Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-07-18
SPARKS OF SCIENCE.

Where birds fly very little their feathers
never acquire or else soon loge their dis
tinctive quill-like character.
A healthy frog will remain alive for days
after the whole OF its blood has been with
drawn from the vessels and replaced by
solution of common salt.
The dazzling effect Of the electric arc is
source of objection to its use as locomo-
tive headlight by the French engineers
who have been trying it.
Ali plant organs swell and contract pori.
odically every day. This phenomenon is
due to variations in the amount of water
contained at different periods during the
twenty -four hours.
Tho ozone, 80 called, which is largely
advertised as presergative for animal and
vegetable substances, is sulphurous anby-
bride, which, it is well known, destroys
the germs of fermentation.
Arsenic poisoning is not always to bo
traced TO green coloring One case was
due to red wall paper, and the substance is
found abuDdantIy in white, gray, blue,
mauve and brown wall paper.
An English gentleman has exhibited
hyacinth which, in consequence of being
under stone, had blossomed six inches
below the surface of the ground. The
leaves were white, but the flowers were a
deep purple.
A remarkable cloud observed in Guate.
mala during eight consecutive days last
February, was found to consist of seeds
floating in the air The stream of particles
resembled snowfiakes in appearance, and
was only visible when between the observer
and the sun.
A Venetian house has produced spun.
glass hats, but the German press caution
buyers that the particles of glass which
are constantly flying off cause great irrita-
atom Of the glass buried In his skin will
understand the value of this warning.
Lieutenant Shore, in lecture on China
and Japan, says that until the arrival Of
foreign surgeons there was no. native in
the whole Chinese Empire who could re-
move a tumor, treat an abscess, or even set
fractured limb with certainty and even
now there are no surgeons in the army or
navy.
An automatic fire extinguisher for public
buildings, which has recently been devised
by Mr.. Moxim, communicates with
Waterman steam pump, reservoir or spe-
cial carbonic-acid generator, and when fire
breaks out it is set in motion by the heat
at the same time it connects with FIRE.
alarm and calls out the police and firemen.
The Great Eastern Railway Of England
is about to try an experiment with an "ag-
rieultural tramway." The idea is 20 test
the value Of cheap feeder built into
producing section, with a view TO their
general adoption wherever deemed desira-
BILE. The tramway is to extend from the
main line about six miles, and is 20 be laid
upon the high road.
Some fishermen of the Isle of Zugst have
fshed up, opposite Stralsund, piece OF
amber weighing more than eight pounds.
1t is nine and one-half inches in circum.
ference. II is a most remarkable piece OF
amber, having all the qualities which dl5'
tinguish the raress pieces, color dark YET
low, shining like glass, and not transparent
/ It is rare that a piece of amber weighs a
pound. The piece which IS preserved IN
the Museum Of Natural History at Bsriin
weighs about fourteen pounds.