ltE0 HUS [447 R. RAT. — A patent was lately granted to Mr. BosauEX, for his method of preventing the nuisance, and pernicipus efFefts of rats, on ship-board, &c. This important object is to be attained, by filling lip the vacant spaces between the planks, lining, and timber of ships, with hot or melted pitch, tempered with a little tar, to render it less brittle, and more tenacious : at the same time> to increase its adiie- sion and durability, the patentee direfts cork- shavings, c! arcoal- dust, and ox or other aninial hair, to be incorporated with the compo- sition. By such contrivance, all rats will not only be efFe£tuaIiy re- pelled, and consequently the de- structive efFe6ts of these vermin living, breeding, dying, and rotting between the ship's timber, be avoided, but the safety of the ves- sel will also be ensured : for, in case a plank should start, he asserts, that no water can penetrate tiirough the composition. The following preparation has also recently been recommended for expelling rats : it consists in mixing the expressed juice of the stalk or leaves of the Deadly Night- shade with wheaten flour, or oat- meal : the paste must be cut in small pieces, wiiich are to be placed in the holes or tracks frequented by these depredators ; and, though they will not eat such nauseous food, yet its odour is to them so extremely cffensive, that they will speedily quit the premises. RED INK.— Although we have already (vol iii. p. 483) inserted two methods of preparing Red Ink, yet as it appears from tlie ex- periment made by one of our cor- respondents,that the second process, extrafted from the last edition of
- ' Chambers's Encyclopaedia, has
not proved successful, we shall add a third, on the authority of M. HocHHEiMEK J wlio positively as- serts, that the charafters written with the following preparation, had not undergone the least change, but retained their lively red hue, during a period often years. " Take of the best Brazil-wood, 4 oz. ; pulverized alum, and pu- rified crystals of tartar, of each 1 oz. Boil these substances toge- ther (we believe, most properly, in a well tinned vessel), with two pints ot tillered river- water,till ono half of the fluid be evaporated. While the liquor is warm, add the best, white gum-arabic, and dou- ble refined sugar, of each one oz." — M. HocHHEiMER remarks, that the acid of tartar is the most essential ingredient in this ink, and. tends to preserve its beautiful red colour; though we confess, that want of leisure has not permitted us to repeat the experiment. ROPE. — A method of making ropes more durable, than may be ette6ted on the usual plan, has lately been discovered at Wlirtem- berg. It consists simply in com- bining the threads in a parallel di- rection ; and experiments have de- monstrated, that such a rope, woven of 504 threads worked together, will support 13 cwt. without breaking. This contexture being three, 3-l6"th inches in diameter, and 111 feet in length, did not exceed Iplbs. in weight ; while a common rope of similar dimensions weighedS 1 1 lbs. RUST. — In addition to the hints given in the articles Iron, Steel, . and
