Science Siftings

New Zealand Tablet, 22 October 1914, Page 43

Science Siftings

By. " Volt.'

- Bending Metal ‘Pipes. In order to bend metal pipe without buckling it is necessary to fill it with some substance which can bo easily, removed after the bending is. accomplished. Sand or resin is commonly used for the purpose, but in Germany a new method has been tried, which consists in filling the pipe with water under pressure. Not only does the water keep the pipe from buckling, but attest of water-tightness and pressure resistance is thus applied at the same time. v ./■

Medicine from Horns.

In China a large trade exists in deer, reindeer, and wild sheep horns for use in medicines, and Hong-Kong, as the chief centre of trade in Chinese medicines, in South China, imports a considerable quantity of such goods annually. Wild sheep horns in prime condition are ground into powder and mixed with other ingredients to form a sort of tonic pill—‘ strengthening 'pills,' as the Chinese term them and are used largely by old people and people in a debilitated condition. Some of the large medicine factories in China maintain herds of deer for the sake of their horns. /'

Longest Tunnel in America.

At present the longest tunnel in America is the Iloosac tunnel,, North Adams, Mass., which is 4J miles in length ; but there is now being constructed on the Rocky Mountain division of the Canadian Pacific railroad what is known as the Roger Pass tunnel, which will be five miles in length. It will ‘cost over £2 i 000,000. The highest point reached by the tunnel will. be 3795 feet above sea level, or 4065. feet below the extreme top of the mountain. The tunnel will have a rising grade of 1 per cent, to its interior summit.

Large Egyptian’ Pumping Plant.

One of the largest pumping installations in the world is being built by the Egyptian Government to drain Lake Mareotis,' near Alexandria. It will consist of 18 enormous pumps of the Humphrey type. Each pump is 8 feet 8 inches in diameter, and is capable of delivering 100,000,000 gallons per: day through - a lift of twenty feet. The maximum internal diameter of the combustion pump is 8 feet 8 inches in diameter, and is 14' feet in height. The water valve box will be 8 feet 8 inches in diameter .and 7 feet -high, and it will be fitted with 100 valves of the hinge type, specially designed to enable any valve to close upon an pbstructibn without throwing undue strain on the hinges.,