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


The farrier's trade has of late been
made study in this country, as it has
for long time abroad, and the shoeing
OF horses is being brought to science.
The power Of cold to diminish pain
has long been known to country people;
but its value as an an2sthetic is only
lately becoming appreciated by the
medical faculty.
The Aztecs made a good glass
which they used for their best cutting
blades, swords. daggers, spears, saws.
chisels and axes. They sharpened
these by cleaving off the dull edges.
Experiments have been made in
Berlin with India rubber pavement. 1t
is said to be very durable. of course
noiseless, ana unaffected by heat or
cold. AS a covering for bridges it is
said to have peculiar merits, its elas-
ITCHY preventing vibration.
Nicotine is one OF the most power
ful of the known nerve poisons. 1t is
as virulent as prussic acid There ia
no substance known which can coun-
teract its effects; the system either
succumbs or survives, according to its
resisting power.
1t has been supposed that the old
Egyptians were wnacquainted with re-
sin. but a jar of that substance has
been discovered amid the ruins of Maui
Gratis which, according to the testimo-
ny OF expert Psychologists who have
examined it, dates from tho sixth con-
tury b. G.
A new dynamo with capacity to
run eight incandescent lights has been
invented by Vermont electrician. 1t
has some novel features, one being u
slow current obviating all danger,
while one light can be shut off without
affecting the others on the same cur
rent.
-Southbridge, Mass, has the largest
spectacle factory in the world. More
than thrce-fourths OF the gold specta-
cles and eyeglasses made in this coun-
try are made in Southbridge, one COM
pany alone in thai town having turned
out 1,500, 900 pairs last year.
One Of the new applications of a
waste product to a useful purpose is
the manufacture of paper out of cedar
wood pulp, for underlying carpets.
wrapping of wool, furs; etc. The paper
makers procure the cedar chips of pen
Gil manufacturers, and the paper made
of this material will, it is claimed, pre-
serve articles wrapped in it from the
moths.
An electrical fire engine, which
can be tapped for service whenever
wanted, is the latest invention. The
advantages claimed are that it can be
started at full speed; that it is much
lighter than a steam fire engine OF
equal power; that it costs one-third
less; that it is noiseless in its opera
ton; makes no smoke. sparks nor
ashes; that it is safer and easier to con-
troll and is economical.
Many of the valentines which are
a combination of laced and silver
paper, string notices, punches of
colored flowers, little mirrors and the
like are made in London, in factory
where the work goes on the year
around. Much of the work is done by
hand, and women are the most export
at it. They use a good deal of muci-
lage in constructing these affairs, and
invariably use the third finger Of the
right hand instead of a mucilage brush.
-"Talking about employing women
in factories" said Manistee. Mich.
lumberman to the Timberman. s'brings
about the fact that the hoop factory at
Manistee employs women feeding the
planners and other light work of that
nature, and finds that they do the
work well, and at the dairy salt
factories all the sacking and such
work is done by girls. who work on
piece work and earn 81 to $1.25 day,
and seems to like the employment.