The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-01-20
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

The Naturalist's Telemicroscope-An-
imal Temperature = Engineers
Deafness-Another Solution Of the
Waste Heat Problem-A Useful
Rubber Imitation = Gas-Preserva-
ton of Focd-Riding Head Down
ward-sterfiity of Flowed Sand.
A kind Of combination telescope and
microscope has been worked out by
French microscopIst for studying live
insects and their habits. The new APP
paratus is called the "telemicroseope,"
and is really a small telescope having
an objective formed OF two achromatic
lenses, which can be moved nearer to-
gether or separated by sliding the tubes.
For the purpose intended the magnify
ing power necessary is only 10 to Is
diameters. Besides serving for watch
ing Insects moving on the ground, the
instrument, II is stated, is admirably
adapted for use as field glass
The slight variations in the body heat
OF animals, even in the greatest changes
OF atmospheric temperature, 70 one Of
the wonders Of physiology. NJ. Fran
coils Steplnski finds that the average
temperature of man In health is u de-
grees, and that the variation from this
Is rarely more than 2 TO 3 degrees, al
though there are regular daily changes
OF temperature, slight seasonal Varta-
lions, and a slight rise after eating and
work OF any kind. Age makes much
less difference than is usually supposed.
Yet while the average central tempera-
lure is 50 constant, there may pc etr1k-
ing local variations and the SKIN tenn
perature sometimes diners four to
twelve degrees In a few hours. Dis
ease. as is well known. greatly anects
bodily temperature.
The deafness Of locomotive engineers
and firemen has been looked upon as
an erect Of the whistle. Mr.. George
Trebel points out that this cannot be
SO, and finds that the engineers are deaf
In the right ear, and the HFenen IN the
left, leading him to suggest that the
cause is the impact OF the wind on the
ear-drum as the men lean from the cab.
The sound OF the whistle Is scarcely
noticeable, while the men on the slow
moving yard engines are not affected.
strong dislike to the odor OF pep
nermint has been discovered IN mice.
Cotton soaked In peppermint oil caused
them to 20 away for considerable time.
and after a second application they dis
appeared completely.
To double the capacity Of q power
plant, without increasing the size OF the
boilers or the consumption OF fuel, Is
q rather startling proposition at the
present day. This result however, is
what Prof jesse, OF the Technical High
School of Berlin, believes he can achieve
through device that was tested I'M
successfully some ten years ago, the
idea being to run a second engine
driven by sulphurous acid or other
LIQUID of very low boiling point, with the
heat Of the exhaust steam from the frst
engine In the new auxiliary engine the
sulphurous acid Is made TO pass through
complete cycle Of Naportzation and
condensation. For each indicated horse
power the normal steam consumption Of
the steam engine working alone was
10 pounds, and this was reduced to IL
pounds when both machines worked to-
gether. while It is believed that reduc-
tlon to about S.25 pounds Is practicable
on large engines.
Every promising substitute for rub
Der and gutta percha Is being eagerly
investigated. Veloril, a new artificial
rubber lately described by Mr.. Walter
F. Reid. is a mixture Of nitrated llnseed
or castor oil with nitro-cellulose, the
elastic and other properties being sub
ject 10 great variation by alterations In
the proportions OF the two constituents.
The product can be moulded under heat
and pressure, or applied In solution, the
solvent being then evaporated. Velcrtl
has stood the test of exposure TO the
English climate better than rubber, II
Is superior to vulcanized rubber In Its
freedom from action on copper, and,
while Its Insulating properties have not
been fully studied, II can be recon-
mended already for a great variety of
purposes, such as machine betting, wa
terproof cloth, hose and tubing, floor
coverings, paints, etc
Night-terrors In children are found by
DR.. f. Graham Little. a London phySi-
clan. to be less dependent on digestive
disturbances than is generally supposed.
They are largely due 10 disorders that
produce moderate but prolonged diff
Guilty Of breathing, and are common In
rheumatic children. and associated with
ricketts,. enlarged tonsils, errors OF re-
fraction and tapeworms.
For zapon or celluloid varnish, a
product Of many uses, German expert
menter gets the best results by dlsRolv-
ing two parts OF colOrless cellulold waste
In twenty parts OF acetone, solution re-
quirinG standing several days In a
closed vessel. and adding seventy-elght
parts OF amyl acetate. The varnlsh Is
clarified by long settling.
BY the newly patented process Of Herr
F. W. II. Graeff. OF Berlln, animal or
vegetable substances are preserved by
exhausting the air from the receptacle
containing them. then impregnRting
them with inert gas-such as hydrogen,
nitrogen or carbonic Gas-at any de-
sired pressure. and finally scaling up
| Theoretically In suitable receptacles.
Liquids may be treated as well as
solids. The process is expected to be-
| come Enthusiastically Important. for II IL
adapted to every kind ~ pcrlshable ma
tcrial including meats. skins, veGeta-
bies. flowers cream. milk. whey. etc,