MISCELLANY.
Gluten an Antidote for Corrosive Sublimate.—During the researches undertaken by Dr. Taddei on gluten, and on wheaten flour, he discovered that gluten had the property of acting on the red oxide of mercury, and on corrosive sublimate. If it be mixed with either of these substances, it immediately loses its viscidity, becomes hard, and is not at all liable to putrefaction. Further, if flower be made into a paste, with solution of corrosive sublimate, it is impossible to separate the gluten and starch in the usual way. This effect induced Dr. Taddei to suppose, that in cases of poisoning by corrosive sublimate, wheaten flour and gluten would prove excellent antidotes to the poison. It was found by experiment, that wheaten flour and gluten, reduced corrosive sublimate to the state of calomel; and also that considerable quantities, of a mixture of flour or gluten with corrosive sublimate, might be eaten by animals without producing injury; thus fourteen grains of sublimate have been given in less than twelve hours to rabbits and poultry without injury, whereas a single grain was sufficient to produce death when administered alone. A grain of the sublimate required from twenty to twenty-five grains of fresh gluten to become innocuous; when dry gluten was used, half this quantity was sufficient, but when wheaten flour was taken, from fifteen to eighteen denari, (500 or 600 gr.,) were required. Dr. Taddei recommends that dried gluten be kept in the apothecaries' shops, and that it be administered when required, mixed with a little water.—Giornale di Fisica, 2. p. 375.
Anecdote.—During the examinations of Surgeons for the army or navy, it is well known that the veterans of that respectable class, question very minutely those who wish to become qualified. After answering very satisfactorily to the numerous inquiries made, a young gentlemen was asked; if he wished to give his patient a profuse perspiration, what he would prescribe? He mentioned many diaphoretic medicines in case the first failed, and had some hopes that he should pass with credit, but the unmerciful querist thus continued:— "Pray, sir, suppose none of those succeeded, what step would you take next?" "Why, sir," rejoined the harassed son of Esculapius, "I would send him here to be examined, and if that would not give him a sweat, I know not what would."
Cutting of Wheat before it is ripe.—It is said by a Paris paper that grain cut eight days before the ordinary time, has, first, the advantage of escaping the dangers which threatened it at that period. This is accidental, but it has the positive advantage of being more nutritive, larger, finer, and is never attacked by the weasel. These assertions are proved by the most conclusive experiments, made upon a piece of corn, half of which was cut prematurely, the other half at the customary time. The first part gave a hectolitre more corn for a half hectare. Afterwards an equal quantity of the farina was made into bread; that of the corn cut when green, made from six decalitres seven lbs. more bread than the other. Finally, the weasel attacked the corn cut when ripe, and the other was free from it. The moment to reap, is, when the grain, squeezed between the fingers, appears pasty, like the crumb of bread immediately after it is taken from the oven. This, which is the opinion of Mr. Cadet de Vaux, is supported by that of Mr. Mellard, a very respectable agriculturist. They both confirm their theory by experiments. The same custom has been practised for many years at the magnificent farm of Mr. Coke, at Holkham, in England, who cuts not only his grain before its maturity, but likewise grasses, and even herbaceous plants. He does not hesitate to attribute to this measure the superior quality of his corn and hay to that of other farmers, who reap all things at the period of their perfect maturity.
Seduction.—A verdict of damages, to the amount of fourteen hundred and fifty dollars, was lately given in Ohio, in a case of seduction. This is "paying dear for the whistle."
Milk and Water.—We have received a communication (says the N. Y. Gazette,) from a very respectable source, giving an estimate of the probable quantity of milk sold in New-York in one year, and the quantity of water in the milk; by which it appears, that the citizens of New York pay in one year the sum of $35,587 for water. Our correspondent's calculations follow. He supposes the city to contain 120,000 inhabitants, 6 to a family—20,000 families, at 3 cents worth of milk per day, is $600, or 219,000 for one year; to which is added one twelfth for strangers, &c. making $237,250. Deduct one fifteenth, or $35,587, which is annually paid for the water, with which the milk is reduced.—Our correspondent requests us to add, that he can prove the facts above stated, if called upon by the proper authority. He is himself an extensive dealer in milk, and is well acquainted with the management of most of those in his line.
Turkey Cement for joining Metals, Glass, &c.—The jewellers in Turkey, who are mostly Armenians, have a curious method of ornamenting watch cases, and similar things with diamonds and other stones by simply gluing them on. The stone is set in silver or gold, and the lower part of the metal made flat, or to correspond with the part to which it is to be fixed; it is then warmed gently and the glue applied, which is so very strong that the parts never separate. This glue, which may be applied to many purposes, as it will strongly join bits of glass or polished steel, is thus made:
Dissolve five or six bits of mastic, as large as peas, in as much spirits of wine as will suffice to render it liquid; in another vessel dissolve as much isinglass, which has been previously soaked in water till it is swollen and soft, in French brandy or in rum, as will make two ounces, by measure, of strong glue, and add two small bits of gum galbanum, or ammoniacum, which must be rubbed or ground until they are dissolved; then mix the whole with a sufficient heat. Keep it in a phial stopped; and when it is used, set it in hot water.
Death of Col. Boon.—Col. Daniel Boon, the first white man that ever settled in Kentucky, lately died at his residence, near Franklin, Missouri, at the age of 98. He had 4 brothers and three sisters, of the following ages:—
Samuel Boon 88, Jonathan B. 86, Squire B. 76, George B. 83, Mrs. Wilcox 91, Mrs. Smith 83, and Mrs. Grant 84.
Council Bluffs.—A letter from Brigadier General Atkinson, stationed at Council Bluffs, states that at least 10,000 bushels of Indian corn, 4000 of potatoes, a like quantity of turnips, and about 250 tons of hay had been raised and harvested at that station during the last season. As a sample of the crop of Indian corn, an acre was measured, which gave upwards of 102 bushels. The turnip crop was much injured by the grasshoppers, and it is stated that if these insects had appeared three weeks sooner they would have totally destroyed the crop of corn. It would seem that they are often very formidable in that quarter, frequently cutting off the crops entirely. The most of the Indians in that country are friendly. One or two tribes however, indicate some signs of hostility. They were much delighted with the exhibition of the steam boat, and as much intimidated by a display of the powers of the artillery, on an occasion when a large concourse of them were assembled at the Bluffs.
Double-jointed Indian.—A Detroit paper of November 10, says, a Mr. Robinson lately brought to that place an Indian from the country Mackinaw who has double the usual number of joints in the human frame. He is unable to stand, but can give himself locomotion by being placed in a large wooden bowl, which he is enabled to whirl or roll about on level grounds. Mr. R. also gives an account of an Indian in that country that is entirely covered with hair, his face as well as every other part of his body, and that on his arms and legs the hair is several inches in length.
Population of Baltimore.—In 1790 the number of inhabitants in this city and its precincts, was 13,503.—In 1800, 26,514—In 1810, 46,555, and by the present census 62,627.
A New Sect of Christians are said to have lately appeared at Marietta, (Ohio) who call themselves Halcyons. They believe that Aaron's breastplate, called by the Jews Urim and Thummim, which has long been lost, must be retrieved before the resurrection of the dead.
Ivory Paper.—The Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, in London, have voted thirty guineas to Mr. S. Einsle, for his communication on the use of artists. He produced, before the Committee of his Society several specimens of his ivory paper, about the eighth of an inch, and of superficial dimensions, much larger than the largest ivory: the surface was hard, smooth, and perfectly even. On trial of these, by some of the artists, members of the society, it appears that colours may be washed off the ivory paper more completely than from ivory itself, and that the process may be repeated three or four times on the same surface, without rubbing up the grain of the paper. It will also, with proper care, bear to be scraped with the edge of a knife, without becoming rough.
Vegetable Antidotes to Poison.—Dr. Chisholm in a paper read to the Society at Geneva, states, that the juice of the sugar cane is the best antidote known for arsenic. It has been tried upon various animals in the West Indies with complete success.
The American Academy of Languages and Belles Lettres, at New York, has offered a premium of not less than 400 dollars and a Gold Medal, to the author, being an American Citizen, who, within two years, shall produce the best written history of the United States, calculated for a Class Book.
Increase of Population in America.—In 1810, the population of the United States was 7,323,903. By the recent official report of the secretary of the treasury, it appears that our population progresses in the ratio of 34 per cent, in ten years. Proceeding on this basis, for the next 80 years, which will terminate this century, we shall find the following result.
| In 1820 | 9,827,265 | Inhabitants. |
| 30 | 13,168,534 | |
| 40 | 17,545,844 | |
| 50 | 23,644,433 | |
| 60 | 31,584,633 | |
| 70 | 42,325,903 | |
| 80 | 56,716,716 | |
| 90 | 76,000,399 | |
| 1900 | 101,840,534. |
Such a review as this ought to produce a salutary influence on all the busy actors who now figure on the American theatre.
The probability is, that not one mortal now in being, of mature age, will be seen on the face of the earth in eighty years; although many of our youth will reach that proud era of American glory. What a solemn responsibility devolves on all the conspicuous actors of the present day, since this generation is destined to influence the happiness of one hundred millions of free born Americans in the short span of 80 years! This reflection offers to the contemplative mind, an extensive range.
Drought.—A letter, from a gentleman in Virginia, says that the drought has been greater there the last summer, than has been known for many years: on inquiry respecting its extent, he was informed by a facetious old farmer, that "he had to drive his stock thirty miles to water, but the worst of all was, he had to cross a river, in his way, and pay the ferryage."
Square Miles of the States.—In Vermont, the number of
The States of Louisiana, Indiana, Illinois, and Alabama, the number of square miles of each, not ascertained. There are 22 States in the Union, each of which have a Legislature, who make all the laws necessary for the government of each State distinct from that of the United States.—
[Boston Gazette.
Advice and Caution.—When old persons enveigh against the vanity and nonsense of the world in order to check the wishes and curiosities of young persons from making their experiments also, they remind me of the indifference with which a man hands a newspaper to his neighbour, after an hour's enjoyment of it, saying, "There's nothing in it, sir." The poet speaks more philosophically on this subject.
—For youth no less becomes
The light and careless livery that it wears,
Than settled age his tables and his weeds
Importing health and graveness.
[Hamlet.
Drawing the wrong tooth.—One of the most curious applications of galvanism to the useful purposes of life, is its recent employment as a means of distinguishing bad teeth from good. The test which galvanism has now supplied to remedy the frequent mistakes made by dentists, who, instead of ridding you of a bad tooth, will draw the best tooth you have in your head, is considered to be one of infallible certainty in its application. The method is thus described by Professor Aldini, the nephew of Galvani. "He (the dentist) first insulates the patient, and then places in his hands an electric chain; he then applies a small piece of wire, and draws it gradually over the surface of the tooth; he then applies it to the next tooth in the same manner, and proceeds in the like method with the rest until he comes to the diseased tooth, which is discovered by violent pain being produced, and an involuntary emotion in the body. It has always been remarked when the tooth is extracted, that it exhibits a careous part, which in its proper situation was not visible." Need we add, that after the discovery of so simple a test, drawing a wrong tooth ought to be made felony at least?
Chemistry applied to industrious Economy.—A new method of killing animals, without causing them pain, has been adopted in London: they are made to expire by means of nitrogen gas. By this means the meat is rendered much more fresh, of a more agreeable taste, and may be preserved for a greater length of time. A great number of the butchers of London already employ this process.
Olives, Curious Fact in Botany.—Letters from Provence, mention the total failure of the olive plantations in that part of France. It has, indeed, been remarked, that for upwards of half a century, the olives have shown a tendency to emigrate. The soil of Province now appears to be entirely ruined, and no hope is entertained there of the future cultivation of olives. For the last fifty years, none of the young shoots have risen to above five or six feet high. It is the same in the adjacent countries, which have all suffered more or less from the cold of late years.—Two fifths of these plants have been cut down to the very roots; and three years will scarce suffice to enable them to attain maturity. The olives of Marseilles and Var were some time ago in excellent condition; but all have perished.
Rein-deer.—Two rein-deers were brought last November, from Lapland, and are living at liberty at a country seat near Ghent. They bear the difference of climate and the variation of temperature well, and have produced a well-formed female fawn. This is the first example of these animals having become tame and producing their species so far from their own country.
Domestic sewing silk, of various colours, gathered, from worms raised in Connecticut, and spun there, and said to be of the very best quality, has recently been publicly exposed for sale in Albany.
William Griffith, Esq. of Burlington, N. J., a gentleman highly recommended by the veterans of the bar in this city, has issued proposals for printing a new work to be called the 'Law Register'—to make one volume of at least 500 closely printed pages, royal 8vo. for five dollars, per annum, payable on delivery. Subscriptions to be addressed, (post paid,) to Mr. David Allison, Burlington, N. J.
On the increase of sounds during the night.—It has been remarked, even by the ancients, that the intensity of sound is greatly increasing during the night.—Humboldt was particularly struck with this fact when he heard the noise of the great cataracts of the Orinoco in the plain which surrounds the Mission of the Apures. This noise is three times greater in the night than in the day. Some writers have ascribed this to the cessation of the humming of insects, the singing of birds, and the action of the wind upon the leaves of trees: but this cannot be the cause of it at the Orinoco, where the humming of insects is much greater in the night than in the day, and where the breeze is never felt till after sunset. Humboldt, therefore, ascribes it to the presence of the sun, which acts on the propagation and intensity of sound, by opposing them with currents of air of different density, and partial undulations of the atmosphere, caused by the unequal heating of different parts of the ground. In these cases the waves of sound are divided into two waves, where the density of the medium suddenly changes, and a sort of acoustic mirage is produced, arising from the want of homogenity of the air in the same manner as the luminous mirage is produced from an analogous cause.—Ann. de Chim.
Gil Blas and Don Quixote.—These very ingenious and diverting authors seem calculated to please readers of very different descriptions. I have observed that literary men are most delighted with Don Quixote, and men of the world with Gil Blas. Perhaps the preference of Don Quixote in the former may be ascribed to the sympathy which learned readers feel for the knight, whose aberrations of intellect originated from too intense an application to books of his own selection, and from whims which his own brains engendered.
Learned Ladies.—A person who frequently attended the Royal Institution, and who was both astonished and delighted with the numerous attendence of the fair sex at these scientific lectures, observed with a smile somewhat Sardonic, that he saw great advantage arising from that circumstance, as he was sure that for the future the sciences would no longer have any secrets.
Baron Smyth's Riddle.—Some men of the greatest talents have taken delight in composing or endeavouring to unravel riddles. Dean Swift is a case in point. Sir William Smyth, the learned Irish Baron of the Exchequer, at one time spent two days and nights in considering the answer to this conundrum: Why is an egg underdone, like an egg overdone? He would not suffer any one to give him the answer, which he at last discovered. It is a tolerable pun enough. Because they are both hardly done.
Disputants.—How often men who love argument in conversation follow victory, and not truth. In order to entrap the adversary, a brilliant illustration is substituted for argument, to amuse the opponent, and divert him from the line of his reasoning. Bird catchers carry a light with them to intice their prey into their nets, and so the leathered tribe are allured to their captivity. High-flying disputants who are thus led aside by false lights are not uncommon.