The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-21
SCIENTIFIC.

A twenty years record shows about q
fourth Of the days at Greenwich Observa-
tory to be sunless, while only IA per cent.
of the days from May to September have
ten hours of sunshine.
All the observed phenomena of LIE Bon's
so-called ''black light are found by M.
Becquerel to be attributable to ordinary red
and infra-red rays. These pass through
abonite and extinguish the phosphorescence
OF Sulphide of zinc.
The diamond making process of DR.. @.
Majorana, an Italian experimenter, causes
capitalization directly without a solvent.
The carbon, heated in the electric arc, is
subjected to pressure of 5000 atmospheres
by the action of an explosive on a small
piston, minute diamonds resulting.
The naTne 'nitrogurets'' was given by
Grove in 1S41. to what he supposed to be
compounds Of metals with nitrogen, pro-
duced by using in six Grove cells on a con-
centrated solution of chloride of ammo
mum, with anOde of zinc, copper, cadmium,
or other metal, and cathode of platinum A
German chemist records recent researches
at the new Davy-Faraday laboratory that
show these substances to be either the pure
metal or a mixture of the metals with their
oxide.
From tests made in the vicinity of Shelf
field, England Mr.. w. c. Williams finds
that the proportion of carbonic acid in the
air is distinctly greater in towns than in
duced by fog or snow, also by very high
or very low barometric pressure, but that
rain exerts no decided influence. The car
bonc acid of respiration is not evenly dis
tributed through room, as many physiolo-
gsts have maintained In lofty rooms 1t
was less near the ceiling than near the floor,
but rooms 9%x16 feet high had much more
carbonic acid near the top the excess be-
ing greatest at night.
Astronomers are divided in opinion as to
the possibility of Photographic details on
the discs of planets. DR.. IT, J. ]. See con-
tends that it is impossible, because the mo-
ton of the air and the cumulative action of
the Photographic plate must always give an
enlarged and blurred image, while the eye
is able to select what is seen at favorable
moments On the other hand, Prof. +. l.. 0.
Wadsworth sees no insurmountable difficult
ty in the way of photographing even more
than we can ever be sure of seeing directly
through telescopes up to twelve to fifteen
inches in aperture and is endeavoring to
settle the question by trial.
Geosote a combination Of valerianic acid
with creosote, is an oily liquid, with a sweet
ish taste, that seems to have the medicinal
properties of creosote without it's burning
effects. 1t is administered under the skin,
or in small doses in mucilage to children
or in capsules to adults. 1t appears to be
decided tonic in debility useful in in
testinal catarrh and in infantie diarrhoea
where other remedies have failed and
pecially valuable in pulmonary consumption
ana tuDerculOuS SlauuS, JOINTS ana bones.
In seventy-six cases or phthlsiS reported by
DIR. Rick only thirteen failed to be bene-
flied by this remedy.
The vexing subject of the cause and pre-
vention of the efflorescences that so often
appear upon buildings OF brick and sand
stone has been carefully studied by Hans
Gunther, a German chemist. The source
of the trouble may be the clay lin the case
of brcks), the water employed, the ashes
and pyrites of the coal used for burning
or the mortar Herr Gunther, however.
finds that the discoloration is most liable to
result from pyrites in the clay or chemical
interaction between bricks and mortar.
Most clays contain pyrites, which give rise
to Immediate effiorescences in the presence
Of magnesia, but IN the presence of lime
show nothing until after decomposition with
the alkalies of the mortar. Sulphates-and
not nitrates, as has been Suggested-are
ususaly the dislguring salts. a. suggested
remedy is barium carbonate or chloride
this would bind the sulphuric acid, forming
in insoluble compound, II used In the bricks.
The secret Of Germany's manufacturing
progress has profoundly impressed a depu-
tat:on sent from Manchester to study con-
tinental institutions This commission Wis
tied at Crefield a textile and dyeing school
Of worldwide fame which is not only mag
nificentiy equipped for teaching every de-
| tail of what all nations have done and are
| doing in matters pertaining to textiles. but
which makes every effort to assist manu-
| facturers and merchants. technical
| school found at Darmstadt, City of only
| ST. 900 inhabitants, Is one OF several now
| having equally liberal provision for giving
| the most advanced electrical instruction.
| Such schools have been stimulated by the
| success of the large and costly chemical
laboratories where the most eminent men