The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-08-17

ODDIIIES OE SCIENCE.

ODDITIES OF SCIENCE.
The bulb of nm electric lamp should
never be inclosed In any fabric. III
wrapped in tissue paper so that no air
can pass between IL and tho glass, tho
paper will soon DO on fire.
Tie new invention for reducing noiso
OF trains on elevated railroads is called
iron felt. 1t is placed between the rails
and slcopers and not only deadens sound
and reduces shocks, but materially dimin-
ishes the wear and tear.
Within the present year largo numbers
Of rural telephone lines have been con-
struoted each farmer contributing poles,
and work In hauling and setting thom.
An experienced mau places the instru-
ments, which cost from $40 TO $40.
Farmers are delighted with their enter
prise as they can order goods, boats. or
compelled to send messenger several
miles across country as was formerly
necessary. -~
The voices Of American young women
are said by Marchesi Co be most beautiful.
But they do not last. The whole time IL
given to the study OF music and little to
the building up Of tho physical resources
on which, in singing. they arc laying
heavy demands Spraying the throat with
difforont coDcoctioDs living in ovor-haateu
rooms in winter, drinking quantities OF
iced liquid in summer, eating candy,
pastry. and rich, starchy foods oil tend TO
injure the singing voice. .
An explanation of the act of sbivering
was recently given by DIR. Il. G. Spltzka,
the peurologist. who says: "A otill Is
due To the sudden contraction OF the blood
vessels OF the skin, and when II Is OF
very high degree. tho muscular fibres OF
the skin themselves contract causing that
prominence Of the papillae which is
familiarly known rs goose flesh. Inc
nerves which control these muscles are
under the control of nerve centers near
the base OF the brain, hence the appear
ance OF "a chill may be caused 10y the low
ering of the temperature and by the emo
tions: by the medicines, like antipyrne.
circulating in the blood Of the brain, or
by malarial or other fevers.
A Pennsylvania man owns horse.
which he saws is worth $1,000 10 him. He
had offered $500 TO any one who would
cure him of the habit Of baking, aud all
to no purpose. He then procured three
volt storage battery. with which no con-
nected each side of the bit and crupper
by means OF thyee wires. Tbs horse. when
hitched TO road cart braced his four feet
and at first refused to move. but at tne
first push Of the button he jumped.
sported, and moved off. Each day for
week be was given the Same lesson, and
is now his owners pride, as he never
balks, bites, OF kicks Several similar
cases have been reported, and in two
counts it has been decided that small
amount OF electricity applied to balky
or lazy horse Is less cruel thdn whipping
it.
A model institution for treatment OF
weakly infants was opened for private in
speotion at the Victorian era exhibition.
IL is divided into three sections. One Tor
the offices OF the medical mon and nurses
in charge, one for nursery. auu In the
central room are tho nicsel-plated and
plate glass incubators in which Infants
are laid on little white coverlets placed
upon wire hammocks Before entering
these through a pipe four inches In
diameter, air is moistened by passing
through sheet of antiscptic absorbent
wool 1t then passes through dry wool.
which retains the SCOT and impurities OF
the atmosphere. The air then traverses
another pipe to the center Of the incuba-
tor. On It's orflce Is disk for uniformly
distributing the air; above all is Chin
ney with a revolving fan, which forces
exhausted air to escape. Uniform heat
ing is produced from an external boiler,
circulation being effected by copper pipe
leading under the hammock. A
thermostnt on the wall is connected with n
chain which suspends an aluminium cone
lid over. the lamp of the boiler. and its ex-
mansions and contractions automatically
control the temperature TO the degree to
which tho apparatus is set. A thermome-
tor and hygrometer inside the glass door
indicate respectively the temperature and
moisture of the air within. The capacity
of the handsome little incubators Is less
than cubic yard.