The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1880-01-31

III january u Il ueEF0es DeiON zofo, anu
where the severest cold exceeds by 10
degrees that experienced in high arctic
regions. This is also the region Of the
highest barometric pressure known in
winter; and from it, doubtless, proceed
the waves Of intense cold which play 80
large part in our winter experiences.
-Abb6 Moigno regrets the selection, as
the unit Of metric measurement, of the
ten miIlionth of u lneridinal quadrant, as
the meridians vary in length and the
unit must be an uncertain standard. AS
better standard he proposes the cubit
of the Great Pyramid, which represents
the ten millionth Of the earth's polar
axis. Sir John Herschel made this same
suggestion nearly thirty years ago.
Experts in meteorology describe all
storms as rotary, and caused by the meet
ing of opposite currents Of air of differ
ent temperatures having q local motion
around constantly advancing centre
North Of the equator this motion is al
most universally from right to left; in
the southern hemisphere the rule is re-
versed. Ninety per cent. of the lorna
does noted in the United States in the
last eighty years have pursued general
eastward course, with greater or less
DETECTION to the north.
Prof Grisebach has left to the Uni
versity of Gottingen a magnificent her
barium, containing over 10000 plants
from all parts of the world.
An eminent English astronomer esti-
mates the sums orbit to be about 2,912,
900, 600, 900 miles in diameter, with a pc
Rod of revolution equal to about 2,46O:-
600 of our years. This is IL mere specu-
lation, however, based on very uncertain
data.
DIR. G. Wilks described, at recent
meeting Of the London Clinical Society,
a remarkable case Of lightning stroke.
A farm laborer was struck by lightning
while standing under a willow tree, near
the window of shed in which his three
fellow workmen had just taken shelter
from violent storm Of rain. His com
panions found the tree partly denuded
of its bark, and the PATIENTS boots stand
ing at it's foot. The patient himself was
lying on his back two yards off, and,
though he was previously fully clothed,
he was now absolutely naked. He was
conscious, but much burned, and his leg
was badly broken. The field around was
strewn with fragments Of the clothing.
The clothes were split or torn from top
to bottom, but showed evidence of fire
only where they came in contact with
metal, such as his watch and the buckle
Of his waist-belt. The left boot was torn
and twisted into fantastic shapes, but
the sole was uninjured, and there was
no sign of fire upon it; the right boot
had the leather much torn and the sole
rent and burned. A hole was burned
through the case Of the watch, and the
chain was almost entirely destroyed.
The stockings were split down the inner
side. The hat was uninjured. The pa
tient stated that he was struck violently
OH tho chest and shoulders, became en-
yeloped in q binding light, and was
hurled into the air, coming down on his
back, and never losing consciousness.
His body was covered with burns,
broad crimson band Of burning passing
down each thigh and log Twenty weeks
after the occurrence he was discharged
completely healed. DIR. Wilks remarked
on the almost complete exemption from
injury Of the nervous system and on the
probability that the clothes being wet
acted as good conductors, and 50 diverted
the electric current from the great ner-
vous trunks, thus saving the mans life.
A dangerous and infectious disease
among bees is reported from Italy. 1t is
caused by microscopic fungus. and
spreads very rapidly.
Forks have lately been found in the
debris of ancient lake dwellings-proving
their use in a crude form in prehistoric
times. The relies found were of bone.
and rudely fashioned, although little
doubt exists as to the purpose for which
the implements We're designed.