The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-10-23
pOPULAE SCIENCE.

POPULAR SCIENCE.
N. Bischofsheim has presented to thf
meteorological museum in Paris ysius-
BILE collection of diamonds. Us 6,
Scales so delicate that they register
the weight of an eyelash or mans sigsi
nature have been perfected. e.
A bicycle which can be made into
quadricycle and can be used by either
man or woman, has been invented BY an
English genius.
The International Chemical Cougresss
passed resolution to the effect that not
more than per cent. of lead should bs
permitted in the alloy used for stin-
ning," not more than 5 per cent. in the
alloy for tin vessels.
From experiments made in Richmond. (.
Va, with electric heaters, it seems prob
able that a passenger coach can be kept
warm at an expense of two cents an
hour, the current being supplied by q dy-S
namo on the locomotive or tender.
SCOT falls down chimney before &
storm because the air at that time con-.
tains more moisture. SCOT is hygro-
scopic-that III, absorbs the moisture
from the air, and, becoming heavier, de-
taches itself from the sides of the chim-
ney. rs z. ssasss
While strolhng through the Paris Ex-s
hibition the other morning, Mr.. Edison
accidently hit upon tool thfIt he calcu-
lates will save him something like $6000
year. It is q chisel worked by hydrau-
lie pressure, and will enable him tore-s:
duoe his labor by eighteen hands. &
A simple pattern of an incandescent.
lamp has lately been introduced ID
France, consisting of two horizontal rods
of copper, placed about four milimeters
apart. A thin, pointed rod of carbon,
placed vertically, rests on the copper
rods and forms bridge between them.
Thatisa wonderful machine which, Nr.
Francis Galton has invented for measlli >
ing the time which elapses between
seeing OF. hearing anything and the md
ing of certain specified movement.
According to experiments made this
time averages about one-ffth Of asecond.
Numerous observations made in France
show that on meeting an insulated me-
talic or carbon conductor the solar 7sys s
communicate to it positive charges;
that the amplitude of this charge IN
creases with the intensity of the rayS.
and decreases with the hygrometric state
of the air. 81: e. Z 5 81:
ssPita,' the supposed remedy for hy1
drophobia discovered In Spain, seems To-.
be name given to the fower-stak Of :
the aloe, plant common in; some parts
ofspain. The story goes that its virtues
were discovered accidentally BY q man IN
a fit of hydrophobia falling upon an aloe I
plant and unconsciously biting the stem y
Where gas is used, the safety Of health
simply depends on securing full, free and
perfect ventilation. The necessity for
this precaution is highly apparent, when
we think of the impurities which gas
sends forth into the atmosphere, and when
we reflect on the evil which is wrought {
to health when these impurities are In. /.
hailed.
Some ingenious man has just patented
& new kind of umbrella, the material Of !
which is as waterproof as silk or alpaca, 4
and at the same, time quite transparent. 4
With this umbrella one will be easily able
to, avoid in future those collisions with .
lamp-posts and other umbrella carriers
which are at present SO frequent and (so
inconVenient.
Professor Bergman some time ago
performed another uncommon surgical s
feat in Berlin. Two cases came to him
simultaneously for operation; one re-
quired amputation Of the hip joint, the Z
other excision of diseased bone tissue
from the humerus. The Professor did
the amputation first, and used apart OF
the femur he had cut off to fill up the
space left by the removal of the dead
bone in the other patients arm. Perfect
union took place.
IL las UeeA IeCoumenueo tudt le1uSo.f
cocoanut fibre, which is very plentiful
where the fruit is grown, be used as q
backing for the armor of war vessels.
Compressed plates may be made Of It,
which, on being penetrated SO as to adj
NIT water, would quickly swell and close
the orifce, preventing the sinking Of the
vessel. In recent experiments, bullet
holes nearly an inch in diameter were 4
made in half-inch plates of this material
protected by boards, when jet of water
shot through, but ceased to flow in less
than one minute. .,Se.l6
How the Pope Lives.
A correspondent from the Eternal City 4