Science,

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2079, 10 June 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

Science,

Coaltar, since it was discovered to be tbe Bourse of an almost unlimited variety of those very beautiful colon known generally under the name of “analine dyes," has yielded so many strange and new substances under the searching scrutiny of the numerous investigators whose attention these brilliant colors have attracted—much in the same way as tbe gaudy flower attracts tbe busy bee—that no one is surprised to hear that another wonderful discovery is announced. And yet who would have dreamed of obtaining sugar from a substance so uninviting as coal tar 1 And such sugar, too 1 Nothing shown at the recent Edinburgh Exhibition by tbe Greenock sugar manufacturers—excellent exhibits—could equal it. Here are some of its properties. It is a white crystalline powder,easily soluble in warm water, and it possesses 230 times tbe sweetening power of the best cane or beet-root sugar. One part of this saccharine dissolved in 10,000 parts of water produces a solution of distinctly sweet taste. All its known combinations have a sweet taste. A substance to which the name “ dextro-saccharine ” has been given is prepared by adding one part of saccharine to between 1,000 and 2,000 parts of glucose, and it is said to be scarcely destinguisbable in taste from ordinary sugar; moreover, it is cheaper than real sugar even at the present high price of saccharine, fifty shillings a pound. The bitterest quinine solution, or acid drink, is rendered so sweet by the addition of a small portion of saccharine that not the least taste of the bitter principle of the acid can be tasted. Preservation of the Dead.— ln speaking of the preservation of dead bodies, (faillanl't Medical Monthly says that Edward 1., who died in 1307 was found not decayed 463 years subsequently. The flesh on the face was a little wasted but not putrid. The body of Canute, who died 1017 was found found fresh 1766. Those of William the Conqueror and hia wife were perfect in 1522. In 1369 three Roman soldiers, in the dress of their country, fully equipped with arms, were dug out of a peat mass near Aberdeen. They were quite fresh and plump after a lapse of about 1,500 ydhrs. In 1717 the bodies of Lady Kiisytb and her infant were embalmed. In 1796 they were found as perfect as in tbe hour when they were first embalmed. Every limb and feature was full. The infant's features were as composed as if he had only been asleep for eighty years. His color was as fresh and bis flesh as plump and full as if he was in perfect health. The smile of infancy and innocency was on his lips, At a little distance it was difficult to destinguish whether Lady Kilsyth was alive or dead. The question is, What preservative was used, and how applied ? The New German Rifle.— The new rifle, which bears tbe title “ M." (t. e. Mauser), “ 71 84,” in token that the old model 71 has been adhered to in principle, with some modifications of it made in 1884, is described as being 1.3 metre long without, or 1.8 metre with, tbe bayonet, and weighs 4.6 kilogrammes with empty magazines or 5 kilogrammes when the magazine contains its full store of eight cartridges. These are cased with brass, each being 78 milimetres long, and weighing 43 grammes. The powder charge consists of 5 grammes of new rifle powder—"M. 71.” The weapon, of which the barrel is of rifled steel, colored brown outside to protect it against rust, can be sighted at a distance of from 200 to 1,000 metres, It has a calibte of 11 milimetres. The rifle can be used either as a single shooter or repeater,and fired in the usual way. It is also announced that velocipedes—both bicycles and tricycles, will soon be introduced into the German army, chiefly for the use of orderlies in fortresses, and in the region of detached forts. At Electric Low-Water Alarm-—An electric low-water alarm, based upon a very simple principle, has recently been described before the American Institute. The apparatus consists of two gauge-cocks, a water gauge, a mercurial thermometer, a couple of Leclanchc cells and an electric bell. Two wires are inserted in the thermometer tube, and are connected with the battery ar,d tbe bell. As the water in the boiler gradually lessens, steam comes down through the upper arm and gauge glass, and when a certain level is reached it enters also through the lower arm. Being hotter than the water, the increased temperature of the steam expands the mercury in the tube and closes the circuit. The bell then continues to ring until sufficient feed-water has been supplied; the feed-water being cooler, the mercury contracts, the circuit is broken, and the alarm ceases.

Prompt Oastrotomy.—A tailor in st. Louis swallowed a table-knife nine and a half inches long; a surgeon was, at once summoned, and with the most remarkable promptitude immediately performed gastrotomy and removed the knife. Within thirty minutes of the knife being swallowed it was once more in the outer world. This is probably the first case where immediate gastrotomy has been performed for a dangerous foreign body in the stomach, but if the risk attending the performance of the operation at one sitting instead of two stages—that is to say, the opening of the stomach before peritoneal adhesions have formed—may be safely taken, there is no reason to see why this example should not be generally followed, • The wound in the stomach was closed by the Czerney-Lambert suture, and the man recovered.

A Curious Contention —A French physician contends that groaning and crying are two grand operations by which nature allays anguish ; that those patients who give way to their natural feelings, more speedily recover from accidents and operations than those who suppose it unworthy in a man to betray such symptoms of cowardice as either to groan or cry. He tells of a man who reduced his pulse from lt’o to fiO in the course of a few hours by giving full vent to bis emotion. If people are unhappy about anything, let them go into their rooms and comfort themselves with a loud hoo-hoo, and they will feel 100 per cent, better afterward. In accordance with this the crying of children should not bo too greatly discouraged. dVhal is natural is nearly always nscful.

A Luminous Rifle Sight —The British War Cilice authorities have had a new invention in the shape of luminous rifle-sights under trial for the past six months, and have now given an order for a supply. The difficulty of sighting rifles in the dark in warfare has been ingeniously overcome by tbc use of this invention. A small bead coated with luminous paint is clipped on to tire rifle over the fore-sight and another over the rearsight when used at night in reply to an enemy's tire, forming two luminous sights. There may be two sides to the question. Would not troops using the luminous sights present a bright target to the enemy in the shape of an enemy of glow-worms 1

New Use for Electricity.—ln a lecture at the Royal Institution, London, Professor Oliver Lodge has endeavored to ahow that electricity might be employed to clear the upper atmosphere of great cities of the overhanging clouds of dust and smoke. He exWhited bell jars filled with dense smoke, and rendered them clear in an instant by an electrical discharge from a friction machine. A similar discharge of electricity on a larger scale into the dust and smoke-laden air over London would, he thinks, produce a like effeet, and he is desirous of making experiments of sufficient magnitude to tes”t the cor. redness of this view.

Delicate Photography. —Herman photographers have succeeded in photographing a projectile in the course of its (light, and some of the photographs show the lead 0 { condensed air which precedes every shot. It is this “ head " which prevents even skilful riflemen from hitting an empty egg shell when hung on a long thread, 'lie air blows the shell out of the wav of the ballet. ft‘}|