Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-07-25
Science.

SClcuCCs
As q contribution to the discussion
concerning intellect in brutes. Mr.. J. J.
Furniss has sent Mature some facts in
regard to tame elephants, which he
learned from the Superintendent Of the
Central Park menagerie. 1t seems that
the elephants in that collection frequent
ly thatch their backs with hay or grass,
when they are outdoors in the hot sun
shine. or even when they are particu-
larly annoyed with flies indoors, in
summer; but in winter they never try
to protect themselves in this way. The
act is one which indicates an intelligent
effort to attain a given end. 1t would
be interesting to know whether the
habit Of thus thatching their backs is
practiced by elephants in the wild state.
The writer is inclined to think that the
accessibility Of dense shade under such
conditions would render it unnecessary :
and if so the practice has probably been
developed by the requirements OF cap
tivity.
A good deal of solicitude is expressed
in Scotland lest the salmon disease, first
publicly noticed as widely prevalent
last year, should extend to all the rivers
of the country. Sir Robert Christison,
Bart, describes the disease as "a
branching fungus which attaches itself
in the first instance to those parts of
the fish which are destitute OF scales"
The irritation thus produced causes the
fish to rub lie scales of against the sand
and gravel, in doing which great cuts
and gashes are inflicted, leading to
death by exhaustion. Carefully con-
Quoted inquiry has failed to reveal the
cause of this epidemic, which last year
killed multitHdes of salmon and seems
no less destructive this year. There is
no longer any disposition to attribute it
to town sewage, as experts agree that the
influence of all the refuse that goes into
the rivers is inadequate to account for
it.
Captain s. r. Franklin, of the United
States Navy, defends the late Admiral
Wilkes from the imputation of inaccura-
cy in his charts of the South Pacific
islands. The charge, to which we re.
ferred some time ago, was that he had
laid down several positions in the
Samoan and Fiji groups enormously.
Captain Franklin, however, shows that
the maps of the Wilkes expedition are
more accurately constructed than those
of much more recent surveys, that they
differ very little from absolute correct
ness, and that they are almost exclusive.
~ used by navigators in Samoan waters
with perfect safety. He adds that the
expedition which Wilkes commanded
was sent out to explore rather than to
survey, and it is to be commended for
coming so near the truth, in view Of the
crude appliances at the disposal of the
officers.
The extensive fossil forests which oc-
cur in the tertiary formations of the
Yellowstone National Park, have been
described by Mr.. ". Fl. Holmes, in the
Bulletin OF the United States Geological
and Geographical Survey. In the vol
canic deposits of this region silicifed
trees are met with in an extraordinary
abundance, standing out on one ledge,
according to Mr.. Holmes, like the
columns of ruined temple. Many OF
the trunks are fallen, while many others
remain in the position in which they
grew. They vary from six to ten feet in
diameter, and from thirty to sixty feet
in height or length. The leaves and
stems found have been sufficiently
numerous and well-preserved to permit
the Identification of number of
species.
The suggestion is made by Mr.. w. F.
Kirby, assistant naturalist in the Dub
lin Museum of Science and Art, that
the plague in Russia may be form of
the disease known as malignant pustule.
Among the Russians, the idea is widely
prevalent that the malady is conveyed
from person to person by flies. Mr..
Kirby says there was quite panic
in Germany four or Eve years ago,
during the summer, by reason of the
numerous deaths caused by the bites Of
flies, or at least attributed to that source.
1t was supposed that the flies carried the
infection from deer, cattle and other
animals afflicted with q peculiar disease
of the blood. The bite was followed by
fatal Inflammation in most cases where
it produced any effect at all.
The msen is recently discovered in
sect, belonging to the same genus as the
cochineal, which occurs abundantly in
Yucatan and Central America, and which
promises to be OF considerable CONNER
cial value. 1t yields fatty oil, which
is used in painting and incidentally for
external applications. From this oil a
wax.like substance, useful as varnish,
can be made, and still further treatment
produces O cement resembling q solu-
ton of India-rubber, which is described
as waterproof. The color of the insect
is yellowish brown.
A surgeon on one of the .Peninsular
and Oriental Company's steamships,
running from Europe to Bombay, an
nounces that he has met with great sue
cess in the treatment of sea-sickness by
nitrate of amyl. The dose was three
drops inhaled from a handkerchief or
piece of lint. In every case the relief
was decided, and on one day OF the
voyage mentioned he had occasion to
administer it in twelve cases. In no
instance were any ill effects observable.
We believe that the effect of this medi-
cine, however, has not always been
found so satisfactory in sea sickness.