The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1881-10-01
Dunalosunbllle Gbief.
ws Dollars q Year
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

tam Niagara Falls if it were practicable
% n,akdspse Of it.
] Not only ate the Chinese becoming.
tsel1y interested In modern scientific
Aevelopment, but Chinese scholars are
6ntering into original research.
s1Ehas boon calculated that the intes-
Eeeesof flies md other insects contain
sod.yessels 50 minnc that two hun
dred thousand Of them placed in bundle
would only equal hair in size.
It is calculated that the amount of
force daily expended by an adult weigh
ing $50 pounds in the performance of the
ordinary work of .the body would raise
500 tons one fosf, i applied meohani-
eally. fs6.
Despite the terrible Nrce of the shock
Of the electric ccl1a power equal to fif-
cond,cylep jars-tis preyed upon by a
little parasitic fish, some two or three
b,cltcs il length, which appears utterly
obliyious Of the shock
In Japan spiders interfere considera-
bly, with the telegraphic service by spin
ming long webs from the wires to tho
trees and to the earth, which in wet
weather, become good conductors fclcc-
tricity and carry off the current. Forces
Of men have to he employed to keep the
lines clear, 80 great is this evil.
The death rate in Paris during the hot
period of July from tho 18th to the 21st
rose so per cent. The average number
of deaths per day in tho French capital
varies from II to 1875. During tho heat
it rose to 1872. There was no epidemic,
but 500 people died in Paris that week
who would havasurviycd if tho tempera-
tnrc had been normal
Gelatino- diaspon is the name given
- q new explosive, produced by NJ. An
dcrs. It is composed of wood cellulosc
and nitro glyccrinc, ia unaffected by
cold, is not sensible to blows or shocks,
and explodcs only by u sudden increase
of temperature to about 800 degrees
Fahrenheit. 1t burns quietly when ig-
pited ~ open air, and is not affected by
water.
A certain peculiar plant is known in
New South Wales IA the "shocblack
plant" The flowers contain latec pro
portion Of . mucilaginous juice, which,
forms an excellent substitute for
shoe-blacking, producing a brilliant
polish. This juice is used by Chinese
ladies for dyeing tho hair, and it is said
that in Java the aowers are really used
for blaekisg shoes.
AT tho Paris Electrical Exhibition a
great variety of relics Of the Instruments
s,sed by Gnlvani, Volta, and other pio-
neers in electrical science are shown in
clnling n magnet armed by Calico
Thoro 10 also included among the relics
mn autograph letter from Volta to Sir
Joseph Banks, which contains tho first
description Of the Voltaic battery eyer
writton by its inventor.
s. It is learned from private report
that on the southern soaboard of the Chi
ncse province Of Kwangtupg are fonnd
wild silkworms which feed on the cam
phor tree and whose silk is utilized in a
singular manner. When full grown, the
caterpillar is cut open and the silk OK
tracted in q form much resembling cat
gut. This substance is subjected to
hardening process and made into Ssh
lines.
Prot. Raoul Pctct Of Geneva is en-
gagged in working out problem in a
marine architecture, the proper solution
of which he believes will effect rcvolu-
tion in shipbuilding. His object OF study
has been the construction of keel
which shall cause the ship to glide over
THO water instead Of pushing its way
through it, The resistance of the, water
to tho passage Of vessel Is this way re-
duced to minimum. lie is now expert
menting with keel upon this principle.
Large f"g6sts Of peculiar tree called
the grease tree" are said to grow in
China, akto have been cultivated to
home exteHn in India The grease forms
the source NJ considerable local trade
1t is believed to &c very valuable as q
lubricant, and Dr. Jameson, chemist
in tho Pnnjaub, has taken measures te
have Its qualities thoroughly tested or
railway machinery especially exposed tt
friction. The grease forms an excellent
tallow, and burns with clear and bril-
liant white light without emitting any
unpleasant odor Of combustion,
Tho original source aud formation 0
coal-oil is :LprolAem which has long agi
statcd the scientific world. Among tn
many theories propounded, a recent on
by Prof Mendeljctf has attracted SOM
attention. He believes that vast reser
lors Of inorganic iron and carbon wcr
lulmcd in the interior of the earth in it
earliest stages of development. Thes
were reached in time by the water whicl
condensed on the ncwly formed land an
pcrcolatcd beneath its surface Tho hea
;lecomposcd the water. into it's ,comn>
nent acknowledgement and hydrogen
the first uniting with tho iron to torl
oxide Of iron, and the hydrogen comb
ming with the carbon to produce petre
lcum and other hydrocarbons. Vas
oceans Of petroleum must yet exist at til
centre Of the earth, if THIS theory be til
true one.