The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-11-02
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

The Introduction of electric light !
ing in mines, it is believed, will result
in its being possible to more effectively
guard against the caving-in of the
walls and ceilings of the mine.
Recent experiments in the ear hos
pital in London Indicate that stammer-
ing is not nervous defect only. In
operations for deafness in several cases
the patients were cured of stammering
also, and the result is the opinion that
stammering comes from some defect in
the hearing.
Some years ago NJ. Serel, a
French chemist, discovered that the
oxychloride of magnesium, possessed
Hydraulic" qualities in a remarkable
degree, and he utilized it as the basis
of the Sorel stone, which exceeds the
hardness of any other artificial stone,
and is now used mainly in making
emery wheels.
"A French journal reports that NJ.
Maisonhaute, having noticed that the
passage Of current of electricity
through milk retarded the formation
Of cream, made q series Of experiments
to see whether milk could be kept fresh
in this manner. The result OF these ex-
periments is patent for the preserva-
ton of milk by means of either stacic
or current electricity.
The belief that smoke from soft
coal may have beneficial sanitary eff
fects is gaining ground. 1t is claimed
that the sulphur in the coal when
burned becomes suiphurous acid gas.
a we'll known disinfectant. Further,
that creosote and its allied products
are thrown off with the fumes OF bitum-
inous coal. and that an atmosphere
charged with carbolic acid must be
freer from germs of disease than an APP
r"rently purer air.
AT Halle, Germany, the skeleton
like fibrous covering OF species OF
tropical cucumber is now being con-
verted into substitute for sponge, and
is already being exported in immense
quantities to England and other coun-
tries. The curious substance is known
as loofah. 1t is not only valuable as an
adjunct to the bath, but is found use
full for making inside soles for shoes.
and is being applied to the under sides
of saddles.
Experiments of very interesting
nature have recently been carried out
for the purpose of ascertaining exactly
the relative resistance of various pig
ments to atmospheric changes and to
the corrosive action of sea water. The
I prevention of corrosion by salt water
was found to be possible by the admiX-
ture Of the oxide of some electric-posi-
tive metal, such as caustic lime and
soda, but the efficiency Of such acover-
ing diminished when its alkaline prop
critics had been neutralized by the
/ absorption of carbonic acid.
1t is not rash to predict that before
! many years there will be more money
invested in electricity in the United
States than in railroads. 1t is roughly
estimated that there are already in
! vested in electrical contrivances in this
: COullFy ONCI TOOO,OOo,VOO' eLuu GlltI
over 100000 have been invested
within a year. We have already up
wards of eighty-tive electrical railways
in operation, and nearly one hundred
| are reported to be in process Of con-
struction. Over 100000 arc lights and
! $500, 600 incandescent lamps are blaz-
ing every night, and there are $500
central electric stations generating
power and light. Boston Globe,
"A substitute for ivory that can be
used in making billiard balls and other
articles which prove very expensive
when manufactured from the real sub
stance is composed of pared potatoes.
treated for thirty six hours with mix
ture of eight parts of sulphuric acid
and one hundred parts of water, after
which the mass is washed and dried
between sheets of blotting paper and
pressed. A substance closely resemb-
ling buckhorn is made with white tur-
nips, which are bored through in the
small ends. fastened on sticks, dipped
in hot tallow and placed near warm
stove, when. in a few days, they as
sumo form very like a buckhorn
handle, which is then colored with
polishing lacquer. Prior to boring the
turnips, they are placed in solution
Of soda-lye.