Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-24
POPULAR SCIENCE.
SCIENCE NOTES.

SPECTAcLEs to be used in surgical oper-
ations), Lit by means Of a small electric
lamp, are new invention The lamp Is
arranged to send beam Of cool light on
the part to be examined; meanwhile the
rims of the spectacles exclude the outside
light from the observers eyes. The current
is conveyed to the lamp by wires con-
nected to the small terminals.
DIS. HENooUE AND FREDEL, in a commu-
nication made to the Biological Society OF
may be rendered painless by spraying the
neighborhood Of the external ear with
ether. The anesthesia Of the trigeminous
SO produced extends to the dental nerves,
and thus renders the production Of the gen.
eral an9sthesia needless.
An old toy has been reproduced in the
form Of q paper-weight containing an ap-
parently living bird or insect. A miniature
electric generator in the base causes the
artificial creature to flap its wings and pro-
duce peculiar rustling sound, the imita-
ton being SO deceptive that certain sensi-
tive lady accused the inventor Of cruelty in
imprisoning live butterfly to die Of starva-
ton A new lamp-shade contains vaned
wheel SO mounted that the current Of heat
ed air from the lamp rotates a series Of
colored bands, behind a perforated design
on the shade, producing beautiful effect.
MIR. F. II. SHELTON tells how to thaw
frozen pipes: 81 took from over the pipe
some four or five inches-just a crust-of
earth; l put couple Of bushels Of lime into
the space, poured water over the lime and
Stacked 1t, and then put canvas over that,
and rocks on the canvas, so as to keep the
wind from getting underneath Next
morning, on returning there, ! found that
the frost had been drawn out from the
ground for nearly three feet. You can ap-
preciate what an advantage that was; for
picking through frozen ground with the
thermometer below zero Is no joke. Since
then we have tired it several times. 1t is
an excellent plan if you have time enough
to let the lime work. In the daytime you
can not afford to waste the time; but if you
have spare night in which to work, it is
worth while to try it."
PROF. JOHN A. BRAsHEAR, Of ALE
gheny City, expects to astonish the
astronomical world by two telespectro-
scopes which he has just completed for
Prof. Lewis Swift, of the Warner OBJ
servatory, at Rochester, N. Y, and W. r.
Brooks, Of the Smith Observatory, at
Geneva n. Y. They are the largest instru-
ments of the kind ever constructed. One
of the additional features added is for use
in observing the hydrogen flames which ex-
tend for great distances beyond the SUMS
surface. On the new instrument the posi-
ton Of both observer and spectroscope are
permanent. Certain parts Of the instru-
lnent are Illuminated by tiny electric light
of three-candle power. There is also an at
tachment for photographing the spectrum
of the sun and stars. 1t was Prof.
Brashear who made the grand spectroscope
for the Lick Observatory in California.
THE Boston TrdnscriDt says: "There are
on record enough accidents similar to that
which wrecked the oatmeal factory in Chi
cago, to prove the somewhat recent theory
that the impalpable dust of any infammable
may become dangerous explo-
sive. When this idea was first advanced it
was secuted as preposterous; but unbeAef
and ridicule did not deter investigation, and
investigation proved the fact
But the question may be asked If dust is
an explosive, why are not our mills and
factories, with their dust-laden atmosphere,
IN constant danger? Why is there not
Dust explosion every day, instead of at long
intervals? The answer is, that although in
Ill these places there Is constant menace,
t is only at rare intervals that all the con-
litions are right. If we understand the
natter, the danger point is not when there
5 more or less dust in the air. but when the
inc powder and air are combined in just
hat proportion to form an explosive
Medium. Then, and only then, spark may
rouse into terrific activity the offspring of
he union Of these two harmless sub
tances."