NOTES ON SCIENCE, MECHANICAL INVENTIONS, ETC

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9082, 16 June 1888, Page 5 (Supplement)

NOTES ON SCIENCE, MECHANICAL INVENTIONS, ETC

NEW METAL FOB WATCHES.

Watches are now being made of the metal palladium, discovered by i'allard, of Geneva, Switzerland. It is a metal of the platinum group, but of far lower density, andiaa valuable substitute for steel in watchmaking. Its striking advantages are that it ia rustproof, and that it is unaffected to any extent by the presence of a magnotic fluid, so that watches made of it do not show the annoying variations due to electric influences that annoy owners of watches that have steel works. TINY ELECTRIC LAMP. Tho young English electrician, to whose ingenuity Mr. Irving owe 1 the clever deyice by which sparks are made to fly from the blade of " Mephisto's" sword, is the inventor of a tiny electric lamp for use in examining the passages of the throat. It was with this novel apparatus that Dr. Mackenzie examined the throut of the Crown Prince. The lamp is appended at the end of what looks like a long, slender pon-holder, and is actually put dowa the patient's throat. The smull battery which supplies the electricity is worn about tho examining surgeon's neck. SINKING SHAFTS THROUGH QUICKSANDS. Sinking shafts through quicksands by artificially freezing tho sand and water and then excavating it like lock has boon rosorted to in Europe and found to work well. Large iron tubes are sunk in tho sand a fow feet apart, and in these smaller tubes are inserted, through which circulates a freezing solution of culoride of !iiagnesium. The sand is frozen for a distance of several i'eot around the tubes. It then is hard and compaot and can be broken up and taken out in the same manner as rock. It is probable that tins process would have overcome the difficulty experienced in sinking the shaft for the new lake tunnel and crib at Chicago caused by the sand and water.

COMI'UKSSKD AIK INSTKAD OF STEAM. Considerable attention is being given to the introduction of compressed air instead of steam as a motive-power both in America and in Europe. A company in Birmingham, are completing a large central plant for furnishing , compressed air through mains to the the owners of small engines. Trials already made jire said to have shown that the cost to consumers will bo considerably less than the cost of steam made on the premises. Besides doing away with the dirt and dust from the coal, and the saving of room, the use of compressed air is said to furnish excellent moans of ventilation. A valuable feature-of the charter of this company is ft clause compelling them to divide all profits over 10 per cent, with the consumers. ELECTRICAL WELDING. Professor A. E. Dolboar writes to the American Engineering Record as follows : — " 1 have hud made nearly a hundred tests of the tensile strength of electrically welded bars of iron, steel, and other metals. The results were of such a character that I can sUte positively that with Thomson's welding process it is possible to weld both wrought iron and steel so that the weld is as strong as the same cross-section in another part of the bar. 1 had a number of burs welded by an expert blacksmith and a number of similar ones by the electrical process for comparison, with the result that the electrically welded bars were much stronger than those welded by the ordinary process. The bars were of various sizes, up to an inch and a half for iron, and threefourths of an inch octagon steel."

TIIK QIISINi; PLANTATIONS OF THE WOKLD. The following , interesting particulars with regard to the manufacture of quinine are taken from the current issue of the Lancet : —" There are, it is believed, about eighteen factories of chinchona quinine is different parts of the world, in addition to the Government factories and plantations in India, where the mixed ' bark alkaloids' are prepared to some extent for local use. Altogether the yearly output of quinine may be reckoned at about 4,500,0000z. The factories comprise one establishment in Holland, two in England, two in Italy, three in France, four in the United States, and six in Germany. In addition to these are some experimental works in Russia, and these appear to have proved .so great a success that-the Russian Government is now making preparations for greatly extending the cultivation of chinchona in the vicinity of Tiflis in the Caucasus. Operations are to be conducted on an immense scale." SMOKE. In a late report of the Sjmoke Abatement Institute it is stated that "the weight of the smoke cloud over London is estimated at about 50 tons of solid carbon and 250 tons of hydro-carhon and carbonic oxide gases. From actual tests, the value of coal annually wasted through the obstinacy of tho Cockneys is £2,257,500, or 4'2 per cent, of the amount expended for coal in London, that being the percentage of heat that esscapes up tho chimney without warming anybody. This waste also causes a useless expenditure of £2QS,IoQ for carting coal, to say nothing of the wear and tear of streets, and £43,000 more for carting away ashes. Altogether about £2,500,000 is yearly thrown away in London. Add to this £2,000,000 for injury to property from the smoke-laden atmosphere, and there is shown a total of £4,500,0W which London annually loses because of its failure to burn coal under proper conditions. TOBACCO BLIhfDNKSS. This infirmity, it ia said, is becoming a common affliction. At present there are several persons under treatment for it at one London hospital. It first takes the form of colour-blindness, the sufferers, who have smoked themselves into this condition, being quite unable to distinguish the colour of a piece of red cloth held up before them, Sometimes the victim loses his eyesight altogether. Tobacco being a narcotic, naturally benumbs the nerves. When the nerves are thus benumbed people do not see as distinctly, and this defectiveness of vision tends to increase and become permanent. MISCELLANEOUS. The use of lacquer upon the hulls of vessels as a protection against marine growths originates in Japan. A recent experiment was entirely successful. The new anaesthetic, erythro-ophl<rine, has been tested by .lohn Tweedy, of London, who writes to the Lancet that the drug is irritating and has very little anesthetic effect. There are in all seven species of parasites known to prey on the Hessian fly. Miss Ormerod, famous for her insect knowledge, has hatched them out and classified them.

A writer in the American Machinist recommends relieving leather belts from strain when they are not in use, and asserts that a belt thus used will be in good condition when one constantly strained shall be worn out. Experiments are being made on Prussian railroads with axle-boxes fitted witli bearings of vegetable parchment in place of brass. The claim is made that these compressed paper bearings make a tough material that is superior to metal. Pyrodone is a new liquid which renders wood, textile fabric, paper, and such inflammable materials fire-proof. The liquid is made of all colours, so as to be used as a substitute for paint; and it is said to render houses and other outbuildings fire-proof. A lumber-stacking machine, which takes the place of fifteen men, is in successful use. The lumber is carried on chains from the trimmer and dropped on the cars in better shape than the men formerly did the work. But one man is now necessary to manipulate the machine.

A successful experiment has been made at the Etna Ironworks, Pittsbur". '•>" which the lap weldink 01 tubes is done in one heating instead of two. Less metal is required. In fact, the new way saves a great deal of labour and the cost is from 25 to 40 per cent, cheaper. An is the inventor.

A simple remedy for hiccoughs is given by the New York Medical Journal. The sufferer should close his external auditory canals with his fingers, exerting a certain degree of pressure ; at the same time he is to drink a few sips of any liquid whatever, the glass or cup being held to his lips by another person. The effect is said to be immediate.

Dr. Julius Pohlman thinks the reason why our teeth decay so is because we do not use them enough, and, like other organs that are not exercised, they tend to atrophy. Our teeth become weak because unused to hard work. The author warns mothers and nurses not to give the children soft food if they would have them have good teeth—in other words, mako them eat their crusts. The end of the old-fashioned sugar refining business has been decreed by the new method invented of refining by electricity ; the cost is 3s 2d a ton. A company has been started, with a million capital. The inventor is Mr. Henry Friend.