Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-06-24
Reported for me Grant County HERALD.
Popular Science Notes,

10 convey the Howgate colony to the
Arctic regions, Clyde built steamer
of $50 tons, started on its hazardous
Journey June 10th. Some forty per.
sons were on the vessel, consisting
of United States officers, astrono.
mers. naturalists, artists and enlisted
men as working party. The steam
er had recently been overhauled and
specially strengthened for the SER
vice and was loaded with two
years. supply of provisions notwith-
standing the party expects to make
the voyage in six months. The re-
suits of this voyage will be awaited
with considerable interest.
Making use particularly of certain
annual death rates which have been
kept in Sweden since 1774, DIR. Ar
thur Ransome, an eminent physi-
clan of Manchester, finds in them,
internal evidence OF accuracy in the
characteristic peculiarities of the
course of each disease" and holds
that "they bear ample witness to the
fact of the regular succession of cpl
denies in distinct cyclical periods"
His past predictions of Epidemic
Cycles, of various diseases, it is said,
have subsequently been very gener-
ally verified thus adding much
strength to his theory.
4 dilute solution of fannie acid is
pronounced an excellent test for or
ganic impurities 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 wat
er. If the water is impure, and con-
tains organic matter,a Tellicle orscum
will rapidly form. In every sample
of water where this scum is formed,
or where fungoid growth occurs
soon after the addition of the tannin
solution, it is a sure evidence that or
ganic matter is present.
Scientists who have been engaged
for some time in making obsery ations
and comparing calculations have de-
termined the height at which the
Aurora Borealis has its greatest
brilliancy to be about 3s miles. AT
that height its brilliancy would be
plainly visible a distance of 600
miles. Not all displays of the north.
ern lights are of this height, however,
but will vary from few thousand
feet to one hundred miles.
A singular effect in photography
has been produced by Paris artist
A negative is taken of person with
both eyes open, and without moving
position of sitter, another negative is
taken with both eyes closed. Thin
or transparent paper is used and one
of these is printed on each side ii
such a manner that when held before
light but one picture can be seen
By alternately Illuminating the two
sides with light, winking portrait
is shown, producing singular spec
tacle.
A singular epidemic and one thai
is battling the skill of physicians, is
reported as having broken out in the
Ursaline Convent, famous Catholic
institution, in Brown county, Ohio
The disease is that known as St. vi
tus dance. Over twenty of the pu
pills and dozen of the sisters had
been attacked at last accounts, with
this strange and unaccountable dis
ease which had grown to be an cpl
demic, causing the schools to be
closed to prevent its spread. But one
fatal case has been reported.
An eleven year old boy named
Jacques mandy, who can neither
read nor write, is astonishing the
people of France with marvellous fac
ulty OF reckoning. His calculating
power Is wonderful and it is said
will rival that of Mondeaux, Buxton
or Colbufn, of that class.
Excavations at Pompeii are il
progress and it has been estimated
that it will require 70 years Of time
and the expenditure of at least one
million dollars to complete the work
A submarine volcanic eruption re-
Gently took place and lasted about
an hour near Corsica. The sea was
tossed to and fro at a furious rate
and great volumes of sulphurous
smoke belched forth from the bowels
of the ocean, presenting a grand but
frlghtful appearance,
A dispatch of eleven words was
recently transmitted from London
England, to New York City, over
the cable telegraph line in % Sec
onds. Pretty rapid travelling that
even for lightning.
An air pump passing down to a
diving bell, at Gale Harbor, n. S..
vas struck by lightning few days
since. The diver who was at the
time in the bell, a considerable dis
lance down in the water, was badly
though not fatally injured by the
electric current.
Practical experience has demon
strated the fact that sponges may be
artificially grown, and the Austrian
government has already adopted the
system by planting large quantities
along the coasts. Small pieces are
fastened to a pile and sunk into the
sea, and are not long in developing
into perfect sponges.
A newly invented machine Just
put into use at Pittsburg, Pa, turns
out over two hundred kegs of rail.
road spikes per day, each keg con-
tanning one hundred and City pounds,
or thirteen kegs to the ton.
The inaugural address at the open
ing of the Science College, at Bir-
mingham, on October /, will be de.
livercd by Professor Huxley.
Two elegant locomotives were re.
Gently manufactured at Pittsburg,
Pa, for the Paronai railway, in ia.
pan.