Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-06-20
SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL.

The covering of the new battle ships
with six inches of armor is advocated.
Secretary Tracy has determined to give
coil steam boilers practical trial to test
their value for use in large naval vessels.
The speed of the Whitehead torpedo
in the last seventeen years has increased
from seven and half to twenty-seven
knots.
About one hundred and fifty colors are
now obtained from coal tar, which has
almost entirely supplanted vegetable and
animal dyes.
The French army is making trial of a
small electric lamp which is to be en-
ployed in searching the field of battle for
the wounded.
DR.. Skinner reports that he has gained
excellent results in treating leprosy by
the simultaneous employment of atropine
and strychnine, or by that of caffeine.
The manufactured coffee-bean can
readily be distinguished from the natural
bean by the property of sinking when
immersed in ether, as genuine coffee
beans float on that liquid.
The latest treatment recommended for
diphtheria comes from Konigsberg, East
Prussia, where DR.. Arthur Hening has
had very successful results from the use
of lime water and ice bags.
Archaeological researches appear to
show that the islands and coast of Nor
way were well populated in prehistoric
times, but that the cultivation of the soil
did not begin until a late date.
1t has been found in experiments at
Leipsic, that the skin grated from
white to a colored person becomes grad
ually black, and black skin grated on a
white person in time turns white.
A waxed paper bag, which has thin
film of white parafine on the inside sur
face, is being manufactured, and is said
to make superior article for mill pro-
ducts, keeping out air and moisture.
The fact has lately been satisfactorily
established that asphalt obtained from
petroleum and bitumen contains, in addi-
tion to an oxidized organic coloring
matter, large percentage of inorganic
constituents.
A Russian navy officer has invented
method of searching the sea or coast by
night, which does not reveal the position
of the ship. A mortar fires buoyant
shell containing a compound which
ignites on reaching the water and lights
up the surrounding area.
Ambulances for London streets are to
be provided by the Hospitals Associa-
tion. 1t is well-known fact that at
present many cases of accident are rem
dered fatal through injuries received dur
ing the removal of the sufferers to hos
pitfalls in ordinary conveyances.
A newly invented bolt for fastening to-
gether heavy timbers does away with the
need of a nut. The head of the bolt is
provided with spring. Upon striking
this spring with hammer two arms fly
out from the shank of the bolt, pressing
against the timber and performing the
office of nut.
The quality os roo: states may be easily
tested by carefully weighing samples,
then putting them for quarter of an hour
into boiling water that is fairly free from
lime, saltpeter and ammonia; on reweigh-
ing the states those that show the great
est increase in weight are the most capa-
BILE of resisting deterioration.
At the Paris Exposition there is hy-
draulic railroad, which is not very clearly
described. The car rests upon a species
of skates which rest upon compressed
water, but they do not touch the rail.
The motive power is column of water,
but how it works is not given. It is said
to be one of the most curious inventions
at the exposition.