The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-04
SCIENTIFIC.


which much is expected, consists in INNER
sion in 80 per cent. solution of salt
through which a continuous current of
electricity is being passed. The curing IS
completed in from ten to twenty hours,
when the meat is taken out and dried.
Gold leaves so thin that 250000 measure
only an inch in thickness are produced in
the Swan process by placing thin sheets of
polished copper in an electrolytic gold-plat-
ing solution only until a continuous gold
film has formed then dissOlving away the
copper in a solution of ferric chloride.
A new nickel-iron alloy reported by DR..
Charles Guillaume, of Neufchatel to the
international committee of weights and
measures, shows less expansion and con-
traction under the influence of temperature
than any other metallic substance known.
1t consists of 36 per cent. of nickel and GA
of iron and the expansion is but one
tenth of that of platinum. 1t is expected
to prove of considerable value for measur-
ing apparatus exposed to sudden changes
of temperature.
Railway tracks are found to be not alb
solutely stationary, but to be moved slight
ly, especially on steep descents through
the influence of the traffic over them. Aus
trian and French engineers report that the
left-hand rail, seen in the direction of rum
ming, moves forward more than the right
hand one, while Egyptian engineers have
an opposite experience. One explanation is
European locomotives, and those on the
left on the locomotives of Egypt.
Experiments to determine how much a
person may hear through his skin have
been made by Professor McKendrick. With
the fingers dipped in solutions so that the
body formed part of the circuit musical
notes were transmitted through a telephone
and were felt by the fingers as thrills CORE
spending to the intensity and rhythm of the
note. 1t is conceived that perfectly deaf
person could be trained to discriminate by
the skin between all the sounds of phono-
graph as agnifed by the microphone.
From the physiological point of view, DR..
Leon Meunier finds, man may be omni-
vorous, vegetarian, or carnivorous accord
ing to climate and the necessities of the
case. An exclusively animal diet, however,
is injurious. Mans organization would
adapt itself more readily to an exclusively
vegetable diet, but there must be some
meat also for the most useful work. Ex-
elusive vegetarianism is the regimen of in
ValQS, very eTIecCVe IN certain diseases or
morbid conditions. Well persons can get
along with it, but without great advantage.
An investigation Of the question of over
exertion in bicycle races has been reported
to the Berlin Medical Society by DIR. Albu
Observations on twelve professional riders
gave such evidence of the strain upon the
heart difficult breathing and strong pulls
alton of the heart and arteries the most re-
markable effect being an acute dilation of
the heart, especially OF the left Ventricle,
which disappeared with rest and reappeared
at the next race The dilation may become
permanent il the oVer-eXertion is frequent
resulting in irreparable injury to a weak
heart. These effects, with kidney disturb
ance, are dangers encountered in racing and
excessive bicycling, moderate riding being
found as others have affirmed, very bene-
fetal exercise.
An interesting modern industry lately es-
tablished at Uxbridge, near London, is the
manufacture of steel barrels. The difficulty
of giving the steel sheet the regulation bar
rel shape is overcome by easing the curved
rolls at the end so that they bear only in
the middle, thus stretching the metal at
the center and forming the barrel body
complete with the exception of shearing
the ends straight in a special machine and
welding the seam The welding is done by
electrically melting pieces of steel over the
opening and hammering them down. The
heads arc cut in a circular shearing ma
chine corrugated and dished in a 400-ton
hydraulic press, and secured in place by a
ring of metal, which is welded to both the
end of the barrel and to the head. The
bung bosses are also welded on. The weld
ing by the Bernados process requires no
skilled labor, and but moderate power is
needed to supply current. The present ca
pacity Of the works is about forty barrels
a day
Liquefled carbonic acid is now produced
so cheaply that its use for motive power for
PS@OS
often considered. A difficulty encountered
is the great absorption of heat and con-
sequent loss of efficiency through the re-
frigeration of the engine, as the LIQUID ex-
pands and returns to the gaseous state. A
French inventor, M Z. Rassinier. seeks to
avoid this difficulty by passing the car
bcnlc acid through capillary tubes i'm a
chamber heated to 120 degrees c. Gas de-
greeS F) by petroleum or coal briouettes
the heated gas being then admitted to .he
engine cylinder where it acts upon the
piston and is then led into a Chamber ar
jacket surrounding the liquefied gas The
gaseous acid giving up the necessary heat
TO change the liquid acid to the gaseous
form Of 80 degrees c. a pressure of Il at
mospheres is developed. The final exhaust
of the gas takes place from this Jacket or
chamber. The capillary heater insures the
first expansion of the gas, while the addi-
ton of pressure through the heating OF the
reservoir by the exhaust gas takes place
only when the engine is working A suit
able safety valve is provided for the supply
pipe leading to the capillary tubes.
At the brilliant private entertainment not
long ago given by NJ. Radiquet, French
lover of the magic of science, the guests
entered a room furnished with nothing
more mysterious than a cloth-covered an
paratus seemingly like magic lantern.
The room contained chandelier of glass
and flowers in glass and porcelain vases.
Inc lights were extinguished IN an ordi-