Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1882-07-27
sCIENrIFIC MISCELLANY.

SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.
10 July and August French COM
mission is to explore the ocean bottom,
along the coasts Of Spain, Portugal and
Morocco.
Renewed confirmation of the infec.
tious character Of consumption has
been obtained by M. Giboux. In the
experiment made, air which had been
expired Ly consumptive animals was
introduced twice a day for los days
into . wooden case containing young
rabbits, the case being closed each
time for two hours to prevent access
Of other air. The result was the for
nation Of tuberc.es in the lungs of the
rabbits. Other raj bits, similarly trea
ted except that the infected air was
passed through carbolized waddine, re-
mained entirely unaffected.
Experimenting to determine the or.
der in which the action of the various
organs of the body ceases in asphy xia,
N. Plot has concluded that the exact
instant Of death is very difficult to de-
tsrmine. The movements Of respira-
ton first cease to he apparent, then
the beating of the heart becomes lcss
frequent, the pupils Of the eyes dilate
excessively, and the cornea becomes
insensitle; but these are only apparent
signs Of death, for after they have ap-
peared in dogs the animals have been
restored to life by artificial respiration.
The Aercnautical Society Of Great
Britain proposes holding an exhibition
next year to show what progress has
been made towards solution Of the
problem Of aerial navigation.
According to Ralph Abercrombie,
2. r. S., an English meteorological,
more wind occurs by day than at
night 10 places, having the same baro.
metric pressure.
A very curious phenomenon is 10
progress on the eastern coast of Tie
Caspian Sea. The Kara Boghas is an
estuary nearly separated from the
main body Of the sea by bank
through which there is on inlet. The
evaporation from this gulf is so great
that current continually sets in from
the main body Of the Caspian; aud as
there ID no return current, the water
Of the gulf becomes more and more
saliferous., and deposit Of salt is in
course Of formation. In time this
gulf will be cut off from the Caspian,
and will then be dried up and become
an extensive salt bed.
Tho London Society Of Telegraph
Engineers and of Electricians have de.
cided to offer annually three prizes for
the best original papers on Geographic
and electric subjects sent in by any
persons, not members Of the council Of
the society. The prizes will consist Of
scientific books or apparatus. the first
prise having value Ct GlO, and the
other two Of E5 each. The first awards
will be made for papers sent in before
Nay next.
Fossil remains lately found in France
prove that group Of mammals which
existed in late Eocene period united
many Of the characteristics of rigs
with those Of monkeys-an associa
tion Of characters Of peculiar interest
% students Of evolution.
Gas and electricity have combined
70 produce light in new system. A
strip Of PLATINUM, foil is 10 arranged
in connection with q burner ~ 20 be
heated when the gas is ignited, the
plantinum then offering 20 much re.
sistsnce TO an electric current as to DO
raised incandescence aud in turn Civ.
ing 70 the gas very high temperature
and causing il to be entirely consumed.
By the aid Of . small current, very
brilliant light is said to be produced
with great economy Of gas.
Under common lens 4 fly il seen,
enlarged to several times its ordina, ,
sire, and it is.oftsn Inferred that . mi
crosccpe having . magnifying power
Of . thousand diameters must transfer
the insect into winged mastodon Of
huge proportions. This is not so, how.
ever, for the reason that under =
strong magniiying power the range Of
vision becomes more limited. and it is
impossible TO view more than very
small portion at time of 10 large an
object ~ fy. The diameter OF the
so-called field Of view of various micro.
scope detectives has been measured BY
Phin, with the following results: With
: magnifying power of IS diaueters,
the field is about quarter an inch
with fifty diameters, it is one eighth Of
N inch; with one hundred diameters,
i . one-sixteenth of an inch; with
hve hundred diameters. one.eightie,h
Of an IN inch; and with one thousand
diameters, the one-hundred and -6ftieth