The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-02-10
solNTILLArIoNs OF SCIENCE.

| The Nature says that the ascent of
Mount Hecla was made last summer by
Miss Tn; Petqrsson, daughter Of the
Bishop Of Reykjavik, for the purpose of
geological Investigation. Her report Of
the condition of the larger craters indi-
Gated that an eruption on, a grand scale
was impending.
| :, Mr.. @. A. Ashburner is the authority
for the statement that since the diseov-
cry of petroleum by Col. Drake, in 1859,
Pennsylvania had produced up to the
end of 1879 not less than 188,262,6S9
barrels Of crude oil, valued at $340, 709,-
672s His theory of the origin of the oil
is that the oil sands are the mere reser-
voirs which contain the product of the
decomposition of vegetable and animal
life of the Devonian epoch.
| Mr.. James Croll concludes That "the
true temperature of the sun ID not very
different from its effective temperature,
Land that it is not much less than 10000
|if we only consider the absorption Of the
terrestrial atmosphere nor much more
than 10000 if we take into considera-,
tion the absorption by the solar atmos-
|phere, estimating the latter at 88.l0O Of
the total radiation Of the sum-" M
/ As the color of indigo ii really a
Tgreenish Blue when it is used as d pig
ment or in a solution, and as the color Of
the dry cake Is not only very black, but
variable, according to the mode in which
| ii is handled, Prof. O. N. Rood thinks it
desirable to let "indigo" fall into disuse
in designating color of the spectrum,
and to. substitute "ultramarine" for it,
the color Of the artificial variety being
| intended. ..-
/ A new foot-warmer has been intro
duced for public comfort in cabs and
O her vehicles in France. A sheet.ifon
box is used with d sliding drawer, over
which the air, which il admitted at one
end, may pass before 1t escapes at holes
in the other end. Into this drawer bri-
quette of pure compressed carbon raised
to a red heat is placed, and it continues
to burn there. without giving forth any
disagreeable odor, for about fourtee n
hours.
This bath for plating various metals
with platinum has received the approval
of Professor Boettger: Freshly precipi-
tated ammonia platinum chloride is
treated at the boiling point with con-
centrated aqueous solution of citrate of
soda. The result is an orange-colored
solution of slightly acid reaction and
rich in platinum. The decomposition of
this bath by the current from two OF
three Bunsen cells produces a uniform
and lustrous layer Of platinum.
DIR. II. J. Provost has found that rain
removes much more matter from an tln-
cropped than from cropped soil. He
placed three inches Of soil in two glazed
earthenware pans, seventeen inches In
diameter. Four gratnmes Of white clover
seed were sown in one Of the pans, and
the other was left without any stimulus
to vegetation. Both pans were exposed
from IDLY 21st ts October 4th, and then
the drainage-water was collected and
analysed, with results which warranted
the above conclusion.
In order to perform an amount OF me-
chanical work equal to lifting 140 pounds
10000 feet high, Prof. Graham calculates
| that man must eat five pounds Of po-
tatoes, one and third pounds -four, two
and third pounds bread, one and a
quarter pounds oatmeal enc and a third
pounds rice, three and half pounds
lean beef, half a pound beef Eat or one
and fifth pounds Cheshire cheese. He
says that the peasants Of all countries
have been right in spite Of many scien-
tific assertions that they were wrong in
their instructive habit Of adding fat rath-
er than nitrogenous food to their diet
when undergoing hard work.
The introduction of American rnachin.
cry by the shears manufacturers Of Shef-
field, England is causing dismay to the
operatives, who were but lately the most
arrogant Of strikers. At late meeting
of the trade society they offered the en-
ployers reduction of 10 per cent. upor
the best handmade shears and Of 10 per
cent. on all other grades Of handmade
shears. But the manufacturers can moi
now recede. They have found American
> competition driving them out of theil
own home market, besides easily divert
, ing foreign trade. They must keep ur
with the times Or abandon their bust
. ness The forging machines have ex
ceeded the most sanguine expectations
and have dispelled the most inveterate
doubts, and the su ,cess Of the grinding
machines is equally unquestionable.
The Journal of the Society of Arts re.
parts that the destruction of vines by the
phylloxera has turned the attention oi
French producers to the manufacture oi
} beer, but the expense of hops has proved
{ serious obstacle. A substitute has
however, been found in the shrubby tire
foil Of three-leaved Ptelea. A beer made
by means of it was found to be identical
in favor with thatof the best beer made
. with hops. The plant is a hardy North
American shrub, which can be grown
with success in France, in almost any
, situation or soil. The fruit or seed re
8 sembles that of the elm, and emits al
aromatic odor when pressed or rubbed
. The feed, which has strong, bitter, aro
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