Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-04-26


we should become more manysided, less
fantastical, and should enjoy a healthier
old age. Those people who turn their
faces against rational amusement had
better blot out the sunshine and strip
the earth of its flowers. Recreation is
essential to perfect health and happiness.
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.
Some remarkable facts are being elic-
tied by the investigations of naturalists
in Borneo. In the stems of certain plants
found there, galleries are tunneled by
species of ant, and it is asserted on the
authority Of Beccare that the presence
Of the ants is actually essential to the
existence of of the plants, for unless at
tackled by the insects when young the
plants soon die.
The suns radiation is not without
influence on the comfort of the occu-
pants of house, and the influence may
be very differently felt, according to the
exposure of houses. In a building un-
affected by any shade Herr Vogt re-
Gently made series of experiments to
determine the relative amount of the
suns heat daily entering the different
sides. He obtained the surprising re-
suit that more heat enters building
through the east and west walls than
through the wall facing directly south,
although the south side is exposed to
the direct action Of the suns rays near
| ly twice as long as either of the others.
A considerably greater quantity of heat
is received by the east than by the west
| side.
The st. Gothard tunnel furnishes
another striking example of accurate
surveying. Although the entire length
of the tunnel is nine and quarter miles,
the two galleries were bored with such
precision that they met with a difference
of only four inches in level and later
al deviation of less than eight inches.
The extensive studies of DIR. Decaisne
have proven to him conclusively that
immoderate smoking of tobacco produces
in certain subjects-especially in women
and children-an irregular action of the
heart, which quickly disappears when
the cause is removed
In cases of suspended animation, or
asphyxia, life should not be too soon
given up. Discussing premature bu-
rials, in recent communication to the
French Academy. Prof Fort states that
he was enabled to restore to life child
three years old by practising artificial
respiration on it four hours, commenc-
ing three hours and half after apparent
death. In another case which came un-
der his observation, physician restored
nearly drowned person after four hours
of artificial respiration. This person
had been in the water ten minutes, and
the physician arrived one hour after
asphyxia.
Fish Commissioner Green notes Gu
rious instance of insect strategy. One
day he observed mud wasp alight neal
spiders nest. Creeping cautiously
around toward the entrance to the nest
the wasp stopped little short of it. ant
for moment remained perfectly quiet
Then reaching out one of his antennae
he wriggled it before the opening ant
withdrew it. This overture produced
the desired effect, for large spide
quickly ran out to investigate the caus
of the disturbance. AS the spide
reached the most favorable point for at
tack, the wasp quickly sprang forwart
and dispatched his foe with a singl
thrust of his sting. The wasp then re
peated his feint until apparently salts
fed that his assault would be met wit
no further opposition, when he entere
the nest and slaughtered the young sp
ders, which be afterwards carrie
away.
A Dundee diver has attached a telt
phone to his helmet and tested it durin
submarine operations with very satisfa'
tory results.
II With the talenhone writing talepran