Volume 29 (1874) (428 pages)

December 26, 1874.) MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS. 407 Goon HEacTH. Effects Of Imagination. Ata lats meeting of the Paris Académie des Sciences a letter was read from 31. Volpicelli, of Roms, to M. Chevreal, in which the writer related that, if a magnet were hrought near a nervnas patient magnetism bad the eff-et of distnrhing biw in varions ways, and notubly in bis condition of health. M. Volpicelli goes on to state that beiug invited to experiment on a nervous subject, at the San Spirito hospital, he practiced a little rnse, and instead of taking with him a magnet provided himself with a piece of unmagnetised iron. The patient seuroely saw the picce of iron before he fell into convnisions; his imagiaation becawe so highly excited that nervons disturbanoes of the most extreme charaeter snpervened. MM. Volpiceilli thsn made a second experiment. A Msgnet was placod in tho bands of another person suffering from nervons disorder, who, when s few minntes had elapsed waa 80 extremely exoited that it was necessary to tuke the magnet from him. MM. Volpiviili, howover, was convinoed that the nervous disturbance was brought on by the sight of ee magnet and not by magnetio action, and he was snbgequently able to assare himself of the fact. The Bame person had to preside over a scientific mecting, and M. Volpicelli oontrived to surround him with very powerful magnets, which were introdnced into his chair, into the drawer of ths table hefore him, and even under his feet, witbout his baving the slightest suspicion of the trap lald forhim. Daring the meeting, which lasted more that two honra, his nerves were notiu tbe lenst affected; nnd when the meeting was over he declared, in answer to n qnestion pnt to him by M. Vulpicelli, that he was perfectly well; but when it came to his knowledge that he had been surronnded by powerful magnets he was extremely surprised and alarmed, and began to huve the idea tbat he coald not have been so well as he thought. Let Blisters Alone. Oae of the most generally diffused erroneous notions is that it is good and beneficial to break a hlistsr, whether it is caused by abnru or tbe heating of a part of the body by continned friction under pressure, to whieh the feet eapecially nre exposed after long walka in illy fitting shoes or hoots. Snch blisters are always found filled with clear liquid, which must be retained and not drawn off hy lanciug them; and nlso those blisters often caused by a part of the skin being forcibly pinched and sqneezed, and which contaies blood, must be leit alone. This water or blood in blisters is a healing substance, of a kind most appropriate for the parts where the skin is destroyed, and if the blister is allowed to dry out by itself, tho new skin forms much more rapidly under it, and much pain is avoided. If the blister contains blood, it must be treated in the same way, as blood is the best heabng salve. And, by the way, while nsing the word ‘healing salve,” it may be well to state that there are no healing salves or healing plasters. All salves and plasters retard heating, and many wounds which heal notwithstunding the salves aud plasters applied, would heal in half the time if left alone. Ttis onlyin exceptional cases that a blister may be punctured, numely, when very full of fluid so ax to canse mnch pain by its tension, a prick of a fine needle may be given so as to allow the excess of fluid a chance of escape. Instead of breaking a blister and destroying the loose skin over it, it should be protected so as to guard against any such destruction by accident. : Borninc ata Wate Hear Patnzess.—Dr. J.S. Camden publishes in the Medical Times and Guzette iuformution very important to surgeons who are not cognizant of the fuct, tbat the application of a white-hot iron to the body is absolntely painless, while when only red-hot itis an extremely painful operation. When operating with a red-hot iron on men the screeching was fearful, wbile when the iron was white-bot not a murmur was beard; and when he operated so on a horse tbe animal appeared to be searcely aware of what was being done. He proposes to use for actnal cautery a large spirit blow-pipe, but we can hardly think that this wonld do, as only inthe center of the flame great heat is generated, while all around lesser dégrees prevail, which would certainly be painfnl, We would recommeud the more extensive use of the platinum wire, kept .whitebot by the cnrrent of an electric battery; this has thns far been lese nsed than it deserves. It may be too troublesome for private practice, bnt should be resorted to in all pnblic medical institutions. Lore Varoa In Memaranous Crour.—Dr. John Bartlett, inthe Chicago Medical Hvaminer, reconmende the following method of nsing lime vapor: The patient is placed in a tent extemporized with hedclothes and clotheshorse. In this is placed o tub and in the tnb a bncket filled with hot water. Patient heing seated in the tent with nurse, unslacked lime is dropped into the water. From time to time the physician estimates the state of the vapor, increasing the steam and lime by dropping into the water pieces of lime. The quantity of line required is large. The doctor's experience in the use of this bath has been a happy one. The onward march of the disease seemed ohecked at once and a real improvement to take place. Treatment of Felons. We recently gave ths following item under this head from the London Lancet: *'As soon as the discase is felt, put directly over the spot a fly hlister, sbout the size of your thumb nail and let it remnin for six honrs, at the expiration of which time, directly onder the surface of tho blister, may be seen the felon, whicb can instantly bo taken oat witb the point of a usedle or a lancet." We now reprodnco it in orderto give tbo follawiag remarks npon this item by a medioul correspondent in Vineland, N. d.: “T have noticed the Lancct’s enre for bone felon several times in the enrrent medical jonrnals during the past three years,nod I tbink tbe notice too brief tn ba understood. "T have omployed this treatment for tho past seven years and with results tbat lord me tn adopt it altogether. A piece of adbesive plaster, an inch or more in width, and long enough to go once anda half aronnd tho finger, should have spread upon it a surface of cautbaridal plaster, the size of a three cent picce. * This surface should be applied to the tender part ond the adhesive plaster carried around the finger and lapped. ‘It should remain for twenty-foar hours at loast, and then if vesication has occurred, the cuticle may be raised and beneath it will be found a small opening not exceeding a line in diameter, which penetrates the deep tissne and discharges pua. If the blister ie applied during the irst three days this ia all sufficiont for a curo; and if the disease has run longer than this, its coarse is shortened and the onro remarkably qnick. The plaster shonld remain 48 hours when applicd to the palm of laboring men, n fresh one being furnished at the end of 24 hours in these cascs the opening may be enlarged as the qnantity of pns isgreater. The pain is greatly diminisbed during the action of the blister. Those who have experienced disappointment at finding no matter after laying a delicate fiuger open to the bone, and who have seen pitienta reeort to ail sorts of means to avoid the iuevitable knife, will he most pleasantly surprised at the efficacy of the blister." Usefut INforMATion. A Very Useful Table. The following table, computed from actual experience, will be found very useful iu calculating the weight of loads, etc.—or the weight of any of the articles mentioned, in bulk. It shows the weight per cubic foot. All that is necessary, therefore, is to measure the bulk; ascertain the number of cubic feet in it; multiply this by the weight per foot, and divide hy 2,000, when you have the weight per ton: SUBATANCE. WEIGHT PER OUBIC Foot, Oast Iron....+. Water..----.----pe White pine, seasoned, about. The following shows the bulk of a ton of different substances: CUEIO FERT. RET Go. ate sor enoacgoen Coaggdmoncopnecsouats 28 Earth, compact sad Pe loose.. Cla oid “if coarse, about.. Timothy hay, moderately pressed. oe Glover, about, .5.--.ecscnneseeene oe 50 All that is‘necessary, therefore, in order to ascertain the quantity yon have on band in tous is to take the measurements as nbove, and if hay, divide by 500 or 750, as the case may be; if mannre, hy 36, ete. Halt rotted manure, 8 Tue Potreny TarEE.—Among the many vegetable prodncts of Brazil the pottery tree of Para is not the least worthy of nots. This tree, the Moquilea wlilis of botanists, attaine a hight of 10U feet up to the lowest branches. The stem is very slender, seldom much exceeding one foot in diameter at the base. The wood is very hard snd contains a very large amount of silica—not so much, bowever, as the bark, which is largely employed as a source of silica in the manufacture of pottery. In preparing the bark for the potter's use it is first burned, and the residue is then pulverized and mixed with clay in varying proportions. With an eqnal quantity of the two ingrediente a superior quality of ware is produced. It is very durable, and will bear almost any amonnt of hest. The natives employ it for all manner of culinary purposes. When fresh the bark cuts like soft sandstone, and the presence of the silex may be readily ascertained by grinding a piece of the bark between the teeth. When dry itis generally brittle, though sometimes hard to break. After being burned, if of good quality, it cannot be broken up hetween the fingers, 2 pestle and mortar being required to crush it. i A Tati Cumney.—A foruace etack or chim ney has just heen built at the Meier furnacesSt. Leuis, which is 2U3 feet high, 25 feet square at the buse and 10 and 4 hslf feet at the top. The inside of tbe staok for the first 75 fcet is lined with fire brick. 5 Tne Cause or Cuancr or Corer in THE Crasetgon.—The London Medical Record gives romo interesting facts relative to the cause of change of color in the chameleon, which have beou gathered from remarks made on this aabject by M. Pan] Bert, at a late meeting of the Société ds Biologie of Paris. This animal, whose natural color is dark green, has the powcr of cbanging to pale green, and very pals yellow, this change of color being entirely due to tho nervous system. The explanation of this phonomenou is thns given: Under tbe skin, and communicating with it, are vesscls filed with pigmeat, coursing tbrough little canals whieh intersect, cross, and interlace each other in nll directions at the back of tbe opidermisitsolf. This pigment is afterwards drown hack into the vesiclos by the volition of the animal, and tho chameleon then takes ona pulo tint produced hy a pale-yellow tissne, visibly by its transparency.”’ It hus been discovered that the color of the nuimal is affected hy light, and that if disturbed at night the side on which n light is thrown becomes pale, the other side remaining unchanged. So far no explanation of this curious fact has been guggested, and it offers a field for research and observation which may lead to very important rosults. Sorpeatno.—Every housekecper miay not know of what they ore capable in the live of keeping their tinware in order. For the benefit of such, I will say that it ie easier to solder such things than to pay a traveling tinker two prices for mending them. Take a sharp knifs nnd serape the tin around the leak until it is bright, so that the solder will stick. -Then sprinkle on a liltle powdered resin; (they have liquid solder to sell, but resin will do aa well;) lay your solder on tbe hole and with your soldering iron melt it on. Do not have the iron too hot or the solder will adhere to that. After two or three trials you can doa job that yon will be proud of. If you do not own a soldering iron, procnre one by all means; but when bard pressed, I have used the knob on the end of tbe fire sbovel or a smoothe pieco of iron, or hold a candle under the spot to be mended. Anythiog is better than stopping leaking pans with beeswax or’ raga. Try it, young bousekeepere, and see how iudependent you will feel. Your pans should be dry wheu you take them in hand. Farsoo Parnztno.—Fresco paiuting is so called because executed with water colors upon fresh plaster. This plaster is made ef slacked lime and fine eand, and is applied upon a coating rough enough to make it adhere to it. The fresco necds a wall from materials tinctured with saltpetre, and the colors muet be such as the lime does not change. When the artist has polished and made very smooth the surface to be painted, be traces upon it the previously prepared compesition. The designa, of the size of tbe picture, are called cartoons, because prepared upon large sheets of paper glued together. Upon Ibe wall the drawing is traced with a point ofivory or wood, or the contour of tbe drawing is pricked with a pin anda tampon dipped in charcoal passed along tho lines of the holes, which fixes the design un tbo plaster. Afterward the artist fellows the tracing with a sharp pointed pencil or stylus, and this indelible contour is called the nail of the fresco. Gas-Metres.—A Common belief. If there is one thing more than another in which we have little or no faith at all, itis as to the oorrectness of gas-meters. Their principle may be a good one, (good for the gas companies, ) but, like ‘“‘white men’ that are ‘‘very uncertain," A journal open before us, the American Manufacturer, published at Pittsburg, Pa., has some rather startling exposures relative to the humbug played upon the consumers, not unfrequently, by these little machines, It is bad enough to pay exorbitant priocs for illumina‘ing gas, and to be supplied witha very poor artic.e, but to be cheated in the measurement, aud to be overcharged for the miserable stuff as to the quanlity supplied, is aggravatiug to the last degree.—Boston Globe. Size or Bannews.—A president of an agiicultural society calls attention to the fact tbat there are, ina standard legal barrel, only one hundrid quaits, while the ordinary flour barrel most in use among farmers in the sale of potatees and apples, contains nearly one-eighth more. Farmers sell their produce in flonr barrele, and merchants transfer the same to standard barrels, making a profiton quantity as well as on the price. In the sales of eight hundred barrels of potatoes from a farm, the proprietor loses one hundred barrels, worth $250, for which he might as well be paid. The middleman, not the consnmer, profits by this. Farmers, see to it that yon employ the one hundred-qnart barrels hereafter. Potisuino Brass.—Young engineers will find the following recipe a good one for polishing the braes work of their engines. Rub the surfaceof the metal with rottenstone and sweet oil, then rub off with a piece of cotton flannel and polish with soft leather. A solution of oxalic acid rubbed over tarnished brass soon removes the tarnish, rendering tbe metal bright. The acid must be washed off with water, and the hrass rubbed with whiting and soft leather. A mixture of muriatic acid and alum dissolved in water imparts a golden color to brass articles that are steeped in it fora few seconds. Domestic Economy. Roast Tonksry.—Riuse tbe turkey out with several waters and in the next to the last mix a teaspoonful of sods. Fill ths body with this water, shake well, empty ont, and rinse with clean water, singe off the hairs, and prepare a dressing of bread crnmbs, add a small piece of butter, pepper and salt, and add thymo and marjoram, or sage if preferred. Wet it with hot water or milk. The liver, heart, etc. should he boiled aud chopped fine and mixed with tbe dressing. The water in which they were boiled should be pnt in the dripping pan with whiob to baste the turkey. Dredgeit with fiour and salt before roastiag, and baste often. With a brisk fire and yonng turkey allow ten minutes to a ponud for roasting. Tie a string tightly about the neck when the craw is filled, and sew the body with strong thread. Remove this when the fowl is dished, Wbenthe turkey is lifted from the pan add a spoonful of flour wet witb cold water to prevent its lumping. Boil up ones and pour into the gravy boat. ‘Hearth nnd Wome’ says :‘In oarving a turkey, cut off the wiug nearest you first, then the teg and second joint; then slice the breast nnotila ronndedivery shaped piece appears; insert the knife betweeu that and the boue, and separate them; then turn over tbe bird a little, and just below tbe breast yon will fiud the ‘oyster’, which you eeparateas you did the inver breast. Procesd the same. way with the other side. The fork need notbe removed during the whole process.’ A sharp kuife is indispensable. The platter should be drawn near ebough to the carver forhim to reach each part of the hird with perfect ease. Rasnrr Curiets.—Prepare the rabbits as you wonld fora stew; cut the different limbs into the size of cntlets—sueh as the shoulders cut in half, also the legs, with the ends of the bones chopped off, and piecee of the back, even to tbe balf of the hesd. Hava ready some bread-crumbs and the yelk of an egg heat up. Drop each outlet iuto the egg and then cover with bread-crnmbs, as for veal cutlets. Try them a nice brown and when you dish them pour round them some rich brown gravy, which may be flavored with tomato sance if approved, aud put round them rolls of fried ACO. Cooxtno OatTmEaL.—W., says: One reason why oatmeal is not more generally used as food is that, in the way in which it is usually oooked it requires constant stirring, whioh takos a good deal of time and attention. If, after the porridge is mixed, thst is, as soon as the oatmeal is stirred into the boiliag’ water, the cover is put on and the tin saucepan containing it placed in another pot of boiling water on the stove, and the water let boil, good oatmeal porridge will be made, without the least danger of its being scorohod. . Cannen Gare Popnino.—Piek and wash good sweet grapes--say Concord—and put in alternate layers with one-fourth the quantity of picked and washed rice, and sugar enough to sweeten. Fill np with water, and cook in hot water one hour after it begins to boil. Can as usual for fruit, and serve cold when wanted, either with or without a sauoe of sweetened cream. This pudding is not likely to keep more than two or three months, owing to the liability of the grapes to deposit tartaric acid. Hazia Daesstnc.—A nice dresssing for the hair is said, by a correspondent of the Christian Monitor, to be cold tea. She uses it twice a day, and insures a fine growth of beantiful, luxuriant and healthy hair, with less trouble, no danger of injnry to scalp or hair, no expense, and in less time, than any, or all, of the quack mixtures, which are so loudly and persistently recommended. Soap anp Sitver.—Never put a partiole of soap aboat your silver if you would have it retain‘its original Inster. When it wants poliehing, take a piece of soft leather and whiting and rub hard. The proprietor of one of the oldest silver establishments in the city of Philadelphla says that ‘*housekeepers rnin theirsilver by washing 1t in soap snds, as it makes itlook like pewter.” To Cxaniry Darepinc.--Put the dripping into a basin; pour over it boiling water, in which a teaspoonful of salt has been dissolved and keep stirring the whole to wash away the impurities. Let it stand to cool, when the water and dirty sediment will settle at the bottom. Repeat the operation twice with fresh water. When cold remove the dripping from the water and melt into jare. Iotno THAT wit NoT Barax.—Take one pound of pulverized white sugar, the whites of 3 eggs beaten until yon can torn the dish npside down; one teaspoonful of fiour or cornstarch added to it; favor with lemon; flonr the top ofthe cake agsoon as taken from the oven;put on the icing with a large bladed steel knife dipped in warm water and then smooth the icing with it. Sugep’s Tonous IN Savory Jeniy.—Skin the tongues, lard them and cook them nntil they are quite tender, in good vsal broth or any white stock, Take out the tongnee, boil down the liqnor to a stiff, clear jelly and ponr enough of it over them to cover them. To he eaten oold. Squase Pre.—Three cops of milk, two cnp, of sqnash, one cup of sugar, two crackers, rolleds two eges, lemon to taste. This makes two pies.

December 26, 1874.) MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS. 407 Goon HEacTH. Effects Of Imagination. Ata lats meeting of the Paris Académie des Sciences a letter was read from 31. Volpicelli, of Roms, to M. Chevreal, in which the writer related that, if a magnet were hrought near a nervnas patient magnetism bad the eff-et of distnrhing biw in varions ways, and notubly in bis condition of health. M. Volpicelli goes on to state that beiug invited to experiment on a nervous subject, at the San Spirito hospital, he practiced a little rnse, and instead of taking with him a magnet provided himself with a piece of unmagnetised iron. The patient seuroely saw the picce of iron before he fell into convnisions; his imagiaation becawe so highly excited that nervons disturbanoes of the most extreme charaeter snpervened. MM. Volpiceilli thsn made a second experiment. A Msgnet was placod in tho bands of another person suffering from nervons disorder, who, when s few minntes had elapsed waa 80 extremely exoited that it was necessary to tuke the magnet from him. MM. Volpiviili, howover, was convinoed that the nervous disturbance was brought on by the sight of ee magnet and not by magnetio action, and he was snbgequently able to assare himself of the fact. The Bame person had to preside over a scientific mecting, and M. Volpicelli oontrived to surround him with very powerful magnets, which were introdnced into his chair, into the drawer of ths table hefore him, and even under his feet, witbout his baving the slightest suspicion of the trap lald forhim. Daring the meeting, which lasted more that two honra, his nerves were notiu tbe lenst affected; nnd when the meeting was over he declared, in answer to n qnestion pnt to him by M. Vulpicelli, that he was perfectly well; but when it came to his knowledge that he had been surronnded by powerful magnets he was extremely surprised and alarmed, and began to huve the idea tbat he coald not have been so well as he thought. Let Blisters Alone. Oae of the most generally diffused erroneous notions is that it is good and beneficial to break a hlistsr, whether it is caused by abnru or tbe heating of a part of the body by continned friction under pressure, to whieh the feet eapecially nre exposed after long walka in illy fitting shoes or hoots. Snch blisters are always found filled with clear liquid, which must be retained and not drawn off hy lanciug them; and nlso those blisters often caused by a part of the skin being forcibly pinched and sqneezed, and which contaies blood, must be leit alone. This water or blood in blisters is a healing substance, of a kind most appropriate for the parts where the skin is destroyed, and if the blister is allowed to dry out by itself, tho new skin forms much more rapidly under it, and much pain is avoided. If the blister contains blood, it must be treated in the same way, as blood is the best heabng salve. And, by the way, while nsing the word ‘healing salve,” it may be well to state that there are no healing salves or healing plasters. All salves and plasters retard heating, and many wounds which heal notwithstunding the salves aud plasters applied, would heal in half the time if left alone. Ttis onlyin exceptional cases that a blister may be punctured, numely, when very full of fluid so ax to canse mnch pain by its tension, a prick of a fine needle may be given so as to allow the excess of fluid a chance of escape. Instead of breaking a blister and destroying the loose skin over it, it should be protected so as to guard against any such destruction by accident. : Borninc ata Wate Hear Patnzess.—Dr. J.S. Camden publishes in the Medical Times and Guzette iuformution very important to surgeons who are not cognizant of the fuct, tbat the application of a white-hot iron to the body is absolntely painless, while when only red-hot itis an extremely painful operation. When operating with a red-hot iron on men the screeching was fearful, wbile when the iron was white-bot not a murmur was beard; and when he operated so on a horse tbe animal appeared to be searcely aware of what was being done. He proposes to use for actnal cautery a large spirit blow-pipe, but we can hardly think that this wonld do, as only inthe center of the flame great heat is generated, while all around lesser dégrees prevail, which would certainly be painfnl, We would recommeud the more extensive use of the platinum wire, kept .whitebot by the cnrrent of an electric battery; this has thns far been lese nsed than it deserves. It may be too troublesome for private practice, bnt should be resorted to in all pnblic medical institutions. Lore Varoa In Memaranous Crour.—Dr. John Bartlett, inthe Chicago Medical Hvaminer, reconmende the following method of nsing lime vapor: The patient is placed in a tent extemporized with hedclothes and clotheshorse. In this is placed o tub and in the tnb a bncket filled with hot water. Patient heing seated in the tent with nurse, unslacked lime is dropped into the water. From time to time the physician estimates the state of the vapor, increasing the steam and lime by dropping into the water pieces of lime. The quantity of line required is large. The doctor's experience in the use of this bath has been a happy one. The onward march of the disease seemed ohecked at once and a real improvement to take place. Treatment of Felons. We recently gave ths following item under this head from the London Lancet: *'As soon as the discase is felt, put directly over the spot a fly hlister, sbout the size of your thumb nail and let it remnin for six honrs, at the expiration of which time, directly onder the surface of tho blister, may be seen the felon, whicb can instantly bo taken oat witb the point of a usedle or a lancet." We now reprodnco it in orderto give tbo follawiag remarks npon this item by a medioul correspondent in Vineland, N. d.: “T have noticed the Lancct’s enre for bone felon several times in the enrrent medical jonrnals during the past three years,nod I tbink tbe notice too brief tn ba understood. "T have omployed this treatment for tho past seven years and with results tbat lord me tn adopt it altogether. A piece of adbesive plaster, an inch or more in width, and long enough to go once anda half aronnd tho finger, should have spread upon it a surface of cautbaridal plaster, the size of a three cent picce. * This surface should be applied to the tender part ond the adhesive plaster carried around the finger and lapped. ‘It should remain for twenty-foar hours at loast, and then if vesication has occurred, the cuticle may be raised and beneath it will be found a small opening not exceeding a line in diameter, which penetrates the deep tissne and discharges pua. If the blister ie applied during the irst three days this ia all sufficiont for a curo; and if the disease has run longer than this, its coarse is shortened and the onro remarkably qnick. The plaster shonld remain 48 hours when applicd to the palm of laboring men, n fresh one being furnished at the end of 24 hours in these cascs the opening may be enlarged as the qnantity of pns isgreater. The pain is greatly diminisbed during the action of the blister. Those who have experienced disappointment at finding no matter after laying a delicate fiuger open to the bone, and who have seen pitienta reeort to ail sorts of means to avoid the iuevitable knife, will he most pleasantly surprised at the efficacy of the blister." Usefut INforMATion.. A Very Useful Table. The following table, computed from actual experience, will be found very useful iu calculating the weight of loads, etc.—or the weight of any of the articles mentioned, in bulk. It shows the weight per cubic foot. All that is necessary, therefore, is to measure the bulk; ascertain the number of cubic feet in it; multiply this by the weight per foot, and divide hy 2,000, when you have the weight per ton: SUBATANCE. WEIGHT PER OUBIC Foot, Oast Iron........+.. Water...----..----pe White pine, seasoned, about. The following shows the bulk of a ton of different substances: CUEIO FERT. RET Go. ate sor enoacgoen Coaggdmoncopnecsouats 28 Earth, compact sad Pe loose... Cla oid “if coarse, about.... Timothy hay, moderately pressed. oe Glover, about, ..5..--.ecscnneseeene oe 50 All that is‘necessary, therefore, in order to ascertain the quantity yon have on band in tous is to take the measurements as nbove, and if hay, divide by 500 or 750, as the case may be; if mannre, hy 36, ete. Halt rotted manure, 8 Tue Potreny TarEE.—Among the many vegetable prodncts of Brazil the pottery tree of Para is not the least worthy of nots. This tree, the Moquilea wlilis of botanists, attaine a hight of 10U feet up to the lowest branches. The stem is very slender, seldom much exceeding one foot in diameter at the base. The wood is very hard snd contains a very large amount of silica—not so much, bowever, as the bark, which is largely employed as a source of silica in the manufacture of pottery. In preparing the bark for the potter's use it is first burned, and the residue is then pulverized and mixed with clay in varying proportions. With an eqnal quantity of the two ingrediente a superior quality of ware is produced. It is very durable, and will bear almost any amonnt of hest. The natives employ it for all manner of culinary purposes. When fresh the bark cuts like soft sandstone, and the presence of the silex may be readily ascertained by grinding a piece of the bark between the teeth. When dry itis generally brittle, though sometimes hard to break. After being burned, if of good quality, it cannot be broken up hetween the fingers, 2 pestle and mortar being required to crush it. i A Tati Cumney.—A foruace etack or chim ney has just heen built at the Meier furnacesSt. Leuis, which is 2U3 feet high, 25 feet square at the buse and 10 and 4 hslf feet at the top. The inside of tbe staok for the first 75 fcet is lined with fire brick. 5 Tne Cause or Cuancr or Corer in THE Crasetgon.—The London Medical Record gives romo interesting facts relative to the cause of change of color in the chameleon, which have

beou gathered from remarks made on this aabject by M. Pan] Bert, at a late meeting of the Société ds Biologie of Paris. This animal, whose natural color is dark green, has the powcr of cbanging to pale green, and very pals yellow, this change of color being entirely due to tho nervous system. The explanation of this phonomenou is thns given: Under tbe skin, and communicating with it, are vesscls filed with pigmeat, coursing tbrough little canals whieh intersect, cross, and interlace each other in nll directions at the back of tbe opidermisitsolf. This pigment is afterwards drown hack into the vesiclos by the volition of the animal, and tho chameleon then takes ona pulo tint produced hy a pale-yellow tissne, visibly by its transparency.”’ It hus been discovered that the color of the nuimal is affected hy light, and that if disturbed at night the side on which n light is thrown becomes pale, the other side remaining unchanged. So far no explanation of this curious fact has been guggested, and it offers a field for research and observation which may lead to very important rosults. Sorpeatno.—Every housekecper miay not know of what they ore capable in the live of keeping their tinware in order. For the benefit of such, I will say that it ie easier to solder such things than to pay a traveling tinker two prices for mending them. Take a sharp knifs nnd serape the tin around the leak until it is bright, so that the solder will stick. -Then sprinkle on a liltle powdered resin; (they have liquid solder to sell, but resin will do aa well;) lay your solder on tbe hole and with your soldering iron melt it on. Do not have the iron too hot or the solder will adhere to that. After two or three trials you can doa job that yon will be proud of. If you do not own a soldering iron, procnre one by all means; but when bard pressed, I have used the knob on the end of tbe fire sbovel or a smoothe pieco of iron, or hold a candle under the spot to be mended. Anythiog is better than stopping leaking pans with beeswax or’ raga. Try it, young bousekeepere, and see how iudependent you will feel. Your pans should be dry wheu you take them in hand. Farsoo Parnztno.—Fresco paiuting is so called because executed with water colors upon fresh plaster. This plaster is made ef slacked lime and fine eand, and is applied upon a coating rough enough to make it adhere to it. The fresco necds a wall from materials tinctured with saltpetre, and the colors muet be such as the lime does not change. When the artist has polished and made very smooth the surface to be painted, be traces upon it the previously prepared compesition. The designa, of the size of tbe picture, are called cartoons, because prepared upon large sheets of paper glued together. Upon Ibe wall the drawing is traced with a point ofivory or wood, or the contour of tbe drawing is pricked with a pin anda tampon dipped in charcoal passed along tho lines of the holes, which fixes the design un tbo plaster. Afterward the artist fellows the tracing with a sharp pointed pencil or stylus, and this indelible contour is called the nail of the fresco. Gas-Metres.—A Common belief. If there is one thing more than another in which we have little or no faith at all, itis as to the oorrectness of gas-meters. Their principle may be a good one, (good for the gas companies, ) but, like ‘“‘white men’ that are ‘‘very uncertain," A journal open before us, the American Manufacturer, published at Pittsburg, Pa., has some rather startling exposures relative to the humbug played upon the consumers, not unfrequently, by these little machines, It is bad enough to pay exorbitant priocs for illumina‘ing gas, and to be supplied witha very poor artic.e, but to be cheated in the measurement, aud to be overcharged for the miserable stuff as to the quanlity supplied, is aggravatiug to the last degree.—Boston Globe. Size or Bannews.—A president of an agiicultural society calls attention to the fact tbat there are, ina standard legal barrel, only one hundrid quaits, while the ordinary flour barrel most in use among farmers in the sale of potatees and apples, contains nearly one-eighth more. Farmers sell their produce in flonr barrele, and merchants transfer the same to standard barrels, making a profiton quantity as well as on the price. In the sales of eight hundred barrels of potatoes from a farm, the proprietor loses one hundred barrels, worth $250, for which he might as well be paid. The middleman, not the consnmer, profits by this. Farmers, see to it that yon employ the one hundred-qnart barrels hereafter. Potisuino Brass.—Young engineers will find the following recipe a good one for polishing the braes work of their engines. Rub the surfaceof the metal with rottenstone and sweet oil, then rub off with a piece of cotton flannel and polish with soft leather. A solution of oxalic acid rubbed over tarnished brass soon removes the tarnish, rendering tbe metal bright. The acid must be washed off with water, and the hrass rubbed with whiting and soft leather. A mixture of muriatic acid and alum dissolved in water imparts a golden color to brass articles that are steeped in it fora few seconds. Domestic Economy. Roast Tonksry.—Riuse tbe turkey out with several waters and in the next to the last mix a teaspoonful of sods. Fill ths body with this water, shake well, empty ont, and rinse with clean water, singe off the hairs, and prepare a dressing of bread crnmbs, add a small piece of butter, pepper and salt, and add thymo and marjoram, or sage if preferred. Wet it with hot water or milk. The liver, heart, etc. should he boiled aud chopped fine and mixed with tbe dressing. The water in which they were boiled should be pnt in the dripping pan with whiob to baste the turkey. Dredgeit with fiour and salt before roastiag, and baste often. With a brisk fire and yonng turkey allow ten minutes to a ponud for roasting. Tie a string tightly about the neck when the craw is filled, and sew the body with strong thread. Remove this when the fowl is dished, Wbenthe turkey is lifted from the pan add a spoonful of flour wet witb cold water to prevent its lumping. Boil up ones and pour into the gravy boat. ‘Hearth nnd Wome’ says :‘In oarving a turkey, cut off the wiug nearest you first, then the teg and second joint; then slice the breast nnotila ronndedivery shaped piece appears; insert the knife betweeu that and the boue, and separate them; then turn over tbe bird a little, and just below tbe breast yon will fiud the ‘oyster’, which you eeparateas you did the inver breast. Procesd the same. way with the other side. The fork need notbe removed during the whole process.’ A sharp kuife is indispensable. The platter should be drawn near ebough to the carver forhim to reach each part of the hird with perfect ease. Rasnrr Curiets.—Prepare the rabbits as you wonld fora stew; cut the different limbs into the size of cntlets—sueh as the shoulders cut in half, also the legs, with the ends of the bones chopped off, and piecee of the back, even to tbe balf of the hesd. Hava ready some bread-crumbs and the yelk of an egg heat up. Drop each outlet iuto the egg and then cover with bread-crnmbs, as for veal cutlets. Try them a nice brown and when you dish them pour round them some rich brown gravy, which may be flavored with tomato sance if approved, aud put round them rolls of fried ACO. Cooxtno OatTmEaL.—W., says: One reason why oatmeal is not more generally used as food is that, in the way in which it is usually oooked it requires constant stirring, whioh takos a good deal of time and attention. If, after the porridge is mixed, thst is, as soon as the oatmeal is stirred into the boiliag’ water, the cover is put on and the tin saucepan containing it placed in another pot of boiling water on the stove, and the water let boil, good oatmeal porridge will be made, without the least danger of its being scorohod. . Cannen Gare Popnino.—Piek and wash good sweet grapes--say Concord—and put in alternate layers with one-fourth the quantity of picked and washed rice, and sugar enough to sweeten. Fill np with water, and cook in hot water one hour after it begins to boil. Can as usual for fruit, and serve cold when wanted, either with or without a sauoe of sweetened cream. This pudding is not likely to keep more than two or three months, owing to the liability of the grapes to deposit tartaric acid. Hazia Daesstnc.—A nice dresssing for the hair is said, by a correspondent of the Christian Monitor, to be cold tea. She uses it twice a day, and insures a fine growth of beantiful, luxuriant and healthy hair, with less trouble, no danger of injnry to scalp or hair, no expense, and in less time, than any, or all, of the quack mixtures, which are so loudly and persistently recommended. Soap anp Sitver.—Never put a partiole of soap aboat your silver if you would have it retain‘its original Inster. When it wants poliehing, take a piece of soft leather and whiting and rub hard. The proprietor of one of the oldest silver establishments in the city of Philadelphla says that ‘*housekeepers rnin theirsilver by washing 1t in soap snds, as it makes itlook like pewter.” To Cxaniry Darepinc.--Put the dripping into a basin; pour over it boiling water, in which a teaspoonful of salt has been dissolved and keep stirring the whole to wash away the impurities. Let it stand to cool, when the water and dirty sediment will settle at the bottom. Repeat the operation twice with fresh water. When cold remove the dripping from the water and melt into jare. Iotno THAT wit NoT Barax.—Take one pound of pulverized white sugar, the whites of 3 eggs beaten until yon can torn the dish npside down; one teaspoonful of fiour or cornstarch added to it; favor with lemon; flonr the top ofthe cake agsoon as taken from the oven;put on the icing with a large bladed steel knife dipped in warm water and then smooth the icing with it. Sugep’s Tonous IN Savory Jeniy.—Skin the tongues, lard them and cook them nntil they are quite tender, in good vsal broth or any white stock, Take out the tongnee, boil down the liqnor to a stiff, clear jelly and ponr enough of it over them to cover them. To he eaten oold. Squase Pre.—Three cops of milk, two cnp, of sqnash, one cup of sugar, two crackers, rolleds two eges, lemon to taste. This makes two pies.