Science Siftings

New Zealand Tablet, 9 July 1908, Page 35

Science Siftings

By VOLT

Where Nicotine Got Its Name.

You have heard the story of how the sailors under Columbus were astonished to see the "smoke "issuing from the nostrils of the natives, and found it was caused from the combustion of the plant tobacco. On their return the tobacco was introduced into Spain and Portugal, and later into England by Sir Walter Raleigh. In 1560 Jean Nicot, who was the French Minister at Lisbon, learned the use of tobacco from a merchant from America. On his return to France ,he presented the weed to the queen, and it was soon sknown throughout Europe. From Nicot it was called ' l'herbe nicotine,' the name that has come down to us.

Has it ever occurred to you that the vanilla with which many a favorite dish of yours is flavored is made from coal? Will you believe that most of the dyes which have stained the fabrics of your clothes, that the naphtha and benzine which your tailor uses in removing stains, and even the sweetest perfumes * are all derivatives of coal (says the * Pall Mall Magazine '). The magicians who have wrought wonders with coal are the gasmaker and the chemist. If coal is burned in the open air heat is produced and nothing left but a little ash. Burn it in a closed vessel, however, and the marvellous change occurs. In the first place, coal gas is produced and, chemically treated, ib supplied to every city home. Furthermore, ammonia is obtained, important in modern agriculture because by its means plants can be artificially supplied with the nitrogen they need. Then, again, asphalt is produced, much used in road-making, although the retort is not the chief source of its supply. Lastly, a black, noisome ooze is collected, which goes by the name of ' coal tar.' It is this which, at the touch of the modern chemist's wand, is transformed into the most widely different substances imaginable. The wonders of coal tar do not cease here. It is a palette of gorgeous colors, a medicine chest of potent drugs, a whole arsenal of terrible explosives, a vial of delicious flavors, and a garden of perfumes — the most protean, variegated substance in the world.

Imitating Precious Stones.

About forty artificial precious stones were recently submitted to the Museum of Natural History at Berlin by an association which claimed to have made these stones, based on the process which recently created so much attention. Several official experts, among whom was the professor having knowledge of gems in the Museum of Natural History, two practical experts, and the chief master of the gold and silver smiths' guild of Germany were requested Jo make a careful examination of the merits of the ' so-called ' new discoveries. The report submitted by this committee of experts reads as follows : — ' Of the variety of stones we examined we were favorably impressed only by the artificial rubies. Among these were some of great beauty and worthy of consideration. The white sapphires were of no account at all ; they appeared dull and washed out. Well imitated were the yellow precious stones ; they really resembled the topaz very closely ; but this invention carries with it only very little value, since the real topaz is found in such large quantities that they sell at from 2 to 3 marks (47.6 to 71.4 cents) a gramme. Therefore it would seem of little importance to imitate such common stones. Of all the stones we examined, we can only call The artificial rubies a direct success ; but the imitation of this latter species of precious stones is no new invention. We therefore declare that there is nothing new or sensational in the claimed invention.'