Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-01
Ammonia rs an Autiseptie,

Some years ago DR.. B. W. Richardson, in
a communication to the Medical Society,
called attention to the anti-putrescent prop
critics OF ammonia, and showed that blood,
milk, and other alternable liquids could be
preserved for a long time by adding to them
certain quantities of solution of ammonia,
and solid substances, such as flesh, by keep
ing them in closed vessels filed with am
nonia gas. Some doubts that were raised
as TO the results reported, on the ground that
ammonia was itself product of decomposi-
ton, induced DR.. Gottbrecht, OF the Uni
versity OF Greisswald, TO repeat the expert
ments, with the result of practically confirm
ing all DR.. Richardson's statements.
DR.. Gottbrecht showed that in an atmos-
phere impregnated with ammonium car
Donate meat could be kept for six months,
and at the end OF that time would remain
nearly unaltered. He also discusses the
conditions under which products of putre-
faction NAV act preiudicially to the oripina-
tors Of the putretaction. This he believes
TO be due TO toxic action dependent on the
degree OF concentration. He points out that
cadaverine, a product of decomposition of
cadaver. in certain degrees OF concentration
acts as a direct poison upon the abscess
cocoua, and ne concludes that, similarly. all
products OF tissue change in living organ
lsms can become noxious to their originators
as soon as their quantity exceeds a certain
limit.
Electrical transmission of WATER Power.
If the project relating to a new canal at
Rheinfelden, Germany, be carried out, an
enormous stimulus will be given to cleo
trieal engineering, since the power rendered
a ho r
canal will amount to not less than i, ,OOO-
horse power, and will have to be transmitted
electrically to Basel, Sackingen and other
distant places. The plans are ready, the
capital is available but the concession has
not yet been obtained. II it is obtained in
time, work will begin in the coming
autumn, and the whole undertaking will be
c.mDleted In 1891. The length OF the canal
is ~ miles, Its width 165 ieet, and there
will be erected a turbine house containing
% turbines, each of 750-horse power, Each
turbine will drive its own generator. The
pressure adopted will be sufficiently high to
enable the distribution OF power to be
effected economically within distance of
10 miles Ihe power of the turbines being
II, ,000-horse power, a total OF II OOO-borse
power Will be available 10 the consumers.
The Merit OF English Civil Engineering,
One of the American engineers who took
the recent trip to Europe, in speaking of
the Mersey tunnel, which connects Liver.
pool and Birkenhead, says: at is quite
admirable as a piece of engineering. and
very convenient for the two cities. Il En-
gland had four cities like New York.
Brooklyn, Jersey City and Hoboken in such
close proximity as we have, she would have
had them connected by tunnels long ago.
In great works of civil engineering, especi-
ally for municipal convenience, the En-
glish are ahead of us-not from superior
ability as engineers, for we can build Just
as fine works as they can, but there the
civic authorities are more progressive and
far-sighted than here; they have more money
possibly, or they are more willing to tax the
public for Improvements for the public
benefit; but they 10 seem to give more en-
ployment to the civil engineers than we do.
Erosious Due TO Wind Action.