The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1890-01-23
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

"A new lens mas Deen made to show
1904, 700, 0Oc of an inch.
The role assigned by Pasteur to
earth worms Of bringing bacteria to the
surface has received support from recent
observations of Bollinger.
Pieces CT rock crystal heated in a
platinum tube and dropped into water
fly all to pieces, but if drop of melted
crystal is allowed to fall into water then,
though there is a great commotion, it
does not break but remains clear.
In France they now use for steam
and water-pipe joints, gaskets made of
wood pulp, which are boiled in linseed
oil. They give satisfactory results, and
are not subject to decomposition at high
temperature.
"A new material called ''steel pig, =
much stronger than cold-blast iron and
less expensive than steel, is now being
made at Sheffield. 1t is adapted for a
variety of uses for which the ordinary
iron was unsatisfactory.
With alternating currents iron con-
ductors emit very loud sounds, which
increase with the frequency, whereas
copper hardly emits perceptible sound.
These mechanical vibrations in the case
of iron conductors are thought to be
very injurious to the durability of the
insulation.
The fires used in blowing Venetian
glass are made of wood, coal being USE
less on account of its generating too
much smoke and gas, which prevents
the delicate ornaments used in decorat-
ing the various objects from adhering.
Ornaments and vases made by coal or
gas alone would soon separate into their
various parts.
An electric drill is in operation at
the Brooklyn navy yard. Instead of the
slow paul and ratchet hand drill in COM
mon use, this one is set a-whirling by
an electric current sent through care
fully insulated wires. A three-quarter
inch hole in a three-quarter inch plate
can be drilled in less than a minute.
In connection with the study of spec
trum analysis, photography has played
a most important part, for it has recorded
lines not visible to the naked eye-lines
revealed only by the photograph in that
part of the spectrum in the violet and
lavender regions, and even beyond,
where all is dark to us.
1t has been observed that the organs
occupying the left side of the body are
more prone to disease than those of the
right, and the explanation has been
offered that the greater use Of the right
side of the body determines nutritive
activity and vigor there while the me-
chanical passivity of the left produces
kind of vascular mealiness or predis-
position to breaking down.
By comparing modern skulls with
those of the same race in an old monas.
terry in the Kedron valley, DIR. Digit, of
the American College of Beirut, Syria,
has shown that thirteen centuries have
added two inches to the circumference
and three and half cubic inches to the
capacity of Caucasian skull. The brain
has developed in the parts presiding over
the moral and intellectual functions,
growing higher and longer, without in
crease of the lower portions, which give
breadth to the head and in which the
selfish propensities are centered.
"A new process for hardening plaster
of Paris, making that substance suitable
for flooring purposes, has been commu-
nicated to the French Academy of Sci
ence by NJ. Julie. The plaster is mixed
with one-sixth of its weight of fine,
freshly-slacked lime, and used with as
little water as possible. After becoming
thoroughly dry it is treated with satu-
rated solution of either zinc sulphate or
iron sulphate. With the first the hard
ened plaster remains white, while the
second, by gradual oxidation, yields the
color of iron-rust, which gives fine i'm
itation Of mahogany under an aprlica,
ton of linseed oil.