Scientific and Useful.

Western Star, Issue 1077, 30 October 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

Scientific and Useful.

JX.IE3 AS SANITARY INSPECTORS. The Sanitarian reports an instance of flies acting as sanitary inspectors. In one of the rooms in the residence in an American city, offensive odours wore detected, but their exact source could not be located. The carpets were raised, and a carpenter was engaged to take up the entire floor. At this moment a visitor suggested that an appeal he made to the instinct of the fly. Two “ bluebottles ” were accordingly brought a neighbouring stable, and the doors and windows of the room closed. The flies soon settled upon one of the cracks in the floor, and when the boards were raised at this point a decomposed rat was found. MIGEATOEY INSTINCTS 0E TROUT. At the fish-culture establishment of Belaford, where the utmost care is taken to isolate the various species of Salmonidra, a few of the first are occasionally found in ponds long distances from those in which they were originally located. Considering than each pond is so constructed as to prevent such a contingency, the occurrence is very remarkable, and can only ho accounted for in two ways—viz , that the fish either burrow through holes that probably are made by rats and moles, or they jump out of the water and so proceed to the next pond. It is not likely that they are born thence by birds, as the appearance of the fish on the occasions referred to does not justify such an assumption.

A EIRE EXTINGUISHING TETOTOLE. A novel system of fire extinguishing has just been introduced by Mr. Wm. Glonistor, chief constable and chief of the volunteer fire brigade, Hastings, and Mr J. C. Merryweather, of London. The apparatus forms the subject of a patent. The new fire and life saving machine consists of a tricycle, with which the following are combined: 1. A hose reel carrying a large quantity of specially-constructed hose for winding in a compass, with all tht attachments for working on to a fire from the street hydrants. 2. A light double-pump fire engine in .a collapsible cistern, capable of throwing 25 gallons per minute to be worked by two pumpers. 3. A simple fire escape, with descending ropes and bag. 4. Jumping sheets formed from rider’s seat. The machine is run at full bicycle speed by two men, and if desired the treadles can be so disposed as to work the fire pump, but for this a special gearing is required. MAGNET APPLICATION. A curious application of the magnet is described in a French journal, the subject of it being a clock recently patented in France. In appearance the clock consists of a tambourine, on the parchment head of which is painted a circle of flowers corresponding to the hour signs or ordinary dials. On examination, two bees, one large and the other small are discovered crawling among the flowers. The small bee runs rapidly from one to the other, completing the circle in an hour, while the largo one takes 12 hours to finish the circuit. Th parchment membrane is unbroken, and the bees are simply laid upon it, but two magnets connected with the clockwork inside the tambourine move just under the membrane, and the insects which are of iron, follow them, TAPPING NIAGARA. Engineers pronounce the project of tapping Niagara River by means of a canal, and bringing the water to Lookport, entirely practicable; and experts declare that not elsewhere within the known world are _ there such natural advantages for the creation of a gigantic water-power, and that it can be delivered at Lookport to the extent of 300,000 horse-power, if so much shall be wanted, at a minimum of expense. Lake Erie and all the great upper lakes would be the mill-pond for this power—the Niagara River its head-race, and Lake Ontario its tail race. The supply of water can never be diminished by draught, no spring floods of freshets will tear away the dams. The supply of water will be uniform, uninterrupted, and practically unlimited. The Lockport Water Supply Company have commenced work preliminary to the erection of extensive manufacturing establishments. THE ELECTRIC LIGHT AND MILL ENGINES. In a very large number of cases it has been the usual practice in the United States whore isolated electric lighting plants have been fixed, to use the power from the large mill engine. This has not been always successful, so we are informed. In Fall River it was found that the extra cost of running the large Corliss engine 15 minutes before storting up the looms in the morning and 15 minutes longer at night for the help to go out in the winter evenings, was too much. The flicker of the incandescent lamp, owing to the pause of the engine shaft when passing the dead centre, was also noticed. Therefore generally the use of independent engines for electric hghing purposes has been latterly preferred- That these independent engines can bo otherwise utilised the following tend to prove: —A mill in Rhode island, where the main power used for a Corliss engine, recently found, according to the Electrical World, another advantageous employment for its electric light engine. The Corliss engine was disabled, aud while being repaired the management ran what machinery they could by a 94 xl2 Armington and Sims Company s engine (rated 50 H.E.), making 300 revolutions. They ran the steam up to 1201 b, pressure, and by indication found the engine was developing 110 h.p. It ie usually the case over hero when fixing separate engines for the electric light machinery to have them not only independent of the main power, but also in many cases though supplied with steam from the same boiler, to have them placed in a separate shed, and away from all shafting. In many mills and works the amount of engine power required for the electric lighting is very largo, and it is worthy of all consideration, that when the question arises for the fixing of an electric light plant, should not the independent power so required be fixed with such a relation to the shafting and distribution of power in the mill that, in case a breakdown occurring or less power be at any time required, the independent engines could, without difficulty, be utilised by connection with the shafting by gearing or otherwise. DISTILLING SEA WATER, Consul Hutchinson, in his work lately published, entitled Two Years in Peru, directs attention to a recent invention there, by Mr. C. 'Wilson, for procuring fresh water from sea water through the direct action of the sun’s rays. The apparatus consists of a box of pine-wood, 1 inch thick, and which is about 14 feet long, 2 feet wide, aud has an average depth of six inches. The upper part of this box is closed with ordinary glass, which has an inclination of linches. At the lower edge of the glass there is a semicircular channel, destined to receive the fresh water which is condensed on the interior surface of the glass. The salt water is let into the box to about an inch in. depth. It is then exposed to the rays of the sun, the heat of which is sufficient to raise it to 05 deg. or 70 deg. Centigrade. A very active evaporation then begins; and it is proved that a square metre of gas will condense daily two gallons of pur e , water.