The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1889-04-06
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

Carpentry was the trade of the
American aborigines, Indians and
mound builders.
There are about 20, 900 lace-makers.
in Normandy, and in all France there
are nearly 100000 women engaged in
this industry.
1t is claimed that a mixture four
parts sawdust, two parts powdered
6re-clay, one part powdered glass, one
part cotton dust and six parts sea sand,
will, when moistened and fired at red
heat, yield very permanent and por-
GUS material for lamp wicks.
"A recent novelty is an invention
designed to facilitate the manufacture
Of durable boot-heels. By its use a
heel-shaped leather shell is made and
filed with solid body. 1t has also
novel device for pressing the leather
into the approximate form and for
molding and working it.
Among the latest methods resorted
to for hardening copper is that OF
melting together and stirring until
thoroughly incorporated, copper and
from one to six per cent. OF manga
nese oxide; the other ingre, dients for
bronze and other alloys may then be
added. The copper thus becomes
homogeneous, harder and tougher.
-Sarsap Arilla--largely employed in
medicine lis the product of the roots
OF seve.sl species of smilax, found in
Mex co, Central and South America.
IT ESQ roots, of reddish-brown color,
Abcat as large as goose-quill, and
ssine or ten feet long, prepared in vari-
ous ways, are very extensively pre-
scribed in chronic rheumatism, chronic
skin diseases and kindred ailments.
The leaves are OF no value.
Since Humboldt witnessed fish
thrown from the volcano Cotopaxi, in
1903, it has been found that the phe-
nomenon is repeated from time to time
during eruptions, and thaSit occurs
The fish are sometimes elected in vast
quantities. All belong to one species.
which exists in some of the lakes on
tho sides OF the mountains.
The art OF etching upon glass was
discovered by Nuremberg glass cut
ter. BY accident a few drops of aqua
fortis fell upon his spectacles. He no.
ticed that the glass became corroded
and softened where the acid had touched
it. That was hint enough. He drew
figures upon glass with varnish, applied
the corroding fluid, then cut away the
glass around the drawing. When the
: varnish was removed the figures APP
peare!i raised upon dark ground.
--Nitro-glycerine bids fair, say the
doctors, to become an important RENE
ay for diseases OF the kidneys; and ex-
pcriments are now making in cases OF
Bright's disease. Nitro-glycerine OF a
pure quality, possessing all the explo-
sive powers of the substance is pre-
pared in alcohol (Which removes the
explosive quality in the proportion Of
one part of the nitro-glycerine to nine
ty-nine of alcohol, and is then prepared
with sugar or milk in tablets. Thus
prepared it is called ssTrinitrin. A
patient in Philadelphia hospital has
had the dose increased until now he IL
taking eighty grains day. He has
Bright's disease, and the effects are
said to be highly satisfactory.
The popular idea that razo1
noeds rest occasionally has a scientific
foundr'ion in the case of fine razors
The & in of the best Swedish razor
runs in diagonal direction from tn
upper end OF the outer point towars
the handle. Constant stropping viii
twist the steel until the grain sets III
and down, and steady use draws tn
grain still further over. When it get
into this condition it can not be KEEP
sharp. but il laid away and left alon
for while the grain will resume 1t
first position, and the razor be as goo
l.