The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-12-10
For the CARBON AbvocATE;
-r,uwuau nEar naA,rE0

tof tne OAbBON AbTOCATb'
SCIENTIFIC NOTES.
Late investig igstions Of German scientists
have shown that the elestric light is not
only healthier than other methods Of illum-
ination, in leaving the air purer, but that
il increases the power Of vision in some res
pects, especially in distinguishing colors.-
Red, blue, green and yellow are much more
distinct under this light than by daylight
Two Leipsc chemists have devised a
process for obtaining sugar in permanent
ly liquid form. This result is said 10 be ef-
fected by adding to purified sugar solution
a small quantity Of citric acid, which COM
bines with the sugar and deprives it Of its
tendency to crystslize. ....s
Some experiments by M. Gautier aP.
pear TO prove that human saliva possesses,
in milder degree, the same poisonous pro-
perty as that Of scrpents. The human sali-
va injected under the skin of a bird caused
death, with symptoms very closely resemb-
ling those resulting from serpent bites.
/ "A new theory Of the so called tascina-
ton Of birds BY snakes is that the bird mis-
takes the snakes tongue, which the reptile
keeps in rapid and constant motion, for a
lively worm, and watches IL intently with
The anticipation of devouring it.
M. Pasteur has resolved To extend his
studies in vaccination To yellow fever, with
a view Of determining whether or not the
disease is due 10 parasites and can be guard
ed against by inoeulation. A broad field Of
investigation is open 10 Pasteur, as it is Sug-
gested by his discoveries thus far that all
contagious maladies may be due to parasitic
erowths. the virulence Of which may be So
reduced by his method Of inoculation as to
render this class Of diseases no longer mat
ter Of dread.
"A Neopolitan gardener, after years oi
experiment, has produced a camelia with a
delicate perfume, and he thinks il probable
that these flowers may, in the near future,
be so cultivated as to rival the rose IN the
fragrance Of its odor.
Mr.. C. Shaler Smith has given the P-
sults of extensive observations in relation
to the pressure exerted by the wind. The
most violent gale recorded by him was at
East St. Louis, in 1871, whom the wind over
turned locomotive, the force developed in
SO doing being no less than 90 pounds per
square foot. At ST. Charles jail was des-
troyed in 1877, the pressure required being
81 pounds per square foot. At Marshfield,
iu 1880, a brick mansion was levelled the
force necessary being 5s pounds per square
foot. Below these extraordinary pressures,
Mr.. Smith instances numerous cases Of trains
blown oifrals, and bridges, ETC., blown down
by gales Of "a to 81 pounds per square foot.
In all the examples the lowest force requir-
ed to do the observed damage has been taxi
en- as the maximum power Of the wind, al.
though, Ct course, it may have been higher.
Enthusiasts who make special study
of sun spots and attendant phenomena be-
leve that the cornerstone of new science
is being laid discoveries pointing to an init
mate connection between solar and terrestr-
ial meteorology. Just what the connection
is they are not yet able to clearly define, al
though electricity is suspected of being the
agent through which the effects are mani
tested upon our planet. II is known that
the gaseous envelope Of the sun is affected
by eruptions OF such prodigeous magnitude
as to be utterly beyond the power Of concep
ton, these disturbances appearing 10 us in
the form of rapidly changing spots and pro
tuberances. The eras Of the spots-or sun
storms-occur at remarkably regular inter
walls, a complete cycle Of tile various stage
Of activity from maximum to minimum anC
again to maximum being performed il
about leleven years-the so-called "sun-spo
period" The sun spot physicists claim {
coincidence Of the periods of ma ximum spot
aud years Of great atmosphere and physica
disturbance in the earth. The present ha
been year of great solar disturbances, Will
it has been marked by violent storms AM
earthquakes upon our globe. Further tina,
this, these scientists claim to have recent,
detected, by simultaneous observation, min
or atmospheric changes as the result of cor
responding movements in the sun. Man.
difficulties attend these observations, bu
the Astronomer Royal for Scotland ant
others believe that the state Of the sun will
some day become an important factor il
weather forecasts and like calculations.