Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1881-05-05
SCIENTIFIC NOTES.

been examined microscopically, and found
to consist OF particles having diameter
of about the fifty -thousandth part of an
inch.
Prof. Schubeler's observations show
that the long summer days of high lati-
tudes cause flowers, fruits, Nc, to gain in
intensity of color and aroma while from
the want OF heat the fruits become def
cient in sweetness.
Yankee ingenuity seems to be at last
outdone. A very useful system has, it is
said, been inaugurated in Belgium, by
which subscribers to the telephone ex-
changes can be awakened at any desired
hour in the morning by means of a
powerful alarm.
The peculiarities OF the Chinese Ian
guage have presented great difficulties to
telegraphists, so that the new instru-
ment, the telephone, is received with
peculiar favor by the Chinese govern
lnent, which has, it is reported, resolved
to establish system OF telephones
throughout the country.
The frescoes of pompeii represent a
considerable number OF plants, and,
taking advantage of the discoveries made
during the recent excavations ON the
occasion OF the centenary OF the eruption,
DR.. Comes has identified no fewer than
30 different plant species on irescoes. In
this manner he has shown, among other
things, that the ancient Romans possessed
or knew plants foreign 10 Italy.
AT recent soiree in Paris NJ. Trouve
showed live fish with its body lighted
from within by his polyscope, minute
form of which, with conducting wires
passing to the hands of the operator, the
| fish had been caused to swallow. The
whole body became transparent in the
| dark, so that the vertibre could be
counted, and all details examined. 1t is
expected that great variety of uses will
be found for this little instrument.
| Vesta, the largest OF the minute planets
| known as ASTEROIDS" is computed to
| have diameter OF about 300 miles /; and
Echo, the smallest, is probably about III
| miles in diameter. Some mathematician
has lately furnished the rough but in
teresting calculation that the sun is a
thousand times the volume of Jupiter
| Jupiter, thousand times that of the
| earth the earth thousand times that
of Vesta and Vesta, n thousand times
that of Echo-the "baby" of the solar
| system as at present considered. A vast
number of bodies far more minnie than
Echo is doubtless revolving about the
sun, but these tragmentary masses are sc
small as to be unseen by astronomers
except when they flash as meteors
through the upper regions of our atmos
phere OH their way to the earth.
~ have endeavored to state the higher
and more abstract arguments by which
the study of physical science may b'
shown to be indispensable to the complet,
training of the human mind, but do mo-
wish it to be supposed that because may
be devoted to more or less abstract anc
impractical pursuits | am insensible t.
the weight which ought to be attached t.
that which has been said to be thu
English conception of Paradise-namely
getting on Now the value of knowl
edge of physical science as Il means o
getting on is indubitable. There ar
hardly any of our trades, except TIL
merely huckstering ones, in which som
knowledge OF science may not be directl.
profitable to the pursuer of that occupa
ton. An industry attains higher stage
of its development as its processes he
come more complicated and refined, am
the sciences are dragged in, one by one,t
take their share in the fray. ."-lhlrtey.
Much interest has been shown in til
experiments of Mr.. unybridse, of Sa
Francisco, i'll the instantaneous phOtog
raphy OF moving animals, reports
$ which have been given from time to time
: These pictures, taken in different stage
$ of the animals motion, show varlou
, different pOstures OF the limbs and body
Some time ago Mr.. Unybridge devised Il
7 instrument for exhibiting these photo
4 graphs. 1t is called the zoogyroscop,
e and series of postures of any animi
4 being placed in it and rapidly rotate
! gives the appearance of u miniature mo'
e ing animal, every motion Of any anini
t. shown,even to the whisk ofits tail-bein
Y faithfully reproduced by this ii
II genious combination Of the phct'
= graphic views. This system
= course furnishes valuable means ft
t the study of animal motion, advantaG
$ of which has been taken in various way
d Some late interesting experiments hay
e been made with the skeleton of Il hors
e which was taken apart and supplied wit
k artificial ligaments to the joints. Til
), prepared skeleton was made to assun
a the various positions of the living hOrs
e as shown by previous photographs, al
o exposed to the camera while in tho
y positions. The pictures thus secured a
placed in the zoogyroscope, where Il
IL skeleton is shown in all the movemen
), of the living animal in its various gai
d of cantering, pacing, running, trottii
n and walking, presenting a singular al
d fascinating view, especially valuable
&c the veterinary surgeon, who is thu
/ enabled to determine in practical ma
lie ner the effect of motion on the vario
8, Joints.