The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-08-07 00:00:00

SCIENCE AND ART.

IT is said that one of the incidental results of the American
expedition to Japan is the discovery that the Zodiacal light is
a belt extending entirely round the earth, after the manner of
Saturn's ring. President Pierce, of Cambridge, (U.S.) considers
the fact established by the observations taken.
GRAPES IN CONSUMPTION.—The use of grapes, as an
article of food, is much recommended in cases of consumption,
being called the cure des raisins. They contain a large
quantity of grape sugar, the kind which more nearly resembles
milk sugar in its character and composition. This is also very
useful in consumption, as it has a great attraction for oxygen,
and therefore affords material for respiration.
A BOTANICAL DOUBT.—Sir John S. Forbes has communi-
cated his views to the Edinburgh Botanical Society on the
disease called " Finger-and-Toe." He considers it not a dis-
ease, but an attempt made occasionally by turnips and other
cultivated roots to revert, in spite of cultivation, to the natural
type. He recommends a careful selection of the roots for seed,
and culture on soil of good condition—refraining especially
from sowing seed in a poor soil which had been raised on rich
soil. Those who wish to observe the origin and progress of
"finger-and-toe" in turnips should commence to look out in
June or July at the furthest.
HYDROPHOBIA.—The following remedy for the bite of a
mad dog is reported to have been used by a person who was
bitten by a rabid animal six times, and never used any other
remedy :—Dissolve a pound of common salt in a quart of
spring water, and wash and squeeze the bitten part imme-
diately after the infliction of the wound for an hour, and then
bind some salt upon it for twelve hours. This will neither
counteract nor supersede any other means that may be deemed
necessary. The person bitten should keep as quiet as pos-
sible before the ablution, that exertion may not promote the
absorption of the virus. In Germany when such an occur-
rence takes place some dust, or any dry article, is directly
thrown on the bitten part, which absorbs the froth or saliva,
and thereby tends to diminish infection by imbibing the in-
fectious matter. When so many eminent practitioners have
failed in their endeavours to cure this dreadful malady, so
simple an expedient is worth the trial; for, if it does not
efficiently cure the disorder, it will doubtless mitigate the
direful effects.

THE PAINTING OF THE SISTINE CHAPEL IN THE VATICAN
AT ROME.-1n 1474 (says Mr. Scharf), Sixtus IV. employed
the best artists of the Tuscan and Umbrian schools to paint
the walls of this chapel with a series of compartments, six on
each side, from the history of the Saviour and of Moses, the
former being range 4 on the south wall. Thus, in accordance
with the established custom, the scenes from the Old Testa-
ment confronted those from the New. For example, Christ's
Sermon on the Mount faced Moses on the Mount, and the
Last Supper Wag opposite to the last commands of Moses to
Joshua. The painters employed were Luca Signorelli, Sandro
Botticelli, Cosimo Roselli, Salviati, Pietro Perugino, and
Domenico Ghirlandajo. The lecturer quoted Vasari's account
of Roselli's conduct in the Sistine Chapel : he was far inferior
to the other painters, and was aware of his deficiency ; but,
perceiving the weakness of the Pontiff, who delighted in gold
and finery, belaboured his work with gilding and ultramarine.
This was so much to the delight of the Holy Father, that he
commanded the other artists to spoil their works in a similar
manner for his gratification. _ -
DISCOVERY OF AUTOGRAPH SERMONS OF LUTHER.—
Twelve autograph sermons of Luther have recently been dis-
covered at Raksan, in Hungary. The Hungarian paper,
Divatesarnok, says :—" How these sermons have found their
way to Hungary is a question still to be settled, though sure
to be cleared up by a nearer perquisition of the records in
which the autographs were found. It is a well-known fact,
that Luther, for a long time, used to be in correspondence with
several learned Hungarians, mostly with Baron Peter Revay.
The MS. is bound in vellum, and contains twelve sermons,
written on thick brownish paper, in faded, though still very
legible black letters. The margin of the leaves shows marks
of having formerly been gilded. Each separate sermon is
signed with Luther's autograph signature ; and all these sig-
natures are so like to each other, that their being written by
one hand is beyond any doubt. This valuable discovery is at
present in the hands of M. Paul Raksanyi, whose property
they have become by inheritance.7—A thenceum.

DIFFUSION OF ARCHITECTURAL KNOWLEDGE.—Consider-
ing the value and importance of architecture, we have often
wondered that its great leading principles have not been made
a subject of study in our schools, and a means of mental
education. Some may not recognise the necessity or desirable-
ness of such study : some doubt its practicability. It would
be easy to show it is an acquirement affording largely that
very sort of training and discipline which it is the business of
schools to impart. The leading principles or laws of archi-
tecture may be laid down with all the precision which belongs
to science. He who, after learning them, has no occasion to
practise them, would still have acquired something which, if
it did not avail him as a divine, as a lawyer, or as a physician,
whichever he might be, would yet avail him as a man ; and it
would by no means 'hinder him from acquiring the specific
knowledge of his profession. All practical sciences, as arith-
metic, grammar, navigation,' and the like, are thus taught.
The teacher- might consult to great advantage Professor
Donaldson's " Maxims of Architecture, Theoretical and Prac-
tical ;" Rickman's " Attempt to discriminate the different
Styles ;" Durand's " Parallele d'Architecture," and com-
parative views of celebrated edifices. Such works would form
the public taste. Sums of money ought tp be granted by
Government for having them at all the free libraries and
institutions throughout the country.—The Builder.