The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-05-12
Correspondence Baltimore County linton.
SCIENTIFIC MIS- CELLANY.

Correspondence Baltimore County linton.
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.
Science in Art-Early Cement-Lime and
Malaria-A Chemists Magic-A Lock-
jaw Cure-A Universal Poison Anti
dote- Test of Eye Fatigue-Silkworm
Gut-A Hydrohuoric Battery-E &c
tricity and Animal Growth-Heat-Sav-
ing Engines.
A special study of colors and their chemistry
has been made by J. G.. Vibert, the great French
painter. He finds that the ancient painters of
white, yellow ocher, red ocher, and black. In
Pliny's time there had been added dlnerenC
chalk whites, lead white and its combinations,
massic0t, minimum, orpiment (red and yellow
sulphide of arsenic), red and purple lakes (made
from shells), natural and burnt ochers. CHINA
bar, indigo, powdered Emau blue, verd1grs.
brown earths, livery black and other blacks and
aepia- Later came the red lakes. made from
cochneal and from nader ana the vegetSSlG ape
from the costly lapis lazuli. chest In the mu-
scum of Antwerp contains collection OF the
colors used by Rubens. and of these white lead,
cinnabar, lapis (ultramarine), the madaer lakes,
the earths and the ocher have proven very
durable, while the vegetable yellows, reds and
cOlorS brought out since Ruben's time, those or
aniline-so often brilliant but deceptive mix
dition for art. It is concluded that the finest
colors are those of pure pigment, with little
lnseed or poppy oil as medium, and that the
substances-are generally permanent, but hard
to get in purity.
A number Of samples of cement from the
ancient water conduits of Ephesus and Smyrna
have been analysed, proving to be Of similar
eral hundred years before Christ to three centu-
ries after. The samples were found to be chiefly
Experiments Indicate that It'll the cement was
mixture of two parts of Stag or lime with one
part Of olive oil, as this was hard and durable.
Treatment of soil with lime has been suggest
ed to the Paris Academy of Sciences pos
SsnmHAaE QE Al Il eas c Resp n2ss sfa
free from this malady.
clever x-ray trick is described by DIR. Gus
tave Michand in the Scientific american. To
The sitter I'M In front Of whom Is then held the anu
paratus. which looks like the lens tube of
camera with sheet OF white paper exposed in
full view as the plate, and the rubber bulb. APP
Pressed TIE result IS startinsa picture Picture Of
ously into view in strong colors. The picture is
previously painted on the paper with invisible
inks-a diluted solution Of sulphocyanide of po-
tassium being used for the lungs, more con-
centrated solution of the same salt for the heart
and the principal arteries, solution of ferro-
cyanide OF potassium for the larger veins, and a
weaker solution of the same salt for the stomach
and few intestinal coils. For the rest of the
body Is used concentrated solution of tannin.
and pressure on the bulb forces from this upon
the paper an invisible spray of ferric chloride
solution, producing well known chemical re-
actions.
In case reported by DIR. Woods, the only pa
tient he had seen to recover from tetanus
treated by hypodermic injections of ten per
cent. solution of carbolic acid every half-hour,
except when quiet at night, until able to swal-
low. A dram of the solution in elycerine was
then administered every three hours until the
spasms ceased, and after that less frequent and
oil ~ ho6 Il
Like treatment proved effective in case of te-
tanus in horse.
Milk containing five per cent of borax Is pro-
posed by NJ. Ed. Crouzel as general antidote to
poisons. Boric acid is precipitated as an insol-
uble borate by most mineral bases. The casein
forms insoIuble ca5einsf b stfxic acids and also
while the fatty character of milk prevss9l bases.
tant substances from taking too much effect
The plumber of winks in given time is found
by kotz. Russian physician. to furnish fairly
accurate measure of the degree of eve fatigue
caused by various illuminants This method
gave the Following unexpected results from
s5-il OF ten minutes: With candle, 6,8
wlnks per minute; city gas, rs; sunlight 20;
electric light, 1.8. |
A peculiar industry of the island of Procida |
Is tne manufacture Of fine silk threads from fine |
stomacns OF sllkworms. The worm, Just before |
t t time OF It's metamorphosis, is cut open, and
Ine membrane of the stomach is Carefully re-
moved and picked by secret process Holding
one end In the teeth and drawing the other WITH
g.
sue into threads of considerable length. The
Threads are priced for strength and fiexfbiIity.
and ind market in Northern Italy at abont
blo.U0 pound. They are used for fishing tackle
brushes, etc. Production Is expensive, as the
worms must be taken at the time of their great
ssI value for sflk-making, and the various oDer-
'tl0ns demand much labor by skilled hands,
=.
a new primary battery, patented by E. L. An
erson, mas as the negative electrode a carbon |
yunder, surrounding which is lead cylinder
nal serves as the positive electrode. The cleo
roIyLe con OF one part of hydrofiuoric acid
llxed with three parts of water, with the addi-
ION OF ABOUT two parts of boracic acid
PURGE OF oxygen Is also added, such as chronic
CID potassium permanganate, or atmospheric
SSos:S4 pe,n ave ~ electricity by n German
neenf 1fown an increase of growth
me animals were placed IN u cage-'r,sssrk-
which an alternating current was passed SIX I
hours day. stronger current produced de- |
preston and retarded growth.
"a
Heat accumulators" are claimed to save Is to
20 per cent. in the fuel consumption of locomo-
tives on Russian railway, while the weight Of
trains has been increased by similar percent
age. water-filled steel reservoir of about 800
gallons is placed the boiler, and is heated by
the steam not used to drive the engine. All
feed=Mater passes through it.