The Republican., 1889-02-09
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

-Carpcntry was tho trade OF the
American aborigines, Indians and
mound-builders.
There are about 20, 900 lace-makers
in Normandy, and in all Franco there
are nearly 100000 women engaged in
this industry.
1t is claimed that mixture four
fire-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
heel-shaped leather shell is made and
filled with a 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 ingredients FOR
bronze and other alloys may then be
added. The copper thus becomes
homogeneous, harder and tougher.
-Sarsaparilla-largelye employed in
medicine-is the product of the roots
Of several species of smilax, found in
Mexico, Central and South America.
These roots, of q reddish-brown color,
about as large as a goose-quill, and
nine or ten feet long, prepared in vari-
Gus 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
1908, it has been found that the phe-
nomenon is repeated from time to time
during eruptions, and that it occurs
also in other volcanoes of the Andes.
The fish are sometimes elected in vast
quantities. All belong to one species,
which exists in some of the lakes on
the sides Of the mountains.
The art of etching upon glass was
discovered by Nuremberg glass cut
ter. BY accident 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 ap-
peared raised upon dark ground.
--Nitro-glycerine bids fair, say the
doctors, to become an important rene
dy for diseases OF the kidneys; and eX
periment5 are now making in cases of
Bright's disease Nitro -glycerine of
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 "Trinitrin." A
patient in Philadelphia hospital has
had the dose increased until now he is
taking eighty grains day. He has
Bright's disease, and the effects are
said to be highly satisfactory.
The popular idea that a razor
needs rest occasionally has a scientific
foundation in the case of fine razors.
The grain OF the best Swedish razors
runs in diagonal direction from the
upper end OF the outer point toward
the handle. Constant stropping will
twist the steel until the grain sets up
and down, and steady use draws the
grain still further over. When it gets
into this condition it can not be kept
sharp, but if laid away and left alone
for while the grain will resume its
first position, and the razor be as good
as new again.