Notes and Memoranda. 239 



is greatly increased. New Textile Fibre. — If, as soon as its flowers 



have been gathered, the stalks of the hop-plant are made into bun- 

 dles, and well steeped in water, then dried in the sun, and beaten 

 like hemp, a fibre will be obtained which, after being combed, is 

 admirably adapted to being spun into thread, that furnished by the 

 larger stalks being well suited for cordage or twine. This is very 



important as the flower is not in any way interfered with. New 



Application of Cork. — Springs of India-rubber, used in the buffers 

 of railway carriages, etc., under the influence of great pressure soon 

 lose their elasticity. Cork, which may be of an inferior kind, has 

 been found an excellent substitute for them. To render it soft and 

 permanently moist, it is soaked in a mixture of molasses and water. 

 It is then cut into discs which have a central hole, and are placed 

 in a cylindrical cast-iron box, and over them a flat iron disc. Being 

 then subjected to great hydraulic pressure, their thickness is re- 

 duced to one half, after which a bolt is run down through the metallic 

 and cork discs, and the bottom of the cylindrical box, and is fastened 

 by a nut. This, when the pressure is removed, prevents the cork 

 from regaining its original dimensions. The apparatus is now ready 

 for use. Cork discs about eight inches in diameter are found to 

 exhibit extraordinary elasticity under a pressure of 20,000 lbs. 



NOTES AND MEMOKANDA. 



Chemical Poisoning. — M. Melsens states, in Comptes jRendus, that chlorate 

 of potash and iodide of potassium may be administered in considerable quantities 

 in succession to dogs, without injuring them, while if they are given simul- 

 taneously, the animals are poisoned, apparently by tbe formation of iodate of 

 potash. He observes that the two salts do not react in this way under ordinary 

 circumstances, but they do so in strong acid solutions, or when in fusion, and 

 when mixed and decomposed by the electric pile. 



Medical Ppopeeties op the Teazle. — M. Beullard informs the French 

 Academy that the leaves of the teazle, Dipsacus sylvestris, pounded, and applied 

 to wounds and bruises, has a powerful action in the prevention and cure of 

 gangrene. He removes mortified flesh, washes the wound in chlorurated water, 

 and then applies a poultice of the leaves. He states that he used this remedy 

 with success for fifteen years. 



Bolide at Vichy. — M. Veriot describes a bolide, seen at Vichy on the 21st 

 August (20th ?), at 7h. 20m. p.m., as like an enormous fusee, and brighter than the 

 moon. It was visible for ten seconds, passing from JST.W. to S.W. in a hue 

 making an angle of 20° or 25° with the horizon. 



Shooting Staes neae the Eaeth. — In Astronomische NachricMen, TSo. 

 1606, is a communication from C. Behrmann, of G-ottingen, stating, that on the 

 30th of July, about 9|h. P.M., shooting stars appeared to come out of a thick 

 cloud, about 15° above the horizon, and vanished in about four-tenths of a second, 

 having a visible path of five or sis degrees. The cloud covered the entire sky, 

 and was so thick, that a bright meteor could not have been seen through it ; 

 hence he concludes " that the shooting-stars were manifestly driven on this side of 

 the cloud." He thinks these stars must have come within 0.1 mile of the 

 earth. 



