Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-04-05

higher at Cronstadt than at Reval, and
that the height decreases regularly from
north t. 'outh. This conclusion is full
ly sup Il by Prussian measurements
at the 81 and at Kiel.
The electric light is not without its
dangers. Some time ago bit of red
hot carbon dropped from one of the
lamps of the British Museum to table
usually occupied by readers; and rep
etition of the accident few days later
set fire to some loose paper on table in
the same room. 1t is conceivable that "a
single spark might do irretrieyable dam
age to some unique manuscript or other
literary treasure. To intercept such
stray pieces of carbon as may fall in the
future, transparent saucers have been
hung under the lamps of the reading
room; and it has even been proposed to
ensue greater security by lighting the
room from the outside.
While it has long been known that
fishes return each year to about the
same place to spawn, recent observations
of their habits show that they go up the
left hand side of the stream and come
down on the opposite side.
In recent lecture in London, Prof
Graham advised all who must smoke to
do SO on the German plan-that is,
without expectoration. This becomes
easy when the tobacco used is thorough
ly dried, as then only comparatively
small quantity of creosote and the tarry
products of combustion collect in the
mouth. Saliva performs an important
part in digestive processes, and its sup
ply should be husbanded.
Herr Fischer thinks the extensive
planting of forests in the countries of
North Africa would prove much more
effectual in restoring those desert regions
to their ancient fertility than the pro-
posed inland sea in Algeria.
at is singular says Mr.. Proctor,
show strongly some errors retain their
hold on mems minds. When Nader
announced his belief that Alcyone, the
chief star of the Pleiades, is the central
star of the universe, mems minds were
attracted by the thought that the stellar
system, like the solar system, revolves
around centre. Yet astronomers know
perfectly we'll that the evidence on which
Madler based his theory was exceedingly
feeble. = 81 y I believe
that no astronomer of repute would now
venture to maintain the theory that Al
cyone is the central sun of the stellar
system; while scarce any, if any would
maintain that there is any central sun
at all. Yet find that not only is the
belief still widely spread among thegen-
: eral public that Alcyone is the central
sun, but that this theory excites far
more interest than most of the real dis
coveries, interesting though they are,
which have been made during the last
half-century.
The researches of DR.. Bollinger show
that the milk of cows suffering from tu-
bercular disease may communicate the
' affection to human beings. AS FIVE per
cent of COWS advanced in life suffer from
this disease, the doctor believes the dan
ger to be considerable. Boiling the
milk is not safeguard.
DR.. C. W. Siemens finds by expert
ment that the electric light and sunlight
produce practically the same offect upon
J plant-growth. He shows, Furthermore,
that remarkable increase of growth
may be effected by exposing plants
growing in daylight to the additional
actinic energy of the electric light at
night-his experiments and inves-
LEGATIONS seeming to indicate that plants
! require no period of rest during the
twenty-four hours Of the day. The heat
radiated from powerful electric arcs can
be turned to account as protection
against night frosts. Electricity may be
produced at moderate expense where
waterfalls are available as motive power,
and it may prove valuable ally to fu-
ture horticulturists
: Mr.. Hannay's diamonds are produced
, by the freeing of carbon from a hydro
! carbon-by means of the affinity
, of the hydrogen for certain metals at a
' high temperature-in presence of a
: stable nitrogen compound, under the con-
ditions of red heat and great pressure.
!. The action of the nitrogen compound
+ causes the carbon to crystalline. The
q pressure required is enormous, and forms
: the great difficulty of manufacturing
9 carbon crystals by this process. Tubes
. constructed Cd the gun-barrel principle,
: of only half an inch bore and an exter-
. nal diameter of four inches, are torn
. open in nine cases out of ten.
> Mount Vesuvius is troubled with erup-
.