The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-02-22
sCIENrlR1C mIsCET.I.arx

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According 10 Dr. Maciaren. Of Scotland. IN.
types Of insanity have changed viii moae,,
times Acute delirious mania, for example !.
comparatively rare, bu, mental enieebleme.,
attended with paralysis. is becoming more and
more common, as result OF the oserwork and
worry Of the struggle for existence az the pre.ep,
day
1t is generally supposed that the color, of
flowers are due TO 50 many dIlIerent material.
each color being . ehernicsI cenhInAuon en,ir.l,
disdntt from The others PROF Schne,zler ho-
.exer. nov. advances The theory shak cAloeoohv,
1.-THE green coloring matter Of leavesE Is the ouIv
coloring matter which plants possess and ,ha,
the varying colors and shades are produced h,
The aci3n Of the acids OF Alkalies 81 The plan,.
upon the chlorophyl Experiments confirm mi,
view 10 which further support is given by IN.
quite well established fact that tho changes in
color Of leaves in autumn are due TO ahe action of
their tannin upon the ehlorophyI
Chemists have discovered that ahe presenc.
Of very minute quantities OF certaia substances
In certain liquids may be detected BY means Of
the electric spark and Photographic appars,u,
If the coloring matter known a. ajsthncene /,
mixed with MY million times IT'D weight OF
alcohol the presence Of the color Is shown by .
photograph, which viii show the Characteristic
bands Of the absorbed rays pertaining TO antha.
Gene. 4
Fresh charcoal has been found to absorb
ninety times Its volume Of ammonie kas.
The changes in level Of the easth's surface.
which must have been rapid and vast in early
geological ages, are yet in progress Aside from
paroxysmal changes, such as the 1olcanic up
heayal of an island now and then, great areas Of
land in different parts Of the globe ire undergo
ing slow process Of elevation or subsidence-
In Greenland, subsistence Is taking place For
six hundred miles. from Disco Bay TO the Firth
of Igaliko, the coast has bean sinking for four
centuries past Old buildings and islands have
been submerged and the Moavian settlers have
had to put down new poles for their beats, the
oldo standing. Lyell observes. TAs silent wit
nesses of the change" On the North American
coast south of Greenland. from Labrador to New
Jersey, il is supposed that similar changes are
going on. g. H. Cook concludes that q slow
subsistence is in progress along thecoasts Of New
Jersey, Long Island and Martha's Vineyard
and, according to A GesneS, the land is rising at
St. Johns in New Brunswick; sinking at the
island of Grand Menan rising on the coast cp-
posite, at Bathurst; sinking about the Bay Of
Fundy. where there are regions Of siumps sub
merged thirty five feet at high tide: and rising
al Prince Edwards Island It is believed that,
in the Pacific Ocean, the region off4he Coral L.
lands has, in some portions, sunk not less than
six thousand feet during comparatively recent
geological times Surveys made in northern
Sweden have shown, according to Lyell, that the
coast at that point is rising az the rate Of about
four feet in a century. Is
1t has been found by Gustav Hansen that the
antennae OF insects serve as organs OF smell On
their removal or when coated with rarafHne, the
insects become quite indifferent 10 the NEST
edorous substances-fies, for instance taking
no further notice of tainted meat.
1T is asserted that if person exposes himself
to the electric light for some time in close in
spection of the same, bis hands and cheeks will
show-ifhe be Of fair complexion-sll the symp-
toms of "sunburn," even in midwinter, and he
will develop freckles on his coup1enance as
quickly as when he goes about unprotected by
sun umbrella in midsummer.
"A prize of 500 in gold has been offered by
Mr. II. III. Warner. of Rochester, N. T., for
the discovery of any comet during 1881. The
comet must be unexpected with the ex-
cep,ion ofihe comet of 1879 and telescope. and
Prof Lewis Swift, of Rochester. muat be imme-
diateiy notified of its discovery. /.
The digestive process of q mosquitoes stom-
ach is 50 slowly performed that when the insect
has dincd on human being 1t ccaInues for
forty eight hours to exhibit blood cofPuscles.
An old sportsman has carefully preserved
in his house spiders web, which serves as q
novel and very delicate barometer. ! When the
insect finds it necessary 10 shorten the threads
which suspend the Web rain and wind may be
expected; if reefs be let out. fine weather Is Ger
tain il the spider remains inert, rain viii proba
bly, follow within short time +