The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1880-08-28

NUMBER 81.
Scientific scellally.
LIN communication to tho British
Royal Society Of Litersture, Mr.. J. W.
Relhouse combsts the generally ac-
cepted theory that tho Aryan races Of
mankind originated in the Pamir high
lands Of Central Asia, SPREADING ii 8
northwestcrly direction into Europe, and
southwesterly into India. He believes
that tho polar regions, which at one time
possessed tropical temperature, formed
the original home Of man.
--Exporiments have proved that wood
en- posts put into the ground in the same
position as that in which they grew, top
upwards, will become rotten several
years sooner than they would If placed
top downwaras In the soil. Tho theory
is that the capillary tubes in the tree are
SO adjusted as to oppose the rising moist
IRE when the wood is inverted.
1T appears from the Central Sanitary
Bureau Of Japan, just issued, that q pub
lie laboratory has been established in that
country for the analysis Of chemicals and
patent medicines. The proprietors Of all
patent medicines are bound to present
samples, together with full particulars
concerning the composition and proposed
use Of each remedy. During the year
there were no less than II ,904 applicants
for licenses to prepare aud sell lac, ,0T
patent and secret medicines. Permission
for the PREPARATION and sale Of 81, s,63s diff
ferent kinds was granted, $3.50 were pro-
hibited, 9,9ls were ordered to discon-
tinued, and 7O,gA remained still to be
reported on. Tho enforcing Of similar
restrictions in this county would nm
donbtedly prove boon to the Thousands
Of persons who are being imposed upon
by nostrum venders.
Tho mixture used by Mr.. Hannay in
tho production Of his first artificial dia-
monds consisted Of ninety per cent of
rectifiel bone-oil, ten per cent Of parafin
spirit, aud four grams Of lithium. These
substances were placed in tube four
inches in diameter, with q bore Of half an
inch, and after the open end had been So
curely welded up the tube was exposed
to red heat for fourteen hours.
Copper is widely diffused over the face
of the Garth, and man has for many ages
adapted it to his wants. It was ONE Of
the most important articles of commerce
Of the Ph~nicians, who derived large
supply from the mines Of Nubia-that ut
one time supplied the whole Of the known
world-anl combined with it the tin
obtained from the islands Of Grca. Brit
ain. It was used by some Of the north
ern nations Of Europe in the fabrication
of weapons, at period and under cir
cumstancos when steel appeared to be
more precious than gold. This has been
illustrated in Denmark by the opening OF
many Scandinavian tulnnli of very re-
mote ages, from which have been col
1ected specimens Of knives, daggers,
swords and implimonts of industry.
These relics are preserved in the mnseum
at Copenhagen. There arc tools Of vari-
ous kinds, formed Of flint or other hard
substance, in shape resembling our axes,
chisels. hammers and knives, the blades
Of which are Of gold, while an edge Of
iron is attached for tho purpose of cut
ting. Some Of these tools are formed
principally of copper, with edges Of iron;
and in many Of the implements the pro-
fuse application Of copper and gold,
when contrasted with the parsimony evil
dence in the use Of iron, seems to prove
that st that unknown period, and among
the unknown people who raised these
tumuli, gold, as weli as copper, was Q
much more common product than iron.
-Experience has shown the average
life of submarine telegraph cables TO 30
10 or II years.
Two eggs Of the extinct great aaE
were recently sold by auction in Etlin-
burg, one 41OO, and the other at 1O2
ouineas. The latter 10 probably the
largest sum ever paid for single egg,
with the exception Of that Of the anos, .
single specimen Of which was sold at the
same place in 1865 for Goo.
Among the animals inhabiting the
Caspian Sea are found several species
having well developed organs of sight.
This is taken as an Indication that even
at great depths light is not completely
absorbed, as in total darkness the eyes OF
animals are reduced to q rudimentary
form.
-Carbonic acid IN liquid form has
been found in tlie pores Of tho Ural:an
amethyst. The pressure which must
hayo been exertcd to liqncfy the car
bonic acid IL estimated at seyenty-three
atmospheres.
1T has been estimated that . single
pair of Cyclops qxadyicorais, microseo-
pic crnstaceal,, will produce progeny
numbering SOC, ,Oo0, 900 IN the course Of
six months! This IL, however, but ono
of the many marvels which the micro
scope has shown in the unseen world