The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-23
SCIENTIFIC NEWS.
New York Telegram
Fire Proof Paper Plaster.

New York Telegram
Fire Proof Paper Plaster.
A company has been organized Tor The
raars1szct1rs % paper plaster. This - sSe
thsrvi venture CT this kind nog opsratins-
ere other a. Buffalo. y. Y. and one AZ
Tolese. o. The ueE plaster Is said 10 be
r,vaessesFly FIRE proof and can be applied
n rne coolest weather without danger OF
cracking. IL IS one-fifth lighter than the
OH mortar. Il can also De used for roosans
purposes
To Detect Iron From steel Tools.
II is difficult. say Belgian Journal. TO
distinguish between iron and steel tools.
they havs the same polish and workman
ship. use viii commonly show the diEer-
euc4 To make the distinction quickly.
Mace the tool upon a stone and drop 1Pon
II some diluted nitric acid -four parts OF
water 10 one Of acid. II the tool remains
clean IL is iron; IL Of steel Il will show
black spot where touched with the scid.
These spots can be easily rubbed OF.
Fire Proof Paper.
Fire proof paper for printing and writ
ing purposes Is now manufactured in Ber-
lin by a new patented process. Ninety
I've parts OF asbestos fiber OF the best
quality are washed in a solution OF per
rrangauate of calcium and then treated
with suiphuric acid as a bleaching agent
Five parts OF wood puiup. as used In pa
per factories, are added, and the whole is
placed In the agitafing box with an afdi-
ton OF lime water and borax. After being
thoroughly mixed the material is pumped
into the regulating box, and allowed 10
ffow out OF gate on an endless wire cloth.
where ii enters the usual paper-making
machinery. 1t is easy TO apply water
marks 10 this paper, which ordinarily fas
q smooth surface. which can be satin I'm
ishea. this being more preferable for writ
ing purposes. Paper thus produced - said
10 resist even the direct influence OF flame.
and remains uninjured even in 4 white
heat
American Electrical Superiority.
Notwithstanding that Germany bears the
palm in chemical research, her own scien-
lists grant 10 America easy supremacy IN
electrical development Hans Zooke. a
German civil engineer, commissioned by
his government to look into and report
upon the methods adopted in this country
for the propulsion of cars by electricity.
thus discourses: Il think America Is far
ahead OF any other country in the use of
electricity. You have taken advantage OF
every invention and appliance that he
minds of electricians have conceived. ard
in this are the leaders of the world. /
have made many reports to my govern
ment. and am now finishing final observa-
tons and recommendations. / have been
much interested in the experiments with
electric locomotives, and the one used in
Baltimore is one Of the marvels of the age,
and / believe is the forerunner of greater
things in the same line.
Cellulose for warships.
Lewis Nixon. the former superintendent
OF construction at Cramps shipyard read
a paper the other evening in Philadelphia
upon corn pith cellulose packing for war
Ships Nj. Nixon explained that when
this substance was puhctured at the water
line by shot the cellulose expanded like
d spange and stopped the leak. The tests
of the new material under government
supervision were so satisfactory that the
navy department contracts call for this
substance in the Golfer dams OF the new
battleships KearsaTge and Kentucky. Mr..
Nixon said he considered that one OF tho
chief points Of superiority of our vessels
lay in the use OF the cellulose belt. that,
In fact, he considered It's use vital. A
ceilulose belt three feet thick, he added.
was equal TO one of steel armor six
inches thick; or. In other words, 100 tons
OF celluiose was equal TO 1000 tons OF
armour. while the cost was one TO ten.
Some New Devices.
one of the latest developments in the
way Of arc electric ngh ting Is TIE inclos-
what is practicsflyS3 m air-tight globe.
The carbons are placed in an inner globe.
which is not alright. but which is placed
in a second larger globe. fitted with
valve opening outward only. When the
arc is struck the gases present expand by
the heat. and are practically expelled
through the valve, which then closes. and
prevents any ingress OF air. thus leaving
the arc in an inert atmosphere. EIec-
fTfa tS Apr II 6Afa
monds from the genuine. small disk of
aluminium Is attached TO the spindle of a
small motor. A clamp with a small fiat
spring, provided with an adjustable screw.
holds the article to be tested. 1t is then
moistened and placed in contact with the
rapidly revolving aluminium disk. II the
stone is a genuine one IL viii be left In
tact; If ii is bogus II Will show brilliant
metallic marks. Ii has recently been
pointed out that already the telephone Is
used, by actual count. ten times as much
as the telegraph. the annual figures being
put down at about 100000 kilograms and
750,o000o0 telephone talks. An oil-burning
locomotive is running regular service be-
tween Los Angeles and Santa Barbara,
Cal, and works perfectly and econom-
icalIy The Hartford, Conn. Street Rail
road Company viii put up telephone
wire on the trolley poles OF its suburban
roads. There will be a connecting wire
and hook on every eighth pole, and eacn
car will be provided with a transmitter
which can be attached Ia the hook. The
conductor can thus communicate with the
dispatcher.
Working of the Brain.
II is well known that each side of
the brain is connected with the
movements and sensations main
~ on the opposite side OF the body: the
right brain moves the left arm and leg.
and vice versa Now, cases are not infre-
quent in which. with or without "a shock
or al least some degree OF obvious loss OF
muscular power on the right side OF the
body, the faculty OF recalling and repro
ducing spoken words Is totally or almost
totally lost. Such loss of speech is tech
ncaliy called aphasia. II was first shown
some thirty-five years ago by a French
physician. that this particular symptom
IS associated with damage 70 q limited
and very definite part of the brain sub
stance on the left side, which has since
been known, in honor ~ It's discoverer.
Broca's convolution. When the power
Of speech has thus been lost, IL is possible
II the mental faculties are not otherwise
damaged. 10 acquire IL again. by just such
a course Of training and practice 10 speak
as the child passes through in learning
10 speak at first, even where Broca's
cOnvclutfon has been 50 damaged as 70
De quite incapable Of performing its func-
tions In such a case the portion Of the
brain IN the right side commemorative ~