New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-09-07
SCIENCE FOR THE PEOPLE.


A COsnCAL ATMosPHERE.-At the recent
meeting the British Science Association DE- erI5
Hunt read an interesting paper the geological rela
ons of the atmosphere with reference especially to the
large of carbonc acid absorbed IN pat ages
BY the earts crust and represented by the various
earDonates Mr. Hunt did not believe that this supply
was obtained from volcanoes His solution OF the PROD
lem based upon the conception that the earths AZ
osphere is not terrestrial but cOsmca being univer
sa medium dused throughout all space, but condensed
around The various centres Of attraction in amounts pro-
portOned to their and temperature, the waters OF
oceans themselves belonging 70 this universal atos-
phere Such being the case, change In the atmos
pherc envelope OF globe whether by the absorption
or the Encouragement Of any gas vapor, would by the
laws of diffusion aud static equilibrium, be felt every
where throughout the and the hxation OF car
bon AT the surface planet would not only bring IN
supply OF this gas from the worlds Dc
yond but by reducing the total amount OF
A. in the universal atmosphere, diminish the
baromec pressure the surface Of onr own ana OF all
other worlds This conception Of oOsmical atmosphere
"a not new but was put forth by Sir William X Grove
IN 1s43, and developed the learned and IN
genlOus work Of Mr.. Matthieu Williams on Ihe FUEL OIL
the SUM-" Tyndal, by subsequent researches on rada-
ton showed that certain gases in amount 100 small 10
affect considerably the barOmetric pressure mlght III
auenee powerfully climatic conditions, and suggested
that the former presence In the atmosphere OF ou
crate quantities OF gas like carbomc aeid might DC
found a solution Of the problem Of the climates OF
former geologic ages. According to DR.. Hunt the
amount Of this gas which since the advent OF life on the
earth has been subtracted from the universal atmosphere
although IL may not sufced to diminish by more
than small fraction the pressure at the earths surface
would account for all the conditions of geological history
as far as temperature and climate are concerned. lie
maintains that while have evidence OF warm OF
subtropical climate prevailing over the Arctic regions
from the carbOnerOus down to lower cretaceous times
and gradual refrigeration uPtO the temperate CLIMATE
pleioeene age the evidence of Arctic cold, which with
some variations has continued until now Since that
date geographical variations have caused, and may
again cause local climatic changes Of considerable mag
nitude but such changes could permit tne eXstencS
continental within the Arctic circle OF Sucn
tropical vegetation know to have once n4urshe1
there. Geographical changes, as j. Campbell DAWSON
and others have pointed out, might lift large areas
into the region OF perpetual frost, and thus give
over account for considerable local climatic yari-
alton at the sea level since the peioeene age.
climates of previous ages they seek for their
cause in the former constitution OF the atmosphere
Touching the suggestion that former cimeue changes
due to displacement OF the eartns axis Oh Lota
lion ne Ss e the direction Of the Arctic currents
which are guided by the earth's rotation appears, from
same since very carly periods" Dawson has reinforced
TINS argument by recalling the TACT that the southern
from the DevOnIan age the general OF oceanic
currents consequently the position OF the earths axis
have not changed
THE PLANET VULCAN.-PrOfessOr Watson, OF
Ann Arbor describes in The american Journal Of Science
his successful search for the planet Vu
can whose apparent position he gives as Right Ascen-
sion sh 27m 35s., and north decnatiOn 1872 TO-;
date, July 20, 1875 oh. lon. 37s., Washington mean
time NJ Galllot has compared this position with the
place which Vulcan should have occupied according TO
the four orbits determined by lie Verer aud finds that
one of these orbits agrees fairly with the position OF the
planet observed by Professor Watson. He also states
that transit Of Vulcan may possibly about
September Should NJ. GailOts theory prove correct
from the 600 900 miles, ana the intensity OF the
solar heat received about thirysx times that felt on
the earth.
THE ELECTRIC LIGHT IN PARIs.-The electric
light in Paris chiefly known to American visitors is the
JablOchkoR candle There is another, however, known
Is the Lontn light which has been adopted by several
establishments and is now exhibited in London outside
the Gaiety Theatre The LOntin light is worked by
machine invented bp NJ LOntn himself 1t produces at
will single current multiple currents direct cur
rents and inverted currents These can DO distributed
on several circuits With single machine thirty-si1
lights have already been produced. The motive
force employed TO produce light equal
TO 100 Carcel burners is half horse power
The carbOns vertically placed above the other
IN the LOntin light as in that Of NJ. JaOloohkOh The
light comes only from the electric arc between them
but also from the carbon candles themselves, which be-
come incandescent and are consumed. clOckwOrk
regulator advances them they waste and 1t is
stated that to such perfection has this cOntryance been
brought that for week the lights at the Gaiety
have required adjustment during the four hours for
which they burn every night. Having once been set
the regulator has each night advanced the points With
out aid from At Paris little accidents are not
unfrequent with the electric light The Avenue de
POpera occasionally left in sudden darkness by some
eOnTretemps LOntin light exhibited in experiments at
the Paris Exhibition has remained luminous for twenty
one hours.
INFLUENCE OF GAsLIGHT on THE EYE.-Ihe
German Minister Of Instruction has recently issued re-
port on the influence Of gssght the The conclu
sion arrived that evil results follow moderate use
of gas the direct action Of the yellow flame on the eye
Is prevented For this purpose screens or shades are
employed. Grave objections, however, exist to The use
OF zine or lead shades most evils affecting the eye being
traceable TO them Their IL is said inevitably tends
10 blindness Inflammation, and other harmful effects
The mkywhte glass shade Is the BEST as 1t distributes
the light aud has grateful effect on the eye. The
burner should be close TO the head as eonges-
tions OF the forehead and headaches result from
the radated The glass plate below the gas en-
poyed in some places is especially useful for the puT-
pose as 1t causes equal distribution OF the ghtne-
cessary where number working OF one burner-pre-
vents the radiation Ofheat and tends to steady illuni
nation by shielding the flames from currents OF ar In
cases highly iuImed eyes, dark blue globes can be
very benefcally employed. With precautions OF this
evil effects from the burning OF gas need DC