The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-10-25
s-cIExrIFIc -nIscELLAxx

SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.
Compiled for the Leader.
According to DIR. K. Won Fritch. the
cauSe Of earthquakes does not exist at q
depth greater than ten or fifteen miles
below the surface of the earth.
The experiments of several sauants
have shown that eighty-eight per cent
Of the power applied to. drive either q
Gramme or a Siemens machine is con-
verted into available electric energy.
So extensive and varied are the uses
to which paper is now applied that an
anthropologist has proposed calling
the present the age of paper, as we
speak Of the past ages of stone, bronze,
iron, etc.
The conditions attending lightning
without thunder witnessed in Africa by
M. d'Abbadie lead him to conclude
that the so-called cheat lightning, is
not always the reflection Of a storm be-
low the horizon, As is usually supposed.
Practical applications for luminous
paint are being found in ENGLAND.
Among the latest is the plan Of encir-
cling tie tp,nings Of letter be re, with
the paint SO they are visible in the dark.
The letter-boxes In the neighborhood Of
Cambridge have been treated in this
way.
The Paris Electrical exhibition con-
tains an extremely ingenious instru-
ment In the shape of an apparatus by
which any number less than 1000 is
automatically signalled ON one telegraph
wire by q single movement of the oper-
ator, the figures appearing at the dis
tant end at an opening in q box.
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 to parasites and
can be guarded against by incubation.
Great as the results Of Pasteur's. labors
thus far have been, he seems to be as
yet merely standing upon the thresh-
old of useful discovery.
Although considered mute, insects
have the power of producing sounds by
certain movements which to some ex-
tent T characteristic of the different
species. The shrill chirp Of the cricket
Is produced by the rubbing together Of
the wings-cases. The harsh shrek Of
the grasshopper is caused by friction Of
the legs against the wings. The shrill
trumpet sound of the mosquito and the
busy hum of bees and flies result from
the rapid motion of the wings while
flying.
Among the many noteworthy applica-
lions Of electricity during the past few
years, n Of the most remarkable is
the gastroscope, an instrument for
viewing the contents of the stomach.
The apparatus consists chiefly of a bent
tube, ut the lower and of which is q
tiny glass lantern, while the upper end
terminates in an eye-piece. In use, the
lower end Of the:tubo Is passed into the
stomach through the mouth and esoph'
agus, the upper end projecting from the
mouth far enough for the convenience
Of the operator. Small wire conduct
on electric current along the tube to the
lantern, where a platinum wire is rend.
cred incandescent by thet..electricity,
thus illuminating every part of the
stomach. The lantern consists of two
globes, n within the other, between
which q stream of water is passed tc
prevent any uncomfortable heating Of
the outside. Through the small wind
ow in the lantern the images from the
stomach travel along the tube to the
eye-piece, being bent by prisms suf
fciently to pass around the curve. B,
an ingenious continuance the window
is ~revolyed ut pleasure, 30 that any por
tion Of the stomach's contents may il
turn be brought to view. This new
scientific marvel has been in actual us
in Vienna, and will probably prov
valuable to medical men in studying
digestion and diseases Of the stomach
HH