PUNCH’S GUIDE TO THE SCIENCE OF THINGS FAMILIAR.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 573, 29 January 1851, Page 4

PUNCH’S GUIDE TO THE SCIENCE OF THINGS FAMILIAR.

The Rev. Dr. Brewer, who evidently does nothing by half-and-half, has lately published a very useful little work, asking in a familiar way some thousands of very familiar questions, and answering them in a very pleasant, though rather round-about manner. Among other things he asks, i£ Why do you black lead a flue?” and though we should have thought it was in order to give the flue a polish, Dr. Brewer tells us we do so “ in order that the heat of the flue may be more readily diffused about the room ; because black lead radiates neat more freely than any other substance.” We are then asked, “Why does a saucepan that has been used boil in a shorter time than a new one ?” Our answer would have been, “ Because the old un’s used to it!” but the Doctor tells us in much finer phraseology, though perhaps coming to the same thing, that it is, “ Because the bottom and back are covered with and the black soot rapidly absorbs the heat of the glowing coals.” It is as well to know this, no doubt ; and it is at all events consoling to those who have got an old saucepan, and can’t afford a new one, to be assured by a man of science that they are better off than the possessor of a more expensive article. There are a few of the Doctor’s Why s which we should look at as rather otnerwise, and there are many propositions he seems to take for granted, upon which we should be compelled to join the dissenting party. For instance, he asks, “Why do we feel a desire for activity in cold weather,” and he then explains the alleged fact by saying something about “ fanning combustion in the blood, when the truth is, we feel no desire for activity, but rather a desire to sit cosily over the fire in cold weather ; and as to fanning our blood, we emphatically declare we might be blowed if we should like it. lhere are a few questions on things familiar which we have been in the habit of answering for ourselves, in a style with which the worthy Doctor would not at all sympathise. We however take leave to add a few specimens, which will show that if our guide to the scientific knowledge of things familiar is not always strictly correct in a philosophical point of view, it is never disagreeable’:— Q.—Why does lightning turn milk and beer sour ? Because the electric fluid does not know how to conduct itself; or, perhaps, because on the principle of two of a trade never agreeing, the electric fluid and the milky or beery fluid cannot come into contact without the two latter getting soured by the former. Q. —Why is mortar adhesive ? Because it is of a confiding nature, and imagining that every object is a brick, it will attach itself to anything. Q.—Why ought potatoes to be boiled in their skins ? A- Because no potatoe can be said to be properly dressed unless it appears in a jacket. Q. —Why does a kettle sing? A.— For the same reason that a ploughboy whistles—for want of thought. Q. Why does a cat run after a mouse ? Because the mouse runs away from the cat. Q. —Why is it necessary to cut grass ? Because the grass, though composed of nothing but blades, has not one sharp enough to cut away itself, and prevent the necessity of the scythe being applied to it. We might go on multiplying these questions on any fine day, ad-in-fme-night-um,

but we have no doubt the reader may suggest them for himself, and exert his scientific powers in finding the best solution he can of such difficulties, as his own inventive faculties may present to him. We all delight in home-made articles, and we therefore leave the reader to enjoy the cracking of a few nuts of his own growing.