New-York tribune., 1870-12-21
SCIENTIFIC NOTES

,,, p.prR.-A weak solution OF
n,nh,te OF anne is now used for de,ec'uS -.
.nce Of wood nber in paper one drop VI ,"o anar
,ed glass rod applied to paper eonsinE Nv
even ~ M nro,uce an intense yellow cOor lns n
S NOT take place when the wood hper ns nee"
eally prepared ~, - o.
CpoxTANFoUs COMBUSTION or BLACk olLh'-
~ I, Dn.ler records in The Polytechnic journal case
=, ere occurring In silk tOre Of Paris the origin Vi
beb was traced to package of blaekdyed SIN "h'h
had been brought from the dyehouse withinthe previous
"a hours This not the first Instance of the pon %
Combustion OF hackyed silk, the cause OF whch ~ IL
s.,z and others have failed 10 fully eNpah DI and
advises MERGERS 10 Keep snsh sllA IN sS, nut stion
10 prevent it's getting too hot ny proper Nehu'""
TuE VENOM OF SCoRPIoNs.-Dr Jouss.'
gives in the Complies Rendus, detailed "ecoun, "
e.periments ON the venom of the SooTpto "o''"s'
auenflv found in Southern Europe lie 'oi'' , -,
This venom acts solely ON the red giohues VI ' -,
nv deprivng them Of the properly S maS which Oh
Irncs the circulation Of the blood IN the cap Gapf 30 aed
ton Of the vascular system 90 -, rdna@ chemical action,
ms Venom differs widely from virus Whieh "c'S
Oent. -, e,, m, AZ
c,xcutr-ThiS oil is obtained from an Al
=. .,, 4>esaianta TadeWH), which Is now extensive
-, i, Cevlon If this oil he the same as that caieu
sa,e oil IL d fers widely in chemical composition lro
olive oil 10 sdulterate which 1t Is sometimes ehpogeu, m
iingilie prepared from the seed whlIh to,J
to4 Der cent Uf pale -cOlOred OH beng ueNoV
~ smell il NAV he used for extracting the IeIiue "a
nowcrs such the jasmine. tuherose eainoie, sie i
NeiIor rose For this purpose Welght o ioN'Isl
added TO three weights Of oil in hottie which is e0Itee %
and exposed to direct sunlight i9r ioiN HaSs ""' WV
oil will become impre gnaed with the PeIluhe'
EVAPORATION FROM FoLIAGE.-NOn Ietten-
I,fcr has ypeyimented with oak tree during one
season to ascertain the amount OF evaporation from s
foliage The number OF leaves on the tree was es'hheu
at m The rate evaporation was found 10 lncrease
fIom May July. and the total amount on ne eN1i" 3b
tinn vas foupd 10 be eight aud half times more tbah
that Uf fhe rainfall The excess must he drawn up ny
gdnai driving Of climate by restoring to the ar me
moisture which would otherwise be carried of hy dram
ag,. This experiment clearly shows no" 'IlD""'
changes have been produced 10y planting trees
AIR AND OCEAN CURRENTs.-Mr. D. Knox
Iaughton in q recent contribution 10 theoreuca me'e-
oroogy entitled Ply in its Relation TO
the Prevailing kWinds and Currents, concludes tha'
wind acting not only the surface OF the sea- pui' o
means Of friction, 60 considerable depth Is the
chief cas, the ocean currents His theory
il that The whole atmosphere relatively to the surface Oi
earth continually moves, or tends To move rom wst %
and that the prevalent local variations Ioi ~ M
direction either eddies reflections formed IN acc
torducc with the principles which regulate me mot9
oi fluids IT is hardly necessary to add thal MI Laus
tons conclusions not accepted ss correct ny many
prominent scientific investigators
DIRECT-NIsION SPECTBOsCoPES.-Ihe supp0-
sOn is very prevalent that, for the purpose OF viewing
the phenomena exhibited by the spectroscope large
and costly instrument necessary, yet small and cheaI
instrument may now De obtained which Is capable oil
revealing all the peculiar and striking phenomena OF
spectrum analysis. A firm In NeW-Jersey are no"
making pocket spectroscopes equal If not superior To
those of foreign manufacture The instrument consists OF
3 brass tube upon end Of which i carefully made
st the wdtO which may he increased or d1Innlsneu
M simply turning nlled ring upon the exterlor within
this tube slides another carrying achromatc lens Tor
focusing the SLIT within this again slides anOther
carving the compound prism which comprises hVe dis
tuc pTsns, partly Of crown and partly OF hlnt glass
arranged 10 give direct vision All ls parts are
carefully finished and the instrument, IN general appear
ance resembling diminutve spy glass II lncosed ~ a
cylindrical 30 as 10 he carried IN vest PockeI VIII m
injury. With this little instrument, costing only so,
most m thc absorption bands OF the solar spectrum the
phenomena ~ absorption by gases and fluids and the
bright bands of the alkalies and alkaline earths are
EASILY dis.rnibic.