The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-05-31
SCIENTIFIC SQUibS.
Wet rope is ouly one-tllrd as tensile as
when dry, and creased rope is even weaker

1 u II
Astronomical photography has succeeded
in reproducing suirs down to the thirteenth
magnitude.
| It Is predicted that the borings through
the Straits of Dover will reveal the existence
Of extensive coal beds.
Basic Stag, the refuse Of steel works, when
freed from iron and reduced to powder,
proves to he a valuable fertilizer.
| Medical authority can he found for the
theory that 1T is the early riser who catches
miasma if there be any in the air.
Florida promises to become large pro-
Queer Of opium Sixteen plants viii produce
an ounce, and an acre 0. peoples will yield
! $1,000 worth Of opium.
1t has been ascertained by careful exoeri-
ments conducted by ~ Roger that poisons
| lose one fifth Of their toxic power when taken
| into the system by fasting.
An instrument called The autographometer
has lately been devised which, when in use,
indicates tho topography and differences OF
level Of all places over which 1t passes.
japanese engineers propose TO adopt sys
ten 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 Sawdust in Swe
den is used in bread and found digestible.
\ light. silicious earth is found in France
and Germany. frorn which are rtadc bricks
that will nost in water. Such bricks are
mentioned by Pliny; they were also made i'll
Tuscany in the Eighteenth century
A Nuremberg inventor has produced a
shoe sole composed of wire net overlaid with
a substance resembling India rubber. These
soles, 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 i
simply two nails joined firmly, the sides OF
the heads being placed together.
Professor Schmidt, of Gatz university, ha.
hit upon the plan of cutting or pieces OF liv
inc sponge and planting them in suitable
place in the sea, as If they were willow tvigs
In this way he has succeeded, at the end OF
three years, in producing 1909 sponges at a
cost of sij
DR.. Worms, of the Paris Academy Of Mcdi-
| cine. has ascertained that bees, ants and
wasps show marked dislike 10 the now sac
charine. To tue human palate there is nc
difference in the taste between it and sugar
It has been shown, however, that its use dis
turbs digestion.
\ physician Of Philadelphia analyled q
| black japanned hat band worn by patient
suffering from headache, and found 1t con
tanned three grains Of one of the lead salts
| From this case he concludes that many head
aches are often due to the absorption Of tho
| lead in the bat band.
Supervising Inspector Lubbock, Of san
Francisco, having reported to the treasury
| department that petroleum IS not safe fue
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 n hole In the putty the siz'
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 ha'
long been largely used for protecting struc
lures built Of soft stone and other materials
specially Liable to atmospheric influences. II
has been found that powdered soapstone il
the form of paint has preserved obelisk'
formed of stone for hundreds of years which
would, unprotected, have long ago crumblec
away For the inside painting Of steel anc
iron ships it is found to be excellent. 1t ha'
no anti-fouling quality, but Is anti-corrosive
4 writer in The Economist Francois est
mates the total loss to France from the raw
ages of the phylioxora since $50, when thu
scourge Of the French vineyards first made
| It's appearance, at the enormous sum Of TO-,
| 900 600 600 Of francs, or about 44OO,OOOOOO
| This estimate is based upon French ofhcia
statistics giving the aggregate area of vine
yards destroyed in the country at about 200,
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 les
infected with the phylloyera amounts q
about 10000 acres; making thus together
| 100000 acres