The Savannah morning news., 1901-06-09
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

l4i4S ulSn any large nuHlDeT OF OdOTS n
writer in Nature, discussing the rise of
the new chemic,S industry of producing
artificial perfumes, remarks that the
sense of smen is yet wholly uncul-
tured. In walking through the country
he says. I'VE can rarely Identify a par
ticular odor until we see the plant from
which it emanates." He suggests that the
neglected sense of smell may be capable
of as artistic development as that which
color perception has attained.
Builders and others have new re-
source in reconstructed granite. This
substance is natural granite pulverized
and reformed under pressure and a high
heat into blocks and other forms. 1t
was used at first for ornamental blocks.
but was later found to be we'll adapted
for making insulators for electric work.
Its latest use is for Innings of sulphite
digesters for treating woodpulp. 1t is we'll
adapted for this and similar purposes, as
the material is not affected by acids and
chlorine does not act on it at any tenn
perature.
When we speak about driving dis
ease out of the body we are talking sheer
nonsense, says the Scotsman. What we
can do and what medicines does for US,
and repair Medicines are given to aid
these powers, while in a few cases drugs
are known which possess actual powers
of killing the germs that beset US. Qui-
nine acts in malaria, for instance, be-
cause ii kills the germs that develop IN
the blood, and other drugs which are
specifics for certain diseases probably owe
their action to similar powers After all.
the doctor is only the servant of nature
=. 49, l. aAf
symptoms, to weigh the probabilities OF
the case, to be Oh the alert to assist ma
ture when occasion arises and to favor
in every way the process of natural re-
covery.
Ut is said that there were at least no.
900 MUSTANGS scattered over the plains of
Arizona, New Mexico and Texas ten
years ago, and that now nearly all of
them are gone. A few were caught and
kept by the Indians in their reservations,
but the wild horse. in his natural state.
is practically extinct. Three causes are
assigned for this: First, the better horse
of the East, cheapened by the trolley car
and the bicycle, could be bought at
moderate price, and the mustang was
shot by the stockmen as a useless con-
sumner of pasturage; second, that the
breed deteriorated, and naturally died
out; and third-heaven save the mark
that they were shot and made into
canned beef" The ranchmen now breed
and raise high-grade horses, and find a
ready market for them, not only in the
Eastern states, but in England and Ger
many for army use. The Western climate
makes them hardy, long winded and
speedy.
The construction of cement houses is
A.. -4z 49,
the millions of tons of furnace Stag pro-
duced every year could thus be utilized. 1t
has been shown that this Stag can be
converted into cement, by known pro-
cesses, at less cost than the one dollar
a barrel suggested by Mr.. Edison as the
result of an invention on which he is ex-
perimenting. This cement, it is claimed,
can be made fully equal to the best that
is know as Portland, f-though a lower
and a cheaper grade would suffice for
house construction. Pulverized and mix
ed with lime, the Stag has been convert
ed into a superior plaster, showing a ten
sile strength greater than the ordinary
sand and lime. Cemept made from the
Stag would not only be economical for
house construction, but would make prac-
tically fireproof buildings. Such use of a
product now wasted or used only to fill
ravines would also be preservative of the
forests.
M. Halmijac, corked up copper, iron,
tin, lead, zinc, and galvanized iron with
alcohol in glass TASKS and kept them at
ordinary temperature for six months. The
copper was entirely Enacted upon, but in
all the other TASKS there was a deposit
at the bottom. and the metal was COW
cred with a similar deposit IN the case
var,fx ed iron 10
deposit was white: that from the iron
was red, resembling iron rust. All the
liquids except that in which the lead had
been placed filtered clear; the latter re-
tanned its milky appearance after repeat
ed offerings through double filters. The
clear filtrates from iron, lead, zinc, and
galvanized iron gave much residue on
evaporation, while the residue from tin
was hardly eppreciable. In the former
cases it is clear that not only had the
metal been oxidized but a considerable
quantity had entered into solution. These
experiments have an important bearing
on the preserving and shipping of alco-
hol
The novel pine-needle industry in Ore
gon is growing, various new uses having
been found for the product. These pine
needles in Oregon are much larger than
the diminutive pine leaves familiar TO
residents of the East. In the Far West
they grow sometimes to length of thiT-
ty inches, the average being twenty
inches. Both the oil and fiber of the leaves
are marketed, the former being extracted
by distillation. The oil is used in the
making OF soap and in the havoring of
candles, and is said to have some medi-
ciral value for pulmonary complaints.
Two qualities of fiber are used. the one
from which the oil has not been extract
ed being the most valuable, and selling
at about ten cents a pound. This fiber is
elastic, and may be woven into fabrics.
Mixed with hair, it is said TO make an ex-
cellent material for mattresses and pill
lows, while the odor, which is retained in
definitely. is though to promote sleep. A
curious feature in connection with the in
dustry is that the trees are not injured
by being denuded of their leaves, but are
rather benefited, and the Forestry Com
mission approves the practice. Two crops
may be gathered yearly from the trees,
the second crop being larger than the
FIRST. The Oregon factory, said TO be the
only one outside of Germany. is to have
a capacity soon for 5000 pounds of leaves
per day.
M. Becquerei found, as early as 1896.
that there are certain substances, such
as uranium. which, in the total absence
of all known excitation, give out light
steadily. The rays from uranium when
! thew traverse gases make them conduc-