The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-08-27
SCIENTIFIC MIsCELLANy.

Compiled for the Leader.
The rapidity of the circulation is
such that, if it flowed in N straight line
at the same rate, it would run one hun
dred and fifty feet per minute.
Experiments by p. Hoplan show that
calomel may be decomposed in the hu-
man system, with the formation of the
dangerous poison, corrosive sublimate.
A piece of pine has been lately shown
by Gopport which has been converted
TO a half carbonized state and reduced
to o~ne-fourth its original bulk by the
simple action of pressure, exerted dur
ing a period Of two years.
NJ. Fleischen has made a comparison
between the bark of young oaks grown
respectively upon sandy loans, upon
peaty soils that had been once burned,
and upon a similar soil that had been
thrice burned, and found the proportion
Of tannin highest in the product Of
peaty soils.
A naturalist asserts that cranes carry
small migratory birds-unable to per-
form the fight of three hundred and
fifty m~iles-across the Mediterranean
sea on their backs. In fiocks of cranes
travelling southwark across this sea, lit
tie birds of many species are observed,
frequently flying from their perches
only to return a moment after.
A remarkable natural phenomenon
occurred in Hungary on the 9th Of
June. The Paptelke, suddenly broke
In two; a great assure 100 to 125 feet
wide, 80 to 100 feet deep. and 1900 to
1900 feet In length, being formed by
the rupture. A landslip took place at
the same time, and a field was moved
badly some thirty feet nearer to the
village.
The precision Of modern engineering
is forcibly illustrated by the recently
accomplished feat of picking up q long
unused ocean cable from a depth oftwo
thousand fathoms. The scientific en-
cheering which locates a fault with SO
much exactness and SO readily finds a
mere thread two miles under the sea
must add much to the security and
value Of ocean telegraph property.
1t is we'll known that the very feeblest
electric currents produce audible sounds
in the telephone, which is more sensi-
tive to weak currents than the most
delicate ealvanometer. NJ. Pellat late
ly declared that the heat necessary to
warm a kilogramme 1.-TWO and a quarter
pounds) of water one degree. II convert-
ed properly into the energy Of electric
currents, would suffice to produce in a
telephone an audible sound for ten
thousand years continuously.
Prof. ] L. Budd attributes actual
antiseptic properties to the Eucalyptus
Globalus, which has accomplished so
much in arresting malarial disease on
the fatal Roman Campagna and in other
places. BY an application of the leaves,
wounds are healed and foul sores purif-
ed. He recommends the cultivation Of
the tree as a house plant. He has q
th~ree-years-old plant in an eight-inch
pot, which remains at a height Of about
FIVE feet, without losing the fine, large
leaves of the tree.
The present will be a memorable year
in astronomical history-a year OF rare
planetary conjunctions, Of great solar
commissions, and q year distinguished
by the near approach of two great
comets. Two other events remain to
be observed. The FIRST is q transit of
the planet Vulcan. 1t is predicted that
this planet, whose existence is still a
matter of doubt, will cross the SUMS
disc on the 18th or 18th of October. The
other event is q transit of Mercury over
the sun, which will occur November
7th.
Satisfactory evidence shows that a
great fire must have occurred In the
outcroppings of a Nova Scotia coal dis
trict at a remote time. From the numb
er of annual rings borne by trees grow
ing over the spot, it is estimated that
no less than three hundred years have
elapsed since the ere was extinguished.
But three centuries have not cooled the
ashes, and an area Of some two acres is
known to DO now abnormally heated to
such a degree that frosts never penet-
rate far in the seyerest cold and snow
soon melts.
The average descent of large rivers.
exclusive of cascade regions, is seldom
more than twelve inches to the mile.
and occasionally does not exceed a third
of this amount. From Memphis down,
"a distance of eight hundred and fifty
miles. the Mississippi has q pitch Of less
than five inches at low water, and above
the Missouri. from its source, of only
eleven and ~three-fourths inches. The
Missouri, in its largest length of nearly
three thousand miles, descends twenty
eight inches to the mile; but from Fort
Benton to st. Joseph, over two thou
sand miles, only eleven and one-half
inches; and only nine and one-fourth
inches below st. Joseph to the mouth, a
length of nearly five hundred miles
The average pitch Of the Amazon is a
little more than six inches to the mile
of the lower Nile, less than seven; OF
the lower Ganges, about four. The
Rhone is notable for a great pitch OF
eighty inches per mile from Geneva u
LYONS. and thirtv-two inches below