The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-04-03
SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL.

DR.. Wynne proposes the introduce
ton of an automatic switch in tele-
phonic circuit, so that any one in con-
nection with telephone exchange
may communicate with any other per-
son, similarly connected, without the
Intervention of an assistant at the GEN.
trail Office.
"A small crater is stated to have ap-
peared near Palermo, on the west side
of Etna; and the other craters are again
issuing a saltish- oily fluid, which has
formed small lake and is injuring the
neighboring fields. Numerous slight
shocks of earthquake have also been
felt to the north-northeast and south
southwest of Etna; jets of steam have
issued from the new craters, and steam,
mixed with ashes, from the central one.
j. F. Everhart has in his possession
what may be called hieroglyphical
stone, taken from mound built by the
Mound Builders at Brush Greek, Mus
kingum County, Ohio. Its dimensions
are: Length, 124 inches; width, III
inches; thickness, four inches. The
material is red sandstone. The HER
oglyphics are in in two parallel col
umns, and the owner is anxious to have
them deciphered.
Preparations of the hemp plant,
when taken in excess, produce singu-
lar effect upon the mind. Under the
influence OF large doses of hemp men
lose all sense of fear, and it is often
taken by the Indian sepoy before he
goes into action. On account of this
property, the Afghans are reported to
have used it freely in their recent war
with the English, and the fierce on
slaughts of small parties on the foreign
soldiery are attributed 70 this cause.
General Ruggles, of Virginia.
thinks he can control the elements by
the aid Of an appropriation" He
claims that the diffused mists passing
over wide regions or localities suffering
from unusual drought may be readily
consolidated into rainfalls by concus-
sions and vibrations artifcially pro-
duced. The method contemplated by
General Ruggles' patent is to send into
the clouds skeleton balloons filled with
cartridges of dynamite or smaller ex-
plosive materials, and to explode the
contents by magnetic electricity through
light metallic wires connecting the
balloon with the earth.
Major Sharrat says that the pre-
vailing ignorance of the proper way to
burn illuminating gas results in great
injury to health and comfort as well as
in heavy pecuniary loss. He estimates
that of all the gas which passes through
a meter, from thirty to fifty per cent. is
wasted. The principal causes of this
enormous waste are bad burners, ex-
cessive pressure, and unsuitable ar
rangements of gas globes and fittings.
To insure the best results with the
greatest economy it is essential to burn
gas under low or very moderate pres
sure, with the aid of good burners and
efficient regulators.
Nothing has been seen yet at the
north of the great comet observed by
DR.. Gould in South America, and an
nounced by him as passing the sun
northward. And it seems as if the
great unknown had thought better of
the proposed visit. A second dispatch
from Dr.. Gould, received by Professor
Peters at kiel day after the first one,
moving southwark. Both statements,
says Mature, may possibly be correct
for the times to which they refer, as
the case may be similar to that OF the
great comet of 1S43, which swept
around the sun with a velocity of $50
miles per second, and almost grazing
his surface passed from ascending to
descending node in two and a quarter
hours.
Professor Riley states that the
phylloxera has established itself in
California, in the Sonoma Valley, and
destroyed hundreds of acres of vines in
the most important wine district in the
State. The insect appears to have I'M
dergone considerable change in habit,
which modification very much limits its
destructiveness. 1t is steadily spread
ing from infected centres, but very
slowly indeed, compared to its spread
in France. Prof. E. W. Hilgard be-
lieves this to be due to the non-appear-
ance of the winged female, as he has
not been able to obtain it. No one
seems able in this valley to give any
suggestion as to how the pest may be
SoOoOoSAuAlJ AouS ub' GFCIy FdlI0Uy VI
vine planted in the valley has been at
tackled, and partly or wholly destroyed.
The Journal of Science reports that
Herr Faber, lately exhibited his new
speaking machine before the Physical
Society, London. 1t is designed to i'm
itate mechanically the utterance of the
human voice by means CT artificial or
gans of articulation made on the human
model, and it is worked by keys like q
musical instrument. A bellows made
of wood and india rubber serves for
lungs. A small windmill is placed in
front of the bellows to give triAing
sounds. The larynx is made of single
membrane of hippopotamus hide and
india rubber. A mouth with two lips,
tongue, and an india rubber nose
complete the organs of the apparatus.
Fourteen distinct sounds were uttered
by it, and by combining these any word
in any language can be pronounced.
Laughing and whispering were also
produced, and the pitch was raised or
depressed at pleasure.