Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-10-10
INTERESTING FACTS.

and is applied. To the long list OF arti-
cles intended for personal use, and In
the smaller details of construction OF
rolling stock, such as wheels, axles,
&C., there has been added more
extensive application to the
need OF everyday life by the building OF
hotel constructed Of this material.
This novel residence, which has just
been finished, and is situated In Ham
burg, has been made entirely OF paper
boards, which, it is said, are Of the hard
ness Of wood, but possess an advantage
over the latter material in that they are
freprooi, this desirable end being Ell
fected by impregnation with certain
chemical solutions.
In one of the hospitals at Berlin a
new treatment for burns has been tried
with great success. The advantages OF
this new treatment are quicker recovery
aud less suffering from the wound. Inc
wound is first Thoroughly washed with a
solution Of three per cent. OF carbollc
acid, or similar disiniectants used Tor
this purpose. The bllsterS are then
carefully opened so that none
OF the flesh beneath is injured,
and the surface covered with hne-
" powdered subnitrate OF Dis
muth. A thick layer Of soft cotton WOOL
IS then placed over the powdered sur
face, and left in position until 1t Is
moistened with the watery discharges
This dressing should be changed as
often as the cotton bandages get moist.
In exceptionally bad burns ointment OF
bismuth Is substituted for the dry pow
der. and the suffering in this case Is
greatly reduced. In the many cases
treated in the German hospital no symp-
toms of poisoning from the bismuth have
vet been discovered, while the treatment
seems in other respects to be far supe-
rior to the old methods.
When a railroad company handles as
many million tons Of coal annually as
the Reading does, the question of weigh
ing it becomes a matter of some import
apce. Skill and long experience have
solved the problem, however, and the
bulk of the vast tonnage Of the leading
cosl-carrying road in the country is
weighed on four scales, and then they
are not crowded. The weight Of tho
empty car IS marked In chalk
ON the outside. As the car ap-
proaches, clerk takes the
number of the car and it's weight, the
weigher calls out the gross weight, and
the difference Is the weight OF the COAL
The cars run as fast aS ten miles an
hour across the scale, and 1t IS very sell
dom that one has to be stopped and
brought back for reweighing, although
that is done when the weigher Is at all
uncertain about his figures. The men
at the scales can generally tell within
hundred pounds or so what car con-
tains. As soon as they see a car coming,
they know the number OF tons it con-
tains, and have the scales so prepared
that only the hundred weights need be
adjusted while the car is moving over
it.
In every age prolonged struggles have
been made against deafness; there have
been special physicians, special instru-
ments and special remedies for the ear.
The acoustic cOrnet Of DR.. Larrey,
intended TO be concealed in the
hair; the acoustic bell Of DR..
Itar1, acoustic tubes, dilating tubes,
artificial ears of metal, silk and gutta
percha, audiphones, auricular micro
phones, cOnches, artificial tYmpauums,
even accoust!cianS for the use OF ladies,
have had at divers times, reputation
more or less deserved. Finally, the an
nouncement was made few days ago,
that a new acoustic horn had been
found, which not only enabled the deaf
to hear, but which diminished and even
conquered deafness.
The apparatus is composed Of large
bell of enameiled metal, united by
gutta percha tube, about fifty cent?
metres IN length, to little bone tube
covered with gutta percha, which eX-
tends somewhat beyond IL. The tube is
covered outside by light stuff intended
TO arrest all foreign vibrations. The
little tube penetrateS into the auditory
passage and touches the tympanum.
Thanks 10 this, not a sound, not q
breath IS lost on the patient, and no
matter how little hearing remains to the
subject he perceives sounds and noises;
that is to say, vowels and ConSonantS,
and finally he even hears words. The
sounds are clear, without buZZing,
without resonance and with remark
able intensity.
Sand is more than mere filter. 1t is
purifier of great Importance and
when properly used It will remove all
impurities from water and liquids.
Vinegar passed through thick layer
OF sand loses most Of its acid, and salt
is also partly removed from substances
passed through il. Oil is like
wise arrested and retained in the
sand. If there is sufficient acid
and chemicals in the sand germs
Of diseases are held In solution and
prevented from passing off into the
water. This is caused by attraction Of
one body for another and not merely by
the Judgement Of large particles in the
sand, owing to the small interstices
through which they have 10 pass. Sand
can be greatly enhanced in value as q
purifier by adding divided matter, such
as salt or alum. The latter is the best
for this purpose. Another requisite for
a good sand filter or purifier is 70 have
a comparatively large sand surface over
which the water must flow. Sand fl
terS should be more generally used for
the drinking water and other liquids
that may finally find their way into the
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