.. Domingos
Friere's system of preventive inocui alton
in yellow fever. Il is stated that during
the three not months IN Brazil, ending
with February last 3-051 subjects were
is oculated in Rio de Janeiro. and not one
had the fever, whereas in the same dis
tricts and houses 278 non vaccinated sue
cumbed TO the disease.
curious speculation has been made
concerning what would happen should
the earfh's rotation cease. The equator
iaI diameter being twenty six miles more
than the polar diameter, the earth would
present an equatorial zone of solid ground
miles high above sea level, the water all
being drawn to the poles. This lard zone
would then be like Arctic regions, and be
banded by ring OF permanent ice and
snow.
When Tuscan flask has been filled
with wine large thimbleful of olive oil,
the genuine olive oil, is poured into the
neck and occupies it to the depth of