The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-02-15
Curiosities Of Science.
1RnrrADn1rY OF A REPTILE HEART

IIol' 1NuOheIlOIu, VI hlnSs COleBc,
England, is now lecturing on physiolo-
gy. He narcotized frog with opium,
and then took out the heart and placed
it on glass plato in q little pool of
serum, just to keep the organ moist.
Strange TO soy, it kept on pulsating pro-
eisoly as when in the body.
After watching the phenomenon
awhile, he cut the throbbing heart
transversely in two pieces, through the
middle of the ventricles. The apex was
quiescent, but the base continued pull
sating as before. Why the death of ono
part and not the otherY Dividing the
contractile muscular fibres by which
contractions were performed explains
the rationale of the experiment in re-
gard to the quiet half Of the heart.
CHRONIC ACID.
As disinfectant, this article is recon-
mended on high chemical authority. 1t
is also an antiseptic. 1t acts in that
character by coagulating protean COM
pounds, a marvellous property, harden
ing animal tissues very quickly.
Why would it not be valuable artl-
Gle in tanningY With ten times the
coagulating power of carbolic acid,
especially with albumous solutions, it
seems destined to be an agent of too
much value to be overlooked in many
arts.
CLINICAL AUsCULATIoN.
Dr. Griffiths, of the Royal Irish Col
lege of Surgeons, proposes q common
tuning fork for ascertaining the normal
or abnormal condition of the viscera.
1t is curious circumstance, quite new,
that when the forks are vibrating, if ap-
piled to the chest or abdomen, positive
difference of sound is perceived between
diseased or q sound organ over which
it is placed. Practice is required to fully
appreciate this novel method of internal
explorations.
PUBLIC HEALTH.
At no period in the history of Eng
land has so much scientific attention
been given to public health and the
means of promoting it as at present. Even
government recognizes the duty of car
ing for the masses by giving the poor
pure air for respiration, the first demand
of their nature, and the next is whole
some food.
In most of the large towns, health
officers are instructed to be vigilant.
Common sewers give more trouble than
very many ordinary nuisances, because
there is generated within them the vilest
gases. Where they are imperfectly con-
structed they become laboratories in
which are manufactured the seeds OF
death. No vapors are so noxious, or SC
charged with poisons as escaping gas
-, l~1
equally vigilant-life being q precious
boon.
INCREASE OF LUNACY.
Wherever the strife for position and
wealth is most active, there men and
women are prone to distraction. Wound.
ed pride, disappointed expectations, re.
hgious exaltation, and a determination
to rule or ruin, appertain to countries
where civilization is most advanced, anC
the difficulty of procuring subsistence
becomes difficult in consequence of {
density of population. Everywhere il
the oldest centres of refinement in Eu
rope insanity is immensely on the in.
crease. So it is in the old States of this
country. Massachusetts has already
three large public insane institutions
and another is needed. Boston has one
and then the richly endowed McLan
Hospital at Somerville, besides severa
private asylums, are cited in proof o
this opinion. The State of New Yorl
is also becoming too much distinguished
for insanity.
LUMINOSITY OF THE SEA.
Prof. Panceri, of Naples, after lone
series of experiments on the phosphoreS
ence of the sea, is satisfied he has solved
that difficult problem.
Heretofore the theory of that aquati,
fire which gives waves in a dark nigh
the appearance of liquid fire, was an an
imation from phosphoric matter in thu
bodies of very small aquatic mites, so in
calculably numerous their combined
luminous points gave volume of bright
ness on agitating the water. But Prot
Panceri says it is not living organized
forms that produce the phenomenon
but the dead matter or desquamation
of the surface of their tiny bodies, alb
sorbing solar light, which is given on
when put in undulatory motion. Their
is an analogy in this, found in decaye
wood and putrescent fish, which become
wonderfully phosphorescont in mois
atmosphere.
NICKEL PLATING.
Quite q new art has been introduce
to the world of manufactures by MI
Isaac Adams, of Boston. Although a
art, it belongs to science, and is, there
fore, of interest to chemists. Platin
with nickel is accomplished by cleo
trolysis. The process is simple, but un
fortunately being patented, the price c
extensively employed.
A NEW FOSSIL BIRD.
Prof. o. c. Marsh, of California, hG
discovered the skeleton of q biped in til
upper cretaceous formation of Wester
Kansas, that was five feet high. 1t mus
have been extinct many ages.