Science Sittings

New Zealand Tablet, 13 August 1908, Page 35

Science Sittings

BY 'VOLT

- What They're" Made of. -, . Pepsin -is. made of" the_, dried inner lining .of the -stomach of a calf. .Glycerine is a. by-pioduct of ,the. soap factory. Magjiesia is extracted from" a stone called dolomite. Anti-pyrine, the Ja.Tious fever cure, comes from coal.. Syrup of squills is madq from a seaweed. _ .. . „ . A -Remarkable Steel Discovery. ■ Steel and Iron., trade- circles are at present deeply interested in the new .process which /has., been discovered by anJLtalian inventor for converting the worst description of iron into high-class steel economically and" inexpensively. It Ss 1 anticipated that th<; process will work- as 'great a revolution in this industry as did • the introduction of that evolved by Bessemer. .' Steelisation ' it is called, and by its agency the. old processiof ' cementation ' .-is disp'ensed-'with, thereby involving an, enormous saving Jrf labor, time, and] cost of production. Arrangements have been completed, to enable the . inventor , to demonstrate the. possibilities of his idea in connection with the manufacture of armor-plates, _ which „at present is- a tedious ;arid laborious sunder taking/ occupying several days, but wh'ich^thts Inventor claims to.accomplish in a few hours, while the J armor khus produced -is -stated to*, be • far. and -away ,in advance of "any steel- that "has yet been evolved. Hitherto, •< the process has been confined to small articles, with Which striking success Jias ,been secured. Naturally, the process Is.'a secret one. -" - ','■ "' ' ", •">--' " - - Asbestos. i i „ , •„ - ;.-.-,. - Asbestos," which takes its rame from a -Greek- word meaning incombustible, consists chiefly of silica," magnesia, alumina and oxide of iron. It, was known to the ancients, " who used it as a wrap to preserve, the -ashes; of those whose -bodies were consumed on the funeral pyre.- -The modern demand -for this valuable product has produced a supply from many quarters as far apart as the, Alps and Canada: Its quality is .determined by the length, strength and .firmness of its fibres, which. Can '.be *o manipulated as to resemble wool* and "to be woven into cloths, ropes and felted fabrics which resist any "ordmafy flames. -'Ah * closely-woven cloth or felt it is a valid protection against "fire, it is -largely- used as packing for the pistons ..of steam engines and as nonconducting, coverings for boilers or for fireproof cements. Combined with clay it forms the familiar fuel of our. gas stoves, which burns, but is not consumed, and it.- has' proved -of --very special value in 'the manufacture of ?a -safety, paint and as lan -indestructible filter for acids or for "electric 'gloves. - " The Apple. - - ' ■- ■ *- r ~ The antiquity of the apple is greater than would be imagined by" many.'- It \i spoken of by^H6mer~as ''hiving existed ~ih ~ the - gardens of Alcinous and of Laertes," and" wW a favorite" f?uit among the Romans, who fully appreciated its dietetic properties, l.n its;, wild state it is the common crab-apple, found on hedges; and we have- no certain-means ascertaining" at what^periodit was first -cultivated and began to acquire the sweetness" which' is so characteristic in its domesticated state. - Owing to its hardy nature' and abundance in cropping, , it is an. especial production of cold climates. , Much, howev.er, " has been' said and written oh the general . use of apples. - .with but-Mittle effect. Excellent cider' apples are produced in some., of '< the English .counties,- but the number of apples used in* the cider-making industry "is very limited when compared with the Vast quantities consumed i-i the British Isles for dessert purposes. The expression * dessert purposes' is not 'sufficiently '"comprehensive;' as' apples are largely used in the early . morning before the formal breakfast .meal, at , which time *hey are supposed to be most beneficial. 'The idea that an apple taken at night time before -retiring "to Vest' is leaden' has been proved by experience to" Jbe antiquated and erroneous ;.. in _ fact.gt .^s^n „ excellent"- refresher -and- palate.cleaner ,:wh.ch can- boused, .waifir advantage. ; by who indulge in smoking. , .-"*".-**