Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-08-27
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

Psychologists are endeavorine to
organize a society for the systematic
excavation of ancient sites III Egypt.
The suggestion is made that lu-
minous paint might produce some
striking novelties in textile print
ing.
The increasing demand and fast
diminishing supply have led private
individual of Al !eria to form an es-
Enlistment for the breeding of
lions.
1t has been estimated that the
erosive action of water is reducing
the height of the North American
continent at the rate of two feet in
every seven thousand years.
Investigations lately made reveal
the fact that the number of vibrations
of tuning fork is affected by the
temperature, and that the higher the
tone of the fork the greater is the
influence of temperature.
The metric system of weights and
measures became obligatory on the
18th of July in the government of
Spain and all it's colonies. The
Turkish government has likewise Or
dered the introduction of this sys-
tenn into all its colonies.
An observer in England has found
that the depth of dew-fall in that
country seldom exceeds the hun
dredth pant of an inch during any
night of the year; while the average
annual depth of the deposit is not
more than an inch and half.
A school for the education of idiots
has been in operation in Holland for
twenty-five years, with encouraging
results. OF the total of AIT pupils
entered upon its register since 1855,
forty-three have gone directly into
service or adopted trade, while
twenty-five others have been dis
charged in a greatly improved con-
dition.
1t is we'll known that many articles
made of rubber are liable to become
dry after considerable time, and to
crack, grow brittle, and lose all
elasticity. According to q Russian
journal, this may be remedied by the
use of a simple mixture composed
of one part of aqua ammonia with
two parts of water, in which the ar
ticles should be immersed until they
resume their former elasticity,
smoothness and softness, the time
required varying from few minutes
to an hour.
In the course of inquiries as to the
phosphorescence of the sea, q Ger
man naturalist has found that the
phenomenon occurs whenever sea-
fishes are brought into three per
cent. salt solution. Tho luminosity
begins apparently in the eyes, spread
ing gradually over the body and in
creasing in intensity day by day,
until, after q considerable period,
the fish seems luminous throughout.
The phosphorescent substance is q
kind ofmucus, appearing dirty white
during the day.
An English clergyman has devised
simple means of reducing the num-
Der of deaths by drowning. In a
portion of the coat, woistcoat or
dress of any person n chemical prep
aration is inserted, which, on be-
coming wet, causes the garment to
become quickly inflated. This novel
life-preserver does not alter tho ap-
pearance of the garment, SO that it
may be constantly worn without in
convenience. A thorough test is
said to have shown that it will sus-
tain q person in the water as long as
he can possibly endure the exposure
say forth-fve or fifty hours.
Perfectly ripened seeds of differ
ent plants vary greatly in their ger
minating force. Some seeds, such
as those of angelica, coffee, ETC., must
be sown soon after they are collected;
others, like those of the China aster,
alder, birch and sycamore, rarely GER
inmate the second year; while 9th
ers retain the power for an unknown
period. Although, when kept under
the most favorable conditions, certain