_Waterproof Composition._
Mr. Henry Hunt, the patentee of the "Waterproof Composition," informs us
that for the above invention we are indebted to the scientific
researches of Baron Charles Wetterstedz, the brother of one of the
ministers of state at the Court of Sweden, by whom it was employed to
prevent the infection of the plague, by means of absorption through the
pores of the soles of boots and shoes; but he accidentally discovered
that it rendered them waterproof, during a thaw in Sweden, when his
boots, being prepared with this composition, resisted the snow-water,
and remained perfectly dry, whilst the boots of other persons were
saturated, and resembled tripe.
Mr. Scott, an experienced engineer, has experimented upon leather
prepared with Mr. Hunt's Composition, and found it "impervious to
moisture at all degrees of pressure that leather will bear." The best
tannage becomes saturated at from ten to fourteen pounds upon the inch,
whilst that prepared with the Composition, was not penetrated at 180
lbs. upon the inch. With such testimony, we need not add our
recommendation of "the Waterproof Composition" as likely to prove of
great benefit, especially to our sporting and country friends.
_Preservation of Canvass._
The _Literary Gazette_ informs us, that an inhabitant of Troyes, in
Champagne, has discovered a method of preparing canvass, and every other
description of coarse linen, so as to resist damp, and prevent the
approach of insects and vermin, and that the inventor promises to make
his discovery public.
_Bacon._
An American journal says, that Elder leaves bruised in a mortar, with a
little water, will destroy skippers in bacon, without injuring the meat.
_Ale._
Ale brewers usually put into the bung-hole of each cask, when stowed
away, a handful of half boiled hops impregnated with wort, the object of
which is to exclude the atmospheric air by covering the surface of the
liquid; but some brewers, more rigidly attentive, insert (privately) at
the same time, about one ounce of powdered black rosin, previously mixed
with beer, which swims on the surface, but after a time is partially
absorbed.--_Lib. Useful Know._
_Beer Poisons._
_Cocculus Indicus_ is largely imported into this country, considering
that few know for what other purpose it is used than to adulterate beer.
We suspect what was at one time generally sold to brewers for Cocculus
Indicus was really _Nux Vomica_ (used to poison rats), and that the
brewers' druggists when making their defence, passed Nux Vomica for
Cocculus Indicus, on the same principle as the forgers of bank notes
plead guilty to the lesser indictment. _Opium_, we believe, is still in
use; for we have known seizures of that article in the custody of ale
brewers, within the last two years.--_Library of Useful Know._
_Bees._
A Correspondent of the _Magazine of Natural History_, says, "the
superstition respecting bees prevails in some parts, as to informing
them of any great public event that takes place."
_Swan River Settlement._
The soil of Swan River, from its moist state, is better adapted to the
cultivation of tobacco and cotton than any other part of Australia. Both
these articles are intended to be cultivated on a large scale, as also
sugar and flax, with various important articles of drugs that the
climate is peculiarly adapted to the growth of.--_Parliamentary Papers._
_The Harvest Bug_
Is so minute as to be visible only to the keenest eyes, and then only
when on any very smooth white surface. Ladies and children are the first
to complain of their attacks; and chiefly where any part of the dress
fits closely to the skin. There they seat themselves at the intersection
of the lines, and lay such firm hold with their feet and jaws, that they
cannot be displaced by rubbing, nor by washing, unless a powerful spirit
or acid be used. By a microscope, the bug will be seen to have eight
legs, two feelers, and an abdomen something egg-shaped; colour livid
red; and in size no bigger than the point of a small needle. They
lacerate the epidermis in some way or other, as a small hole is
observable where they have been seated; and cause extreme itching and
considerable inflammation of the part.--_Magazine of Natural History_.
We should think _Eau de luce_ or ammonia a remedy for their bite.
_Adulterated Flour._
If flour adulterated with potato starch be sprinkled upon black paper,
and examined by a powerful lens, or a microscope, the starch may be
detected by the brilliancy of its grains.
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