The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-07-03
Compiled for the CARBON ADVOCATE.
POPULAR SCIENCE NOTES.

Compiled for the CARBON ADVOCATE.
POPULAR SCIENCE NOTES.
The "Gulrare," the chosen vessel to
convey the Howgate colony to the Arctic
regions, Clyde built steamer of 2SO tons,
started on its hazardous journey June 10th.
Some sixty persons were on board the ves-
sell, consisting of United States officers, as
tronomers, naturalists, artists, and enlisted |
men as working party. The steamer had
recently been overhauled and specially |
strengthened for the service and was loaded |
with two years supply of provisions, not
wthstanding the party expects to make the
VOYAGE in six months The result of this
voyage will be awaited with considerable
interest.
Making use particularly Of certain an
nual death rates which have keen kept in
Sweden since IVA, DR.. Arthur Ransome,
an eminent physician of Manchester, finds
in them "internal evidence of accuracy in
the characteristic peculiNrties of the
course of each disease" and holds that
"they bear ample witness to the fact of the
regular succession of epedemics in distinct
cycical periods" His past predictions ol
epidemic cycles, of various diseases, it is
said, have subsequently been very general
ly verified, thus adding much strength to
his theory.
A dilute solution of tannic acid rs pro
nounced an excellent test for organic i'm
purities in water. The test solution should
contain FIVE per cent. of tannin, and five
parts of it should be added to one hundred
of the water, If the water is impure, and
contains organic matter, a pellicle or scum
will rapidly form. In every sample Of wa
ter where this scum is formed, or where
fungoid growth occurs soon after the addi
ton of the tannin solution, it 's a sure evl
dence that organic matter is present.
Excavations at Pompeii are in progress,
and it has been estimated that it will re.
quire 20 years of time and the expenditure
of at least one million dollars to complete
the work.
: "A submarine volcanic eruption recent
ly took place and lasted about an hour near
Corsica. The sea was tossed to and fro at a
furious rate and great volumes of sulphur
; Gus smoke belched forth from the bowels OF
the ocean presenting grand but frghtlul
| appearance.
"A dispatch Of eleven words was recent
ly transmitted from London, England, To
New York City, over the cable.telegraph
e line in 2j seconds. Pretty rapid travelling
that, even for lightning.
/ Two elegant locomotives were recently
Il manufactured at Pittsburg, Pa, for the
d Paronai Railway, in Japan.
a An air pump passing down to a diving
y bell, at Gale Harbor, n. S., was struck by
+ lighting, few days since. The diver VIII,
= was at the time in the bell, consderabl,
c distance down in the water, was badly
is though not fatally injured by the electro
+ currents.
~ Practical experience has demonstrate
,e the fact that sponges may be artifcially
grown, and tie Austrian government ha
Il already adopted the system by planting
a. large quantities along the coasts Smal
,e pieces are fastened to pile and sunk int
/ the sea, and are not long in developing int
. perfect sponges.
e. A newly invented machine just put int
use at Pittsburg, Pa, turns out over tw
n hundred kegs of railroad spikes FER day
" each keg containing one hundred and fit
as pounds, or thirteen kegs to the ton.
~ ~ Scientists who have been engaged fo
G. some time in making observations and CON
i pairing calculations have determined tn
S height at which the Aurora borealis has il
- greatest brilliancy to be about 3S miles. A
ne that height, its brilliancy would be plainl
IS, visible distance of 600 miles. Not all di
ls plays Of the northern lights are ofthis heigl
'ts however, but will vary from few thousan
lis feet to one hundred miles.
:. a singular effect in photography has bee
he produced by Paris artist. A negative
Is- taken of person with both eyes open, an
ss' without moving position of the sitter, r,anolht
w negative is taken with both eyes close,
n Thin or transparent paper is used and OF
Of these is printed on each side in such
~ manner that when held before light b,
one picture can be seen. By alternately
he Eliminating the two sides with a light,
nd winking portrait is shown, producing
'S' singular spectacle.
ry "A singular epidemic, and one that
tic battling the skill of physicians, is report,
* as having broken out in the Ursaline Co
~. vent, famous Catholic institutions Brow
,on county, Ohio. The disease is that know
in as st. Vitus dance. Over twenty of the p
iile pills and dozen of the Sisters had been
tackled at last accounts with this strau
and unaccountable disease which had grow
in to be an epidemic, causing the schools TO
nd closed to prevent its spread. But one fat
pes case has been reported.
, 10 An eleven year old boy named Jacqu
id mandy, who can neither read nor write
ave astonishing the people of France with
81 marvellous faculty of reckoning. His ealC
lating power is wonderful and it is said W
rival that of Mondeaux, Buxton or Colbu
the OF that class.