The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-06-15
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

"A Japanese has discovered a
method of applying nickel plating to
wood.
"A Kansas paper says that an excel
lent quality Of binding twine can be-
made from the sunfower plant.
In 1888 the United States manu-
featured $4,000, 900 pounds of tobacco.
100000 pounds of snuff, 1900, OOO,OOO
cigars. 1,500,000,O0O cigarettes.
"A Nuremberg manufacturer has in
vented pencils in blue, black and brown
for writing on the human skin. They
are for use in anatomical and clinical
demonstration.
Abroad they have also reached the
conclusion that the constant and una
voidable accumulation of gases and the
attending explosions are the most seri-
GUS questions in connection with plac-
ing wires under ground.
To the perfumes of flowers NJ. I'M
gerer ascribes the power of protecting
against, and even arresting consump-
ton. In the perfume distilling town
of La Grasse lung troubles are but lit
tie known.
One of the novelties which an Au-
gusta, Me-, firm is sending out are
electric spectacles. At the end of each
bow is miniature thermo-electric pile,
in which the electricity is generated
by the heat of the brows. The cur
rent passing along the bows and rims.
which are highly magnetized, is said
to be highly beneficial to the eyes.
1t is we'll settled fact that de-
caying organic matter absorbs the ele-
mentary atmospheric nitrogen with
great eagerness. This process of de-
caying is also conducive to the produce
ton of certain kind of bacterium. by
the influence of which this elementary
nitrogen is converted into nitrates,
which process is called nitrification.
DIR. Salisbury found malarial fever
to be propagated among persons Sleep
ing in a room in the windows of which
had been placed box of earth from
malarial soil. House plants cultivated
in pots filled with malarious earth are
constant danger. The germs grow
luxuriantly in the moisture and warm
air of closed rooms.
-Hypnotism has become very con-
spicuous in Europe of late. 1t has been
used in the place of chloroform for
some time in surgical operations at
Paris, and when, in recent murder
case there, it was charged that the
murderer had hypnotized the victim
and forced her to kill herself, public
opinion accepted the possibility of the
fact in a way quite remarkable.-Bo
ton Journal.
-"Sunfower seed is coming to the
fore as an article of commercial value.
As an admixture to. chicken food it's
merits are indisputable. Veterinarians
use it in IL medicinal way in the treat
ment of horses. Its growth is considered
Of use in the prevention of malaria, and
the extraction of valuable oil from it
is a looked for result"
"A new method for illuminating
from the outside some of the cavities OF
the body, such as the nostrils and lar
ynx, is described in the London Lancet.
The instrument used for this purpose
is well-polished glass rod, to one end
of which small incandescent electric
glow lamp, like those used for electric
breastpins, is attached. The light of
the lamp is reflected equally through
the whole length of the glass rod.
When placed against the throat or the
sclerotic, the interior of the larynx or
the eyeball is sufficiently illuminated
for making an examination. AS the
rod remains cold, it can be employed
in operative surgery with satisfactory
results. =.