The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-01-30
SCIENTIFIC NOTES.

Prepared Expressly for the EHPoRIA NEWS.
Prof Grisebach has left to the univcr-
sity of Gottingen a magnificent herba::
rum containing over 10000 plants from
all parts of the world. -
4 dangerous and infectious disease
among bees is reported from Italy. 1t is
caused by microscopic fungus, and
spreads very rapidly.
An eminent English astronomer esti-
mates the suns orbit to be about 2,912,-
100000, 900 miles IN diameter, with a
period of revolution equal to about p,
100000 of our years. This is IL mere
speculation, however, based on very un-
certain data.
Forks have lately been found in the
de5ris of ancient lake dwellings-prov
ing their use in crude form in prehis
toric times. The relics found were of
bone, and rudely fashioned, although
little doubt exists as to the purpose for
which the implements were designed
Experts in meteorology describe all
storms rs rotary, and caused by the
different temperatures having local
motion around constantly advancing
centre. North of the equator this motion
is almost universally from right 10 left;
i'll the southern hemisphere the rule Is
reversed. Ninety per cent. of the lorna
does noted in the United States in the
last eighty years have pursued a general
eastward course, with a greater or less
DETECTION to the north.
DIR G. Wilks described, at Il recent
IN a.-ling of the London clinical society,
| a remarkable case OF lightning stroke.
| 4 farm laborcr 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 a violent storm of rain. His COM
panions found the tree partly denuded of
its bark, and the patients boots standing
at lis foot. The Patient himself was ly-
| ing 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 waistbalt The left boot was torn
and twisted into fantastic shapes,
but the sole was uninjured,
and there was no sign of fire up
on 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 en-
tirely destroyed. The stockings were
splitdown the inner side. The hat was
uninjured. The patient stated that he
was struck violently on the chest and
shoulders, became developed in blind
ing light, and was hurled into the air,
coming down on his back, and never los
ing consciousness His body was COW
cred with burns, a broad crimson brand
of burning passing down each thigh and
leg. Twenty weeks after the occurrence
he was discharged, completely healed
Dr. Wil1s remarked on the almost com
plete exemption from injury of the ner
vous system, and on the probability thai
the clothes being wet acted as good con
ductors, and so diverted the electric cur
rent from the great nervous trunks, thu:
saving the mans life.