The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-04-19
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

"A writer in the Journal of Medi-
cine, Paris, warmly advocates the adop-
ton of the international language,
Volapuk, for medical purposes.
"A process has been invented by
means of which photographs can be
printed almost as fast as a newspaper
and without dependence on sun or light.
They are said to be of the first quality.
1t is reported that a French manu-
featuring firm has brought out new
fabric made of the fiber of ramie-that
is alta or esparto grassland called
ramie linen, which is said to combine
the qualities of linen and silk, with
double the strength of linen.
Physicians state that a diet of twelve
to fourteen ounces of chemically dry
food, digestible and with the Ingredients
in proper proportion, is sufficient for the
daily needs of an average-sized man on
moderate work. Most persons eat liter
ally twice as much.
If it were possible to rise above the
atmosphere which surrounds the earth,
we should see nothing but an intense
and sharply defined ball of fire, while
every thing else would be wrapped in
total darkness. There could be no diff
ference of light without an atmosphere
or some similar medium for it to act
upon, but if the air around us extended
to height of 700 miles, the rays of the
sun could not penetrate it, and we
should be left in darkness.
A Cbilio,, bo ri IF WOW, rly
able and valuable properties-the bark
of Quillia saporaria-was lately exhib-
tied to the Linnean Society of London.
An extract of this bark has been used
for cleaning silk, wool and gloves, but it
is how stated to be capable of solidify-
ing the hydrocarbon oils, even benzo-
line, and thus ensuring safe transport. A
small quantity of citric acid restores the
oils to their liquid form.
Glass blowing by machinery is be-
ing performed successfully in Ellen
vile, N. Y. The machine consists of
an iron upright, around which revolve
arms fitted with molds for shaping the
glass. A pipe supplied with current
of air and readily manipulated by the
operator, does the work of blowing. The
machine is said to be capable of turning
off 100 dozen perfect bottles day. 1t
costs but about $500, and will take the
place of two skilled men, who command
from S. to 81 day each.
in the course Of long investigation,
Prof. Ponfck, of Breslau, has made the
important discovery that large part
of the liver-even as much as three
fourths-may be removed without seri-
Gus disturbance of the animal functions.
Surgeons had before known that the
whole of the liver is not absolutely es-
sential to health, but could hardly sup
pose that the sudden destruction of a
considerable part of it would not be
serious, and now may be enabled to per
form operations hitherto believed to be
impossible.
Water as an eXtinguisher of the
flames of blasts in mines has been APP
piled in q novel manner, namely, as a
powdered solid, in form of explosive
devised by chemist in Cologne. This
substance, called grisonite, consists OF
certain explosive agents with which
water containing salts, like carbonate
of soda and sulphate of magnesia, are
incorporated. Grisonite, with fifty per
cent. of carbonate of soda, contains
thirty per cent. Of water, and, with
sulphate of magnesia in like proportion,
twenty-five per cent. 1t is also ascer.
tanned, by experiments which have been
made under the most dangerous con-
ditions, that the flames are quenched,
and that the material is both safe and
ati;ciaDt