St. Landry democrat., 1881-07-30
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

has been estimated that the common
house-tly moves it's wings $50 times in
second. or 1880 times per minute; while
the butterfy's wings move nine times
per second, or $40 times per minute.
II has been computed that the power
of the steam engines of England would
suffice to raise from the quarries and
place in position all the stones of the
Great Pyramid in eighteen hours.
Messrs. Galloway and Abel have
found coal-dust to be an important
factor in explosions Of the gases in
mines. A mixture of coal-dust and air
il not explosive, but quantity of fire.
damp too small to produce any effect
when mixed with air alone causes the
mixture to become violently explosive.
Prof, Abel's experiments show that any
kind of dust mixed with air containing
a small quantity of fire-damp converts
the mixture into an explosive compound.
Henceforth the telegraph officers of
France are to record in detail all thun-
der-storms which may be observed.
Experiments have been made with
compressed gunpowder, made to tit the
drill-holes and cut into short lengths.
It was found to possess many advan-
tages over loose powder, among which
isa saving of forty per cent in powder.
The evil effect of the electric light
upon the eyes is due, it is supposed, to
the constant changes in the intensity OF
the light, whereby the eyes are greatly
fatigued. Little Inconvenience of this
nature attends the use of the incandes-
cent lamps.
It is believed by many scientific men
that close connection may be traced
between the remarkable electrical phe-
nomena lately observed all over the
world and the excited condition of the
sun. AS the sun has not yet reached
the elimination of the period Of dis
turbance, it is thought that yet more
startling outbursts Of natures forces
NAV be seen ere the close of the present
summer.
Despite the boosted power and in
telligence Of human beings, many things
are doubtless familiar to lower orders Of
animals which can never be perceived
by man, while large part of the ami
NAL world may look upon things as very
different from what they appear to us.
Sir John Lubbock has just recorded
some interesting facts concerning the
effect of light upon ants. His conclu-
sions are that these insects must have a
very different perception of light and
color from what we do. We all know
that ray of white light passed through
prism becomes broken up into q
beautiful band Of colors-thee spectrum.
To our eyes it is bounded by red at one
end and violet at the other. But ray
of light contains ether rays not visible
to our eyes called, but not with absolute
correctness, heat and chemical rays.
The heat rays extend beyond our limits
of vision at the red end, and the chemi-
cal rays at the violet end of the spec
trum. Sir John undertook to determine
whether the limit Of visibility of these
rays is the same with us as with ants
and in a series Of interesting expert
ments has become convinced that they
perceive the ultraviolet rays which are
quite invisible to us. These must appear
to them as different color, Of which
we can form no idea, while white ligh
with this added component may no
appear the same to them as to us.
The labors of the chronological So
ciety of Japan have established tn
fact that there is a chronic centre o
disturbance within a radius of a few
miles from Yokohama.
DR.. Barely, of Nice, has successful!
employed turpentine vapor in the treat
ment of whooping cough. The drug i
allowed to stand in plates in the room
occupied by the patient, resort t
which simple expedient is believed t
greatly lessen the severity and duration
Of the malady. DR.. Barely was led t
q trial Of this remedy by observing
marked Improvement in the case OF
child severely affected yhO had bee
allowed to sleep in newly painted roor
Tedolent with turpentine odor.
The first complete description OF tn
two newly opened pyramids of SAX
karah, in Egypt, has been given to
Cairo institute by n. Brugsch. The
are located in the desert west Of Sax
karah. The galleries and chambers ar
covered with hieroglyphics, in whic
the two words "Merina and "Pepi
occur as royal names. M. Brugsc
showed the two pyramids to be monu
ments of the two kings, Pepi and OF hi
son Horemsaf, of the sixth dynasty 9
Manetho. The sarcophagi still stood j
their old places; but of the mummie
only one was found-that of Horemsa
deprived of it's ornaments and robe
The pyramids were evidently plundere
in ancient times. They are the earlie'
examples of royal graves in Egyl
adorned with religious hieroglyphic
It is most remarkable that the Cali
Museum contains tombstone eseete
to the memory Of Una, an official {
King Pepi's court, the inscription Q
which stone refers to the building b
Tina Of the nvramids which have No