The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-19
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

val increases almost IN a geOmetrlCdl
ratio TO the speed. There are many ships
which burn from 100 to 800 tons of coal
per day, the lowest consumption being
when the vessel is sailing at a moderate
rate, says the st. Louis Globe-D Democrat.
our men-of-war do not consume so much
IN proportion as swift passenger steam,
ers which ply between Europe and Amer
lea, Tor, unless in an emergency, they are
MOI driven a the highest attainable speed.
The ocean passenger steamers often burn
from Z,5U to $500 tons during a voyage
lasting six TO seven days. though Of
course, as already stated, the amount is
largely dependent upon the speed.
Some interesting observations made by
NJ. Fatio on the surgical treatment or
wounds by birds were recently brought be-
fore the Physical Society of Geneva In
these it was esta blshed that the snipe
had often been observed in repairing dam
ages. With its beak and feathers it makes
a very creditable dressing, and has even
peen known to secure a broken limb by
means of a stout ligature On one oc
casion M. Fatio killed a snipe which had
on its chest large dressing composed of
down from other parts of. the body Sc
curely liked to the body by coagulated
blood. Twice he had snipe with inter
woven feathers strapped onto the site of
fracture of one or other limb. The most
interesting example was that of snipe
both of whose legs he had unfortunate
II broken by a misdirected shot He only
recovered it on the following day, when
ne found that the wounded bird had con-
trlved to apply dressings and sort of
a splint to both limbs. In carrying out
this operation some feathers had become
entangled round the beak, and not being
able to use its claws to get rid of them
the poor creature was almost dead from
hunger when found.
DIR. F. Brown has collected some use
full information on the subject of poison
ing by timed foods, says the ST. Louis
Globe-Democrat. In the reports which
have been got together the poisonous eff
feet seems to have been due TO the pres
ence of ptomaines, and the necessity of US
ing materials of only the best quality and
canning this material under the strictest
hygienic conditions, is insisted upon. Can
ned fruits do not appear to have been re-
sponsible for any fatal cases of poisoning
out salts of tin and zinc are frequently
present in such materials. In some in
stances, especially in cans containing pears
and apricats, lead In quantities sufficient
to cause lead poisoning was found, while
in other cases apricots had acquired a
metallic taste from the amount of metal
present. AS all canned fruits are better
for being used soon after canning, Dr.
plan to state on each tin the date of it's
canning. This would be rather hard on
many dealers who are slow in turning over
their stock of canned goods but it would
give the public a guide as 10 the quality
of the article they were purchasing.
in several cases industry is indebted
to the insect world for unique substances,
says the ST. Louis Globe-Democrat. For
many years the cochineal or cactus scale
plant was used as the basis of an import
ant red dye until practically superseded by
the introduction of aniline dyes. A single
species of lac insect produces practically
all the shellac stick and bottom lac of
commerce. In Southwestern Asia the Gre
osote bushes are the breeding ground Of
enormous quantities of a lac insect, the
commercial possibilities of which have not
yet been developed A species of scale
insect in China Yields a pure white wax
of great value and rarity. The Chinese
wax is said to have ten times the illum-
mating power of other wakes. 1t is a
beautiful substances, resembling beeswax
more than vegetable wax in its chemical
composition, and Is clear white in color
Now a discovery which promises to be OF
great economic value comes from Mesa
Grande, Cal. The vegetation In this dis
trict is infested with an insect which, on
being removed from the twigs of oak on
which 1t thriVes and compressed in guam
titles by the hand, becomes more or
less pliable lump, somewhat resembling
rubber, but not possessing the same elias
ITCHY. Part of 1t has been proved BY
chemical analysis to be a true wax and
part resembles rubber in it's physical prop
critics. The product is equally interesting
fIom a chemical and Industrial point of
view, and the supply is well night mex
haustible.
The war has practically doubled the
price of horses such as the government
uses for artillery and cavalry says the
New Yost Post. Prior to the war the gov
eminent was not a large factor in the
horse market, buying only to replace
losses, and then through contractors. Now,
In order to get the large number of ami
mails needed the government has to send
its agents into the open market. Two
months ago the government was paying
from $50 to $75 for cavalry horses. Last
week at East Buffalo agents paid as high
as $135, and they bought few If any, at
less than $120. The increased demand has
directed attention to the decrease in the
number of sound and serviceable horses
available for cavalry purposes. In order
to facilitate the purchase of horses the
government has lowered the standard to
which they must conform, so that now
any sound horse between the ages of five
and eight years, and standing from 15A
TO l5A hands IN hight is regarded as suit
able for cavalry use. Even with this
concession the government agents are find
ing it most difficult to make purchases
with the rapidity desired. Color is not
consdered- in the buying. No locked
horse, however. will be bought, and those
who have shortened their horses tails to
make them more salable to people of fash
Ion will have to dispose of them in that
market, for every horse in the govern
ment service is required to have a tail
Just as nature intended he should have.
The city of Client, In Belgium, is built
on twenty-six islands, says an exchange. |
These islands are connected with each
other by eighty bridges The city has 800
streets and thirty public squares. 1t is
noted for being the birthplace of Charles |
V and of John of Gaunt, whom Shakes |
peare called "time-honored Lancaster" |
and as the scene of the pacification of |
Client Nov. s, 1876 and of several msur- |
rections, sieges and executions of we'll |
known personages. 1t is associated with |
American history by the treaty made there |
Dec. "a, 1914 terminating the second war |
between England and the United States. |
known as the war of 1872. Amsterdam. In |
Holland, is built on piles driven far below |
the water into the earth. The city is in |