Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-11-28
POPULAR SCIENCE.

fUFULhh oCiEnOEs
An electric bicycle, to run upon a
wire, is one of the newest wheeling in
ventions.
DR.. Sequard claims that his elixir has
cured intermittent fever, neuralgia,
rheumatism, insomnia aud leprosy.
The Academic de Sciences has sub
mitted new system OF musical notation
in which twenty-seven characters re-
place the 2O3 symbols now employed to
represent the seven notes Of the gamut
in the seven keys.
The Urania, of Berlin, is an institu-
ton containing well-appointed telescopes,
microscopes and other instruments for
public use. In its first year it has been
visited by about 100, 200 persons, who
have been benefited by about 1909
lectures.
DR.. Regnard finds that decomposable
substances resist putrefaction when unoer
pressure of 500 to 700 atmospheres.
This corresponds to depth of 5000 or
1000 fathoms at sea, and indicates that
corpses sunk in great depths may be in
definitely preserved.
If box six feet deep were filed with sea
water and allowed to evaporate under
the sun, there would be two inches Of
salt on the bottom. Taking the average
depth of the ocean to be three miles,
there would be a layer Of pure salt 23O
/ feet thick on the bed Of the Atlantic.
A machine for automatically blowing
fog whistle has just been patented. \
vessel equipped with the machine may
travel at any rate of speed and continue
to blow one or three blasts Of the whistle
per minute while proceeding through
fog. Many steamers use it--on the lakes,
for instance.
In a paper on "Liquid Crystals" a
German chemist reports the discovery Of
some most curious organic liquids, which
when examined in drops under the mi
croscope by pOlarized light, show definite
axes of elasticity, just like crystals. This
is pronounced one Of the most remark
able of recent discoveries in molecular
physics.
The Edison Photographic doll has now
got up to 1S5 words in speech. For a
long time only 70 words could be packed
into the compact little frame, and it was
therefore deferred from saying a great
many interesting things. In the course
of time the Wizard of Menlo Park may
/ make his dolls talk as freely as human
beings. 1t is all a matter Of combina
ton.
At the French Association meeting,
NJ. Cobes, Of Buenos Ayres, contended
that all living animals have surface Of
absorption and respiration; and that
oxygen introduced by hypodermic injec-
ton Is absorbed by the capiIlaries in the
same way as when inspired by the lungs.
The hypodermic respiration thus set up
is suggested as likely to be useful in lung
disease.
One of the most excellent of recent in
novations is the introduction of metal
ceilings in place of wood and plaster.
These ceilings do not shrink or burn like
wood; they will not stain, crack or fall
of like plaster, but being permanent,
durable, freprOof and ornamental, will
eventually supersede both wood aud
plaster, besides being in the end far more
economical than either.
The United States cruisers Chicago
and Boston are to have their bottoms
painted with two kinds OF anti-barnscle,
non-corrosive mixture before they leave
the navy yard again. The.object of put
ting on two kinds of paint is to test their
relative merits as to preventing the pit
ting of the plates and the development of
seaweed and other marine growths oa the
submerged portions of the hull.