The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1881-12-22
Miseellamsons.
%
For THE HEEALD.
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

Late Investigations Of German
scientists have shown that the elec-
trio light is oot only healthier than
oshe: methods of illumination in leav-
ing the air purer. but that it increases
the power of vision 10 some respects es-
pecialIy in Distinguishing colors. Red,
blue, green and yellow are much
uore distinct under this light than by
daylight.
Two Leipsie chemists have devised
a process for obtaining sugar in per
manently liquid form. This result is
said to be effected by adding to pur-
rifed sugar solution small quantity
Of citric acid, which combines with
the sugar aud deprives it Of its ten
de0cy to crystalize.
Some experiments by NJ. Gautier
appear to prove that human saliva
possesses, 10 a milder degree, the
same poisonous property as that Of
serpents. The human saliva injected
under the skin of bird caused death,
with symptoms very closely resem-
bling those resulting from serpent
bites.
a. new theory Of the so-called fas
cinatioD of birds by snakes is that
the bird mistakes the snakes tongue,
which the reptile keeps in rapid and
constant motion, for a lively worm,
and watches it intently with the an
ticipation of devouripg it.
NJ. Pasteur has resolved to extend
his studies 10 vaccination to yellow
fever, with a view of determining
whether or not the disease is due to
parasites and can be guarded agalns
By inoculation. A broad field Of iD
vestigation is open to Pasteur, as 1t Is
suggested by his discoveries thus far
that all contagious ualsdies may be
due to parasitic growths the viruleDce
Of which may be so reduced by his
method CT inoculation as to render
this class of diseases 20 longer mat
ter of dread:
A Neapolitau gardener, after years
of experiment, has produced csmella
with a delicate perfume, and he
thinks it probable that these flowers
may in the near future be SO culti.
waited as,.to rival the rose in the fra
grance of its odor. -..
Mr.. G. Shaler Smith has given the
results of extensive obervations IN re-
lation to the pressure exerted BY
the wind. The most violent gale re
corded by him was at East St.
Louis, in 1871, when the wind over
turned a locomotive, the force devel-
oped in so doing being no less than
SO pounds per square foot. At St.
Charles Jail was destroyed IN
1877, the pressure required being
81 pounds per square foot. At
Marsb6eld, in 1880, brick mansion
was leveled, the force necessary being
SO pounds per square foot. Below
these extraordinary pressures. Mr..
Smith instances numerous cases OF
trains blown off rails, and bridges,
etc., blown down by gales Of q to 81
pounds pc: square foot. In all the
examples the lowest force required to
do the observed damage has been
taken as the maximum power Of the
wind, although, Of course, it may
have been higher.
Enthusiasts who make special
study of sun-spots and attendant phe-
nomena believe that the cornerstone
Of new science is being laid BY dis
coveries pointing to an intimate con-
pection between solar and terrestrial
meteorology. just what the connec-
tion is they are not yet able to clearly
define, although electricity is sus.
pected Of being the agent through
which the effects are manifested upon
our planet. It is known that the
gaseous envelope Of the sun is affected
by eruptiops of such prodlglous mag
nitude as to be utterly beyond our
power of conception: these disturb
ances appearing to US in the form Of
rapidly changing spots and protuber
ances. The eras Of the spots-o1
n-storms.-occur at remarkably reg
ular intervals, complete cycle Of the
various stages of activity from maxi
mum to minimum and again to max
imum being performed 10 about
eleven years-tbe so-called 'sun-spot
| period The sun-spot physicists claim
coincidence Of the periods Of maxi
mum spots and years Of great at
mospberic and physical disturbance
in the earth. The present has been
year of great solar disturbances,