The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-14
SCIENTIFIC.

The Pintsch system of gas lighting is now
used on $500 cars and locomotives in the
world. its use on locomotives, however, be-
ing almost entirely confined to 1856 such
machines in Germany.
At the little port of Ploumanach, France,
the sea at high tide overhows into some
natural pools at a much lower level. This
fall is made to drive a water wheel. and,
with a dynamo and accumulators, a con-
slant supply of electricity is obtained.
Spectroscopic investigation by Messrs. w.
n. Hartley and H. Ramage has revealed an
Unexpectedly wide distribution of "a number
of metals. Out of 1913 minerals examined,
most magnetites. bauxites and blondes.
Rubidium appeared even more widely dis
tributed. and indium was found in thirty
minerals Iron and sodium were found in
every specimen, and potassium in all but
two.
The use of cork as a paving material for
roads has been under test for several years
in London and other cities, and is now re-
ported to have given highly satisfactory re-
suits. The pavement not only affords a
good foothold. but it is practically nom
absorbent and noiseleSs. The cork is
ground, mixed with bitumen and a suitable
fbrouS material, and formed into blocks I'M
der a pressure of six hundred pounds per
square inch, and these blocks are laid on
cement concrete foundation Of suitable
depth.
don, of Melbourne, consists of a copper
head-piece and jacket, screwed by simple
joints to body constructed of strong spiral
metal springs imbedded in layers of rubber
and cloth. The legs and arms are quite
flexible, yet are so constructed that there is
diver. In recent trial a diver reached the
great depth of two hundred feet. remaining
under water fifty-one minutes, with no re-
newal of air for twelve minutes and suf-
fered no inconvenience.
The prevalent notion that vegetarianism
affords freedom from digestive derange-
ments is disputed by British surgeon who
asserts that years residence in India,
where the natives are mostly vegetarians,
will convince the most skeptical that no
class of diet confers even partial immunity
from disorders of digestion. Severe cases of
dyspepsia in strict vegetarians are not I'M
common at the General Hospital of Mad
ras In one of these a man who had
weighed but hfty-two pounds was fed with
peptonized milk and essence of chicken I'M
til he reached 1O4 pounds, when he was dis
missed
Warnings by sound to vessels in fog are
unreliable on account of the curiously un-
certain effects of air currents which often
render inaudible the signals of nearby fog
horns while distant sounds are plainly
heard. To detect approach TO danger with
greater certainty Mr. Hermann Herberts
of Newark, N. j., proposes the use of the
lheImoplle This apparatus is capable of
registering a change of temperature as
small as the millionth of a centigrade de-
gree detecting the heat Of a candle at a
distance OF quarter of a mile, and by
using two horizontally rotated thermopiles,
the Two heat-cOllecting tunnels pointing in
opposite directions, it is believed that not
only would the proximity of a vessel be
shown by it's heat radiations but nearness
of an iceberg, and even of land or a slInken
wreck would be indicated bv +'1e same laws
or radiation.
Duodecaplex telegraphy hi zen receiv-
ing the attention of M. Merca r. French
electrician. for many years In experiments
now being made on the Paris-Bordeaux line
twelve Morse transmitters are worked
simultaneously en a single wire, each send
ing It's signals to the proper receiver at the
end OF the line. This result is attained by
means OF interrupted currents. Each trans
mitter receives its current through an cleo
lrlcally-V1brated tuning fork whose vibra-
rlols are OF the period necessary to cause
which has its self-induction and capacity
correSpondingiy adjusted The receiver.
called a monotelephone, is also acousticaIIy
adapted for damping out undesired signals
the combination effecting so complete a stiff
ing mat only slight and not troublesome
murmur comes from the unintended sig
by rubber tubes.
Few American perfumes were made forty
or fifty years ago. according to Mr. o. r.
SALISBURY. The annual product Is now about
S2,5OO0OO worth. while the imports reach
sl,5OO0OO worth. Greater New York uses
100000 worth. For this billions of billions
of flowers are consumed. The importation
each year of oil of rose is about $3.50 O0O
worth, and each pound Of this requires
about thirteen tons Of noses. the Metals of
100000 roses being computed to be necessary
for an ounce of oil. The gathering of the
roses employs 1000 people In southeastern
Europe from the middle Of May to the mid
the roses. violets, jasmines, tuberoses,
mignonettes, and other flowers hy absorb
ton IN rat. dlstillation. or extraction with
ether. sulphide of carbon or chloride NJ
metnyl; Artificial synthetic perfumes are
Dienoed with the flower pofnades or essen
LlaI OILS. musk. ambergris, or civet to form
vast quantities Of fashionable brands Of
EeTIlmes. The more important OF the arti-
nclal perfumes are terplneol (lilac SCENT
sancXnc aldehyde meadow sweet SCENT
sahum vanilla scent). cumarin new mown