Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1891-02-12
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.
Jew USES FOR An OLD MATERIAL.

lest times and long known to be Of
great value as fertilizer, now finds
so many other applications that its
preparations has lately developed
| into quite an industry. Peat pow.
der is serviceable not only about
stables but elsewhere, on account of
it's absorbent and somewhat antisep-
tic properties and low cost. A few
years ago, French surgeon intro
dueed this powder, treated with an
tiseptic solutions and contained in
a cloth bag as a dressing for wounds
The idea, said to be very old one
among the working people of some
| places, was improved upon by an
other medical man of Paris, DR..
Redon, who made soft and pIiable
wadding of peat Other dressings
have since crowded these out of
hospitals, though the peat applica
lions are coming into use and gain
ing in favor among veterinary sur
geons. DR.. Redon's wadding has
yielded important results by leading
to many efforts to produce woven
fabrics, so that pert is now made
mattresses, coverings, carpets, ETC.,
which are esteemed on account of
their power of absorption.
NoN-INJURIoUs BLEACHING.
A patented -blacking which
contains no acid is made in Germany
by dissolv1ng casein in a solution of
borax or soda and adding resinate or
iron, besides the usual bone-black |
grease and sugar. A brilliant luster
is impaired by the casein, and the
resinate of iron gives deep black
color.
A writer on mosquito bites de-
clares that common soap is as effec-
tive remedy as ammonia, chloro-
form, or any of the many articles
recommended. The lather is allow
ed to dry over the affected part,
when all burning and pain disap-
pear.
A sugar Is times sweeter than
cane-sugar, and 20 times sweeter
than beet-sugar, is reported by a
German chemist from cotton-seed
meal. 1t cannot be sold to compete
with the ordinary article.
THE MICROSCOPIC FUNGI.
The term bacteria or microbe,
states Prof. Samuel, refers to parti-
cles cfmatter, microscopic in size,
which belong to the vegetable king
dom, where they are known to fungi.
ALI these different organisms have !
become familiar under the generic 1
term bacteria, which is very I'M
fortunate application, as it really ap-
plies to only single class of fungi
John calls them schizomycetes, and
makes these classifcations: L..
'piro-bacteria (microbes, or micro s
,oceD, which are the simplest of the
ungi, and appear as organisms of 9
spherical form, which multify by +
isslon, a single coceas forming two, q
hese two producing four, and SO
IN. They are seen singly in pairs
n tours, or as clusters or chains of t
hundreds. They are very active, d
nd are almost omnipresent, abound n
ng wherever fermentation or decay
8 in progress. Not all of these :.
terms are the cause of disease, but Il
ertain species are always associated 3
With diseased conditions. 2. BAG L
(or bacteria, With are
lightly elongated, and, inasmuch as c.
hey multiply by division, frequently '
ppear coupled together, linked in G.
airs and in chains. They are gen
rally found in putrefying infusIons.
!. Desmebacteria Tor bacilli), rod "
Ike organisms, occurring of various h
sngths and thiclnesses. In slide u
f the bacillus of tuberculosis or S
nthrax may be noticed at intervals
OTIS which represent the spores :,
rom which, as the rods break up, q.
lture bacilli are developed. 4. a.
piro-bacteria, including the spirilla "a
nd the spirochetae, the former hay %
lg short open spirals, and the lat
er long and closed wound spirals. Ii
hey multiply by spores, but little nj
yet known of their life7history. 10
hey are often found in drinking Il
he various forms CT bacteria grow T
My IN congenial soil, the cholorea ec
acillus, for instance, falling to null
ply in the stomach or the blood, n,
ut developing with wonderful ra- as
idity on gaining access to the in W
,stinal tract. ",
GRATIFYING a PLANT. w
1t is odd to think of plants as Ut
,elng, but Mrs. Robert King de-
ribes an experience in India that m
lie regards as confirming her hus- til
and's theory that creeping plants he
ave some faculty akin to sight. an
r. King was seated with one foot so
,o,,0ak y ,o,I1a, -vIon,, . LII zE - | A.