The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1882-01-07
For the CARBOS ADvOoATE.
SCIENHlFlC NOTES.

For the CARBoS ApvooATE.
SCIENy NOTES.
Many cofliee-drinktrs have undoubied-
ly been disturbed by the widely-publish-
ed theories of DR.. Book, of Leipsic, who
pronounccs Ct flee and tea to be the chief
causes of nervousness and peevishness
80 common in our time. Upon this point,
however, doctors disagree, and we tiud
DR.. Henry Segur arguing that the effects
of these beverages are far from Injurious.
As a remedial agent, hc believes coffee to
be of great value, while its use promotes
digestion, and otherwise cxcrts health
full influence upon the system To con-
firm this belief he points TO the fact that
habitual cuffse-drinkers are generally
healthy and live TO coed old age.
-Balloonists have unique method OF
taking " soundings to learn their dis
tance from the earth when travelling in
the air at night. A loud shout is given,
and the seconds are counted until the
echo from the ground is heard. From
the time required for the return of the
sound it is easy to compute the height of
the balloon,
"A Russian savant off,is the novel but
absurd hypothesis that lail is Of cosmical
origin, aud is captured by cur world in
it's journey through space, in the same
way that meteorites nre attracted to this
planet.
"A new cellnloid, made by treating
potatoes with sulphuric acid, is said to
r,nkr pipes equal to meerschaum, and is
employed Tor thut purpose in France.
| Under heavy pressure tie maierisl be-
c mes 50 hard that lilhard balls may be
runuf tctur, from 1t.
"A c,ptive bullocn is to he used at the
/ Paris Observatory, for making meteorol-
osical observations, at the height of II
mile and half above the surface of the
earth.
-Iu recent address, DR. Seemers
commended the open fire place for its
sanitary advantages. Unlike radiatiug
stoves, it warns the walls and furniture
of room more than the air. Ii the air
within a room is hotter than the walls,
moisture ccudenses on the latter, caus-
ing miidew and fermentation, with re-
smiling liability TO disease on the part of
the occupants OF the room.
A curioHs application Of elec. ricity
is now employed i'll the Spanish army
Conscripis wishing to escape military
service have, it seems, often resorted to
the trick of bending the body while be-
ing measured, SO as to bring their stature
below the limit prescribed for the service.
To prevent fraud of this kind is the OBJ
ject rf the new device. When the man
is Standing perfectly or ct the backs OF
the legs at the knees press against cleo
trio contacts, causing two b'll to Iing
while third bell is similarly rung by
pressure of the head. For correct mea.
surement the three bells should ring sim,
ultaneously. The ringing ceases when
there is the least bending.
When drop of nitric acid is allow.
ed to remain few moments upon the
surface of q piece of metal-fled unit
bright and clean, pale ashy.gray spo
is lett if the metal is wrought iron, &
browrish black if steal, deep black il
iron. The carbon present in various
proportions produces the differences il
color This is, therefore, considered {
sure test.
The curious phenomenon of phos
phorescent ice, observed in the Arctic
regions, has been described by Mr.. j
: Allen. Whenever tie observer saw
lump of ice shattered at night by th,
vessel carrying him. lie perceived pecu
liar light emitted blythe frozen fragments
The light is very like that produced b!
breaking piece OF sugar in the dark.
Mr.. L. L. Fish has noticed that man,
birds seem to possess powers of ventrilo
quism. From distance of few feet
the cuckoo makes itsvoice appear to com,
from furlCng away; singing on n low
D branch, the thrush seems to be in tn,
tree'top; the vesper sparrow and the fiel,
sparrow are apparently in distant field
although really on neighboring fence
: The robin aud the cat-bird are endowe,
with similar power; and the oven-bird
S singh & at distance, almost causes III
listener to believe it 10 be- within reael
= by its sharp, ringing notes.
= The ancients had theories 10 accoun
5 fer earthquakes and very curious the
e become in the light OF modern invsstiga
tion. Anaxagoras, the Rhodian, saw il
them a sort of COT mic Aatulence-vind
which had strayed into caverns havin
no outlets. Aristotle believed them I
be due to the inflteration of water thrC
a rocky sea'bottom, producing vnpor.
Pliny Rscribed them to the pressure c
air confined in deep caves, reac,ing
gainst the collapse of everything rocl
strata; while st. Thomas, of Aquinai
4 most ingeniously explained that eartl
quakes may arise from the struggles
defunct misbelievers trying to escaE
from pit Of torment.
Z. -In 1885 prize of $4,000 francs, o
,e fered by tue King of the Belgians. is I
r. be awarded for the best work ou meal
IN aud measures for making the study
al geography general, and furihering in
of truction in that science in educAtioni
n Institutions.
al In new work. Paul Du Chaillu, d
scribes curious scene, encountered /
him in Lapland, illustrative of the haLi
N OF the most generally known Of Arcl
IL animals. On entering forest he su,
IL denly found himself in the midst of
C. great number OF reindeer, which We
digging through the snow for the no