, 1880-12-03
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

On the slopes of Amethyst mountain,
in the Yellowstone Park, are exposed at
different levels large number of silici-
fed trees, many being rooted in the posi-
tion in which they grew, and from
twenty to thirty feet in height. Some
living down are Of immense size. The
series of sandstones and conglomerates
! in which the trees are imbedded Is more
than five thousand feet thick, forming o
vertical mile of fossil forests. The
woody structure is well preserved.
Where cavities have been formed by the
wood they are filled with crystals Of
amethyst and quartz, $500
With a new "radiograph' for record
ing the intensity of the suns radiation,
Mr.. ID. Winstanley has observed curl
Gus thermal twilight" The instrument
shows II rise in the temperature before
sunrise, owing to solar radiation. A
more remarkable circumstance, how
ever, is that fall of temperature being
indicated a little after sunset, the index
mysteriously rises just before midnight
and sinks again, although the sun is
then directly over the opposite hemi-
sphere.
The heat of the springs of Chaudes-
Aigues, which reaches about one hundred
and eighty degrees Fahrenheit, is used
by the inhabitants for purposes of cook
ing and heating their dwellings. M.
Berthier has estimated that the heat fur
nished daily by these springs equals that
produced by the combustion of more
than four and half tons of coal, and it
is sufficient to comfortably warm the
houses of the village, and even the streets
throughout the winter season.
1t is said that ndulterated sugar may
be detected by very simple little test
A little pure sugar is taken in the mouth
and when dissolved is replaced by lit
tie of the suspected article. If the latter
contains starch, glucose or chloride of
tin, o distinctly bitter taste will be pres
ent.
Statistics OF English morality show
that during the last thirty years more
women have reached the age of seventy
five or eighty years than men. The latter
suffer more from lung, heart and kidney
diseases, which have of late been on the
increase in England.
A few years ago astronomers witnessed
two remarkable appearances. In 1866
tenth magnitude star in the constellation
of the North Grown suddenly shone as a
second magnitude, and in 1876 O new
star became visible in the constellation
OF Cygnus, subsequently fading SO as to
be only perceptible by means of tel
escope. Like all others, these stars are
doubtless great suns, glowing with in
tense heat and constantly convulsed by
the most prodigious internal commotion.
Proctor, in his latest work, considers the
effect Of change in our own sun such
as was witnessed in the case of each of
these two stars. The star in the North
ern Crown shone with more than eight
hundred times its former lustre; while
the star in Cyngus became, perhaps,
thousands of times as brilliant as before.
Now, if our sun were to increase eveu
ten fold in brightness, all the higher
forms of animal life and nearly all forms
of vegetable life on the earth would un-
questionably be destroyed.
In Chan terpentine, rare and much
adulterated product, DR.. John Clay, OF
Birmingham, England, believes he has
discovereda specific for cancer. By its aid
he claims to have cured several severe
caSeS WlbnOuu Tesor1 w shlBio@A oPSi"
tions,
II is estimated that about 500 900, ,0O0,
900 tons of sediment are yearly carried
to the Gulf of Mexico by the Mississippi
river.
Common Sense" says Prof. Huxley,
sis science exactly so far as it fultlls the
ideal of common sense, that is, sees facts
as they are, or any at rate without the
distortion of prejudice, and reasons from
them in accordance with the dictates OF
sound Judgment. And science is simply
common sense at its best 4; that Is rig
idly accurate in observation, and mercl-
less to fallacy in logic"
Experiments with the solar engine are
yet being made by M. Mouchot In AL
geriu. With concave mirror twelve feet
in diameter he concentrates the heat OF
the sun upo :. small boiler, within
which he obtains steam pressure OF
about one hundred and twenty pounds
in an hours time. In the preparation OF
chemicals he makes q practical use OF the
heat from the boiler.
Increased attention to the laws OF
health has considerably reduced the
death rate in London during recent
years The chief sanitary evil of the
metropolis now is an impure water sup
ply, to secure immunity from which the
health authorities are striving.
A German physician asserts that rail-
way employees are more liable to atfec-
tions of the spinal cord than other men.
Insects, although having no voice,
possess the power of occasioning sounds
by certain movements which to some ex-
tent are characteristics of the various
specie. The shrill trumpet sound of the
mosquito and the busy hum of bees and
flies are produced by the rapid motion of
the wings while flying. The harsh shrek
of the grasshopper is caused by the tric-
a., &c a. -, !, ,c,, :, ,,o;,,eE tho u,inoS The