The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-01-31
SCIENTIFIC NOTES.

A special society for sending a scientific
and commercial expedition to the unex-
plored ports of Asia is about to be formed at
St Petersburg
At Baku, Russian Asiatic city on the
western shores of the Caspian Sea, there ex-
list springs of naphtha which ignite sponta-
neously The naphtha is now being used as
fuel to supply the Russian hotilla. The
initial experiment has proved so successful
that the boilers of the vessels are being al
tered to adapt them to the consumption of
the mineral oil.
The French government sustains schools
at Athens and at Rome, to which pupils are
yearly sent to study Greek and Italian ar
cheology These schools are highly success
full; and NJ. Waddington has now deter
mined to establish periodical called Annals
of Archaeology, for the special purpose of
publishing the contributions of the Fellows
of the schools and of other French archeol-
ogists.
The Bulletin of the Nuttau archaeological
club notes the occurrence OF the Barnacle
Goose (Bernicld LeucopsiS) on Long Island.
The bird is rare visitor in North America.
A specimen was shot near Rupert House, on
HudsOn's bay, in the winter of 1869, which
was believed to be the first North American
specime brought to the notice of natural
lists. In 1870 one was obtained in Currituck
sound, North Carolina. These are the only
authentic cases on record of the appearance
of The Barnacle Goose on our continent.
Dr. Comfy finds that When animals are
killed by chloroform, ether or choral, the
muscles and motor nerves retain their IRA
liability much longer than when death is
produced by bleeding compression of the
heart or asphyxia- This is especially marked
in the case of chloral. The author considers
Al. L. a. -.
ton of the anesthetics on the spinal cord,
but in direct modification of the nerves and
muscles by them through the blood. similar
to that which occurs in poisoning by carbon
ic oxide.
Some very important geological discover
les SAYS Nature, have been made by Profess
sor HART and his assistants in Brazil. Work
ing over again the region explored by Pro-
feSsor Comstock in 1870, and by Messrs.
HART and Derby in 1871, they have extend
ed the Devonian down 1000 feet below the
beds discovered by Messrs. Smith and Com
stock. The lower beds are Oriskany, with
the characteristic North American fossils, as
well as some others which have undoubted
Devonian affinities. Carboniferous beds
were also discovered to the northward max
ing complete section from the base of the
Devonian to recent beds in the lower Anna
zonian valley.
A correspondent sends the Druggists Cir
cular the following directions for cleaning
discOlored brass scales: eff the brass is
very much furnished, use little oxalic acid
solution; il spots are imbedded, rub them
out with little powdered pumice stone,
the wash off with water and dry (the acid
and pamice are to be used only when nee
essary) Then have a paste prepared of
powdered rotten stone and sweet oil. and
with a smooth cork rub il thoroughly over
II IL. 4 a =
greenish black color, after which rub off
every particle OF oil with an old rag Have
some lampblack in suitable box, and, if for
the scale pans put on a little of the lamp
black, il for the weights, ETC., dip smooth
cork into it and rub it over till of a satisfac-
tory polish"
And now comes another use for petro-
leum. Consul Stevens. in his report on the
trade of Nicolaieff during the past year,
states that that part of South Russia con-
tinued free from cattle plague. But his at
tention was drawn in summer to the several
cases o. sudden badness of oxen and COWS,
and the loss of tails and names among
horses He recollected that former servant
of his, prematurely bald, had got into the
habit, when trimming the lamps, of wiping
his petroleum besmeared hands in the scanty
locks which remained to him, and the result
was a much finer head of black, glossy hair
than he ever had before. At the consuls
suggestion, the owner of several black horses
and cattle affected as above mentioned tried
the remedy, and found that it effected a
quick and radical cure. The consul observes
that the petroleum should be of the most re-
fined American qualities, and be rubbed in
vigorously and quickly with the palm of the
hand at intervals of three days, six or seven
times in all.
A Canada jour- al contains letter from a
correspondent who processes to have been a
stammerer from childhood almost to man.
hood and who wishes TO give other sufferers
the benefit of the treatment by which he
was cured. He says: go into room
where you will be quiet and alone, get some
book that will interest but not excite you,
and sit down and read two hours aloud to
yourself, keeping your teeth together. Do
the same thing every two or three days, or
once q week il very tiresome, always
taking care to read SLOWLY and dis
tinctly. moving the lips, but not the
teeth. Then, when conversing with
Others try to speak as slowly and distinctly
as possible. and make up your mind that
YOU will not stammer. I tried this remedy,
and read for two hours aloud with my teeth
together. The first result was to make my
tongue and jaws ache-that is, while / was
reading-and the next to make me feel as If
something had loosened my talking appa-
ratus, for could speak with less difficulty
Immediately. The change was so great that
every one who knew me remarked 1t. re-
peated the remedy every five or six days for
q month. and thea at longer intervals until
cured"