Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-10-28

Scientific Notes.

PROFESSOR S1nvEsrRE renorts tbo+
transyersal assure about a mile 1ona '1 bos
appeared on the northern side of Mount
Atna. Twenty fresh craters situated
upon one long line have been thrown
up. The first crater opened forms q
cone seventy-fve feet high
The Adrian mich. } Times saws that
as MI. futile was lately digging a
ditch On his farm, at Seneca. about
twelve miles south of Adrian, he dis
covered number OF immense bones.
probably those of mastodon. One was
a tooth about four inches square, weigh
ing one and half pounds. This tooth
Is broken off at the base but the enamel
on the upper part is perfect. Mr. Tut
tie. has also three pieces-about nina
f e In all-of rib, of which, perpapsa
1905 or two has not been found. He
found, besides, horn or tusk broken
OF at both ends. This is eight feet
seven inches long, and, three feet from
the butt end, measures twenty-five and
one-half inches in circumference.
A NEW car-brake, known as the
"McBride Hydraulic Car Brake" has
been recently invented in Pennsylvania
The principle advantages claimed for it
are Its extreme simplicity, there being
no air pumps or pistons to get out Of
order, and it's instantaneous application
to all the cars of a train, by the simple
turning of faucet on the engine. A
water-plpe runs under the train, coupled
between the cars by strong India-rub-
Der hose, and filled with a column of
wafar hu -
engine the pressure on the square inch
is produced at the brake equal to the
steam pressure on the boiler at the
locomotive. Freezing in the winter is
prevented by the mixture of small
quantity OF glycerine with the water.
SETH GREEN, the siculturist, while
exhibiting tanKd fsh in public re-
Gently, made few remarks on the
nature and habits of these animals, and
referring to the mooted q 7estion edo
Fish hear?" answered emphatically in
the negative. To demonstrate his
opinion he asked the band to arrange
themselves in close proximity to the
tanks and blow their loudest blast,
This they did; but not one of the multi
tude OF fishes stirred fin. Mr.. Green
then said that although fish were thus
unsusceptible to sound, they were
keen OF vision and sensitive to the
slightest jar. To illustrate the latter
point, he tapped on the bottom of one
OF the trout tanks with just enough force
to cause slight vibration in the water,
when every inmate of the tank darted
off like fash
A DISTINGUISHED medical authority
warns the drinkers of water of wells
near dwellings to beware of the typhoid
poison sure to be found sooner or later
in these reservoirs, If any of the house
drainage can percolate to them. The
gelatlnous matter often found upon the
stones OF we'll is poison to the human
system, probably causing by it's spores
fermentation Of the blood. with the
abnormal heat of fever. Wholesome.
untalnted water is always free from ali
color and odor. To test it thoroughly,
place IN it few grains of lump sugar,
and expose 1t, stoppered, to sunlight, in
a window. If, even after an exposure
OF eight or ten days, the water becomes
turbld, be sure that it has been contain
mated by sewerage of some kind. If it
remains clear, it is pure and safe.
A CITIZEN of Cincinnati has put upon
the streets of that city vehicle designed
to supersede street cars. It is about
the size OF common street car, and will
seat sixteen passengers. The wheels
are similar to those on carriages, butthe
axel is curved in such manner as 10
allow the floor of the car to be on alevel
with the pavement. The driver sits in
front, and uses an ordinary foot brake
In place of those common to street ca rs
The entrance for the passengers is Pc
cullar. The steps are parallel with the
sides OF the car, but the doorways, one
on each side, are placed diagonally
across the end. The arrangement is
made to allow passengers to step directly
into the car from the sidewalk. It is
said that these cars cost less than others
IN use, require no track to be laid down,
and. owing to the double action of the
wheels, run as lightly and easy as bug
g1es OF modern improved patterns and
construction.