The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-24
SCIENTIFIC.

Antiseptics, creolin being preferred are
mixed with the water used for sprinkling
the streets of Brussels
A case of disease Of the Jaw bones due TO
inhaling phosphorus vapor from matches
has been reported by a French physician.
hundred matches a day in lighting and re-
lighting the cigars he smoked.
Electric transmission of water power is
now in operation in over two hundred places
in the United States, according to Mr.. VIM;
Baxter, jr. The horsepower transmitted
ranges from less than 100 to 12,0O0; the dis
lance, from one mile to thirty-five.
Infusorial earth is recommended by NJ. j.
Hauser to the French Academy Of Sciences
as the most perfect filter known for steril-
izing liquids. 1t is calcined at a high tenn
perature, powdered made into an emulsion
with water, and allowed to settle as fine
layer-whch need not he more than a fif-
tieth of an inch thick-On any suitable sup
port. Such a filter retains the most minute
organisms or particles of matter.
Last years remarkable discovery that
certain metals and other substances may
affect Photographic plates like light, even at
a distance has been subject of further
study. While It is believed that the action
is due to vapor, which may even penetrate
thin sheets of such substances as gelatin.
pure mercury very curiouSly seems to be
without effect, although it becomes very ac-
tive on the addition of trace of zinc or
lead. Temperatures has effect, and an ac-
ton may take place in hours at $50 degrees
Fahrenheit that would require days at 60
degrees.
A new idea in ship propulsion is to be
tested on small English boat. The pro-
peller is to be placed in a central space
short distance from the box, and from this
space two orifces, inclined downward and
outward, are to extend to the bow, ard
two similar ones to the stern. The inven-
theory water enters
the orificeS at the bow, the upward grad
lent will tend to reduce the movement of
that the screw will be more effective in this
still water than in the flowing race past
the propeller in ordinary ships.
The farm established at Acheres for puri-
flying Paris sewage before 1t passes to the
Seine contains 2,471 acres, and so effective
has it proven that the water flowing from 1t
contains fewer bacteria than most uncon-
taminated streams. AS each acre of suit
able soil can take about $50 cubic feet Of
sewage daily. a farm of about 1l,120 acres
would be needed to deal with the total dis
charge from the city's sewers. The sewage
is carried by gravitation to Chch ny where
power raise 1t 11S feet. and distribute 1t
through a main of 1872 inches to a secon-
dairy system of pipes feeding the irrigation
trenches The farm is now mainly devoted
to beet-root. This crop, however, can stand
but about $4,000 cubic feet of sewage per
cry can take 325, 900 cubic feet. and grass is
uTiinjured by 100000 cubic feet. Sewage
irrigation has given the land five times its
original value
Mild winters have been a subject of study
in Berlin by DIR. O. Hellmann- He de-
fines a mild winter as one in which the
mean temperature of December and Janu-
airy is at least degrees Centigrade (3.6 de-
grees FarenheiD above the average. and
from the accurate records available he finds
that since 1720 Berlin has had forty-eight
winters of this type. which have always
occurred In groups Of two or three years,
and especially after a long period OF cold
winters From nine to twelve years have
elapsed between two groups of mild win
tiers. After a moderate mild winter the
chances are "A per cent. that July and
august will have higher temperature than
usual, and after a very mild winter the
chances of a warm summer reach 6S per
cent. Dry. mild winters-such as the last
one-are exceptional. II such a season is
not followed BY an abundant rainfall Ia the