Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-04-14
THE WORLD OF SCIENCE.

Iron vessels of large tonnage are dis
placing small wooden crafts on our
great inland fresh waters ms well as on
the ocean.
The vapors of nitrous ether are re-
commended by NJ. Peyrusson MS a
disinfectant and antiseptic. They have
neither disagreeable nor hurtful smell.
Some far reaching data are looked for
regarding deep-sea fisheries when the
steamship for which s103,0 900 had lately
been appropriated by Congress com
pletes the work for which she is
to be specially constructed under the
supervision of Professor Baird.
1t is said that during hail-storm in
Geneva Professor Colladon observed that
the hailstones repelled each other as
they fell, and that after lying quiet for a
moment or two on the ground bounded
about like the electric hail experiment
of Newton with pith-b1lls,
Professor Tidy, in paper read before
the London Chemical society, rcstatcs
his firm conviction that fairly rapid
river, having received sewage in quantity
not exceeding one-twentieth of its
volume, regains its purity after II run
of few miles, and becomes wholesome
and good for drinking.
Prussic acid remains fora considerable
time in the bodies OF animals poisoned
with it, and arrests their decay. NJ
Brame killed a rabbit and cat by ad-
ministering to each a gramme of this
acid. \ month afterward the bodies
were found perfectly preserved, the dose
being sufficient to permeate the tissues
and to become intimately incorporated
with those of the stomach.
The sleepers of French railroads are
preserved from decay either by subject
ing them to a process of satuntion with
creosote or with sulphate of copper. A
new method is proposed by NJ. jacques.
Fatty substances lin the form of
soapy solution) combined with picnic
acid are injected into the wood so as to
penetrnte every fiber of it. After lapse
of eight days a fatty acid is formed
which is said to be insoluble in water
and to be capable of affording the most
complete protection against the rotting
caused 10y moisture.
According TO Les UoHiS plans have
been prepared for a large crystal palace,
to be constructed in the Park of 81.
Cloud, Paris, for permanent exhibition
OF objects relating to art and industry,
with scientific experiments on grand
scale. There will be representations
also of the vegetable and animal king.
dom OF the different geological ages,
and views and models of ancient and
modern monuments and curiositics from
all parts Of the world will be included.
Mr.. T.. T. Sachs sends the Nature
some interesting natural history notes
from Batavia: Within the past month
1 have been SO lucky as TO make what
hope is q remarkable discovery. On the
island of Billion, two hundred miles
from here, / found fresh-watcr fish
which produces It's young living from its
mouth. / am quite prepared for the
cry Of incredulity that will be raised
but I conducted my observations with
living fish and closed doors, and what /
assert is undeuiable. The eggs are
Matched in the lower portion Of the
head OF the fish, and are projected out
of the mouth and from nowhere else.
/ have secured several specimens which
/ shall send to DIR. Gunthor, who will,
of course, at once set the matter AZ rest.
1 also got on Billion butterfly which
is either a new Thecla or the male Of
the pretty Myrina niyeX peculiar to the
island.