320 
THE YOUNG SCIENTIST. 
meut of the legs ; the horse moves the head up 
and down; the cow moves the nose back and 
forth. Are these movements ghosts of a former 
rea l walking with the head 1— Joseph Le Conte. in 
Science. 
—A correspondent in writing from New York 
says, judging from present indications, gilding 
on plaster for ornamenting mirror frames will 
soon be a fashion of the past. The utmost in- 
genuity is exercised in framing, and sometimes 
with charming effect. A mirror lately seen was 
framed in old tapestry of a dull gold ground, on 
which, on either side, are pictured mediaeval 
saints with golden nimbus and robes of dull red 
and blue. Across the upper and lo-wer parts of 
the frame are wrought festoons of flowers. A 
second mirror shows an oaken frame with a band 
of dull gold, on which are applied garlands of 
carved flowers. 
^practical piius. 
—Wire rope must not be coiled or uncoiled like 
hemp rope. When mounted on a reel the latter 
should be turned on a spindle to pay off the rope. 
When forwarded in a coil without reel, roll it 
over the ground like a wheel and run off the rope 
in that way. All untwisting must be avoided. 
—For poison ivy, bathe the parts in a decoction 
of hemlock boughs or of oak leaves, or witli a 
teaspoonful of copperas (sulphate of iron) in a 
small teacupfiil of boiling water; or rub wet salt 
on the affected parts. If the blisters are broken, 
one application of nitre will be sufficient. 
—Fat is said by Dr. F. L. Oswald to be the best 
lung food, and among all fat-containing sub- 
stances sweet cream is the best, salt pork the 
least nutritious. Consumptives should avoid all 
scorbutiflc articles of diet; salt meat, pickles, 
cheese, pungent spices, made dishes, and all in- 
toxicating drinks. 
—A new invisible ink has been introduced by 
Dr. Widemann. It is made by intimately mixing 
linseed oil 1 part, water of ammonia 20 parts, and 
water 100 parts. The mixture must be agitated 
each time the pen is dipped into it. as a little of 
the oil may separate and float on the surface, 
from which, if taken up by the pen, a stain would 
be left upon the paper. To make the writing ap- 
pear all that is needed is to dip the manuscript in 
water; wlien the paper dries the writing will 
vanish. 
—A German journal gives the following leather 
polish:— Mix 200 parts of shellac with 1 000 of 
spirits— 95 per cent.— in a well-stoppered bottle. 
Keep in a warm place for two or three days, shak- 
ing frequently. Separately dissolve twenty-five 
parts of Marseilles soap in 375 of warmed spirits— 
25 per cent.— and to the solution add forty of 
glycerine. Shake well and mix wit'i the shellac 
solution. To the mixture ad 1 five parts of 
nigrossin dissolved in 125 of spirits. Well close ' 
the vessel and shake energetically, and then 
leave the mixture in a warm place for a fortnight. 
— A very good fly-paper may be made afte^ the 
following receipt: Gum turpentine, 10 parts; 
yellow wax, 4 parts ; lard, 14 parts. Melt, strain 
through a muslin cloth, and after solidification 
add as much oil (say linseed) as may be neces- 
sary to give the proper consistency on the paper. 
When prepared lay two papers together, face to 
face. If the above proportions do not give just 
the results desired, they should be varied by tak- 
ing different quantities of the ingredients until a 
satisfactory material is made. 
—Soapsuds will not chap or injure the hands 
even if kept a long time in it, if on taking them 
from the suds they are thoroughly sponged, or 
dipped in lemon juice or vinegar. The acid de- 
stroys the corrosive effects of the alkali and 
makes the hands soft and white. Indian meal 
and lemon juice, used when washing the hands 
when roughed by cold or hard work, will heal 
and soften them. Vinegar will answer if lemons 
are not easily obtained. Eub the hands in this, 
then wash thoroughly, and if you have it, after 
drying put on a few drops of glycerine. Those 
who suffer from chapped hands in the winter 
will find this comforting, and will make sewing^ 
much easier. 
Ilotcs aitb ^ux'm. 
111 continuing this depai tnient, which has been found of 
so much value, we would remind our leaders who wish for 
information on any of the arts and sciences, that they are 
cordially invited to make their wants known through this 
column, and those of them who can furnish accurate 
answers to questions asked are requested to send in replies. 
Doubtless many of our subscribers may know of methods, 
processes, or devices that may be better or more suitable for 
the particular case in question than anything generally 
known, and it is this reason that induces us to keep this de- 
partment open for a medium, where an interchange of ideas 
and practices may be made to the advantage of all our 
readers. Correspondents will please send their full address 
when forwarding their communications— either questions or 
answers — not for publication, unless expressly so stated, but 
so that we rnay know where to find the writer if desirable. 
Communications should be sent in on or before the first of 
each month previous to publication, to insure insertion in 
next issue. 
Answers. 
115. In answer to Katie B. (August Young 
Scientist) as to impression of leaves, I would 
recommend the following: Bichromate of potash, 
10 grs. ; sulphate of copper, 20 grs. ; distilled 
water, 1 oz. Wash a piece of letter paper on one 
side with this solution, and let it dry in the dai-k. 
Procure a pane of window glass free from specks, 
a piece of thin board the size of the glass ; lay 
several pieces of paper and a piece of black cloth 
the size of the glass and board, placing the paper 
next to the board, the cloth on the paper, and on 
the cloth the sensitive paper (this should always 
be kept in the dark until you are ready to use it), 
and on this place the leaf; over the w^hole place 
the glass; fasten with spring elofhes pins, and 
expose to clear sunshine a few mfiiutes ; remove, 
and wash the picture in the dark Avith a solution » 
of nitrate of silver of moderate strength. En- 
gravings may also be copied by this method.— 
Cameba, Jk. 
