The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-01-27
Science.

The rate of progress in the eXcava-
ton for the proposed tunnel under the
English channel is now twenty-eight
feet per diem.
Commissioner Loring states in his re-
port of the operations of the Department
of Agriculture that an agent of the de-
partment is now in Europe studying
forestry.
Professor Tyndan states that he has
employed, in the course of two years,
nearly ten thousand vessels for his ex-
periments concerning germs in the at
moSphere.
A regular variation has been detected
in the color of the star known as Alpha
in the constellation of the Great Bear.
The period, according to '. Koveslige-
thy, in which the changes take place, is
fffty-four days and half
Phosphor bronze is proposed as a
substitute for iron or steel in shipbuild-
ing. 1t is slightly more expensive than
steel, but does not corrode on exposure
to air or water. An experimental steam
launch built of this new material was
recently tried on the Thames, and
proved satisfactory In every respect.
Some bones of the SaXons who lived
in Cambridgeshire in the fifth century
of our era, were exhibited not long since
at meeting of the Cambridge Medical
Society, and the assembled physicians
discussed the question whether they did
not show indications of the prevalence
of govt in the Saxon period.
We learn from the English Mechanic
that there are seven German towns
which now enjoy the benefit of the tele-
phone on an extensive scale. These are
Berlin. Hamburg, MulhaHsen, Frank
fort, Breslau, Cologne and Mannheim
The same journal says that telephone
companies have been organized in Italy,
at Genoa and Turin.
Professor C. V. Riley, the well-known
entomologist, IN an address at the At
lanta Cotton Convention said that poi
sons applied to the under surface of
leaves viii prove far more efficacious
against the cotton worm than when
thrown on the upper surface OF the
tons of different poisons that have been
tried, the most satisfactory substances,
he added, were Paris green, London
purple, or arsenic in some form.
1t is now publicly asserted in Eng
land that the facts concerning the maxi
mum quantities of ehloroform and other
anesthetics which can be safely admin
istered, recently communicated to the
Paris Academy Of Sciences by Mons.
Paul Bert, the new Minister of Public
Instruction IN France, were known more
than thirty years ago. This is not the
first time that French men of Science
have shown themselves ignorant of sci
entific progress in other lands.
The Royal College of Surgeons in
London has acquired an interesting col
lection of skulls from the island of NAL
lieollo, in the new Hebrides group.
Professor w III. Flower calls them mon
umental heads, because the flesh has
been replaced by composition intended
to initiate it as nearly as possible. It
seems that the natives of the island treat
the heads of their dead friends in this
manner. As specimens of art, the re-
suits are rude, but they are none the
less instructive to the anthropologist.
Experiments in the use of the electric
light for purposes of warfare are being
made by the British naval squadron in
the Mediterranean. The light proves
valuable for Illuminating spots on shore
toward which war vessel might wish
to direct the fire of her guus. On the
other hand, It makes the ship objection
ably conspicuous as mark for attack.