Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1882-06-01
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.


the Paris Ac deny of Sciences that
American salt meat, as now imported
into France, may transmit trichiuosls
only in very rare cases Of imperfect
sitting.
By causing finely divided alkaline
earths to percolate through a gas flame,
= Mr.. ". l.. Scott has succeeded in gain
ing a considerable increase # light.
The general be'if that the joints
Of animals have always a synovial iluid
serving as u lubricant is, according to
Dr.. Lambert, an error. The elephant,
with his relatively moderate motions
and great weight, has admirable clrtll-
ages but absolutely no lunrica,ion
therefor.
The ancient inhab tants Of Indin
were remarkably Advanced in the art
Of iron working. The famous pillar at
the Kutab, near Delhi, indicates skill
in the manipulation of It large mass
of wrought iron whi,h could hardly
be surpassed by modern foundrics. The
The pillar is Is feet eight inches in
length, with circunf-r r ce Of about
30 feet at the base, taper,ng to about
four feet inst below its ca ital. lis
total weight is over six us. 1t is
supposed by NJ Ferguson to date from
the year 400 of our era; and, ii So, has
stood exposed to the wind and
weather for nearly - centuries with
out showing signs ii rust-.-an cndur-
ing monument to the skill OF the cd
Indian iron workers.
In 1852 DR. Macgillivray mentioned
having seen skulls Of children at Cape
York altered into quite cinical shape
bya constantly applied manual com,
preston OF their mothers; but this was
believed to be impossible by the cele-
brated anatomist X. L. Won Baer, who
iancied that there must be some mis-.
take in the information given hy the
Scotch naturalist. In 1880, however,
Dr.. Miklucho Maclay had an opportu-
nifty Of witnessing this strange opera
ton, at Mabiak in the islands of Torres
Straits, where be saw it performed
daily on many children, aud fully con
WINGED himself that the deformity seen
in the adults is the result of this man
ual deforma ion only. The mothers
are cus'omed to spend many hours
Of each day, during the frs, week of
child's life, in COMPRISING the heads
OF their infants to give them the conf
cal shape. At Mabiak the reformation
is designed, but DR.. Maclay observed
on the east side Of New Guinea mum
erous cases of non-inten:ional dlstor-
ton OF the skulls of adult females,
arising from their practice of carrying
heavy burdens suspended by bands
resting across the head-causing a per-
manent depression, often quite marked.
Pr. Maclay's testimony seems to prove
conclasively that the human skull may
be greatly altered in shape by artificial
means.
Experiments upon the action of the
electric light on plants, at tho Palace
OF Industry Paris, have resulted less
favorably than was expected. The
naked rays from the electric are were
found to be injurious; after passing
through glass they ceased t. have any
hWtful action uson plants, but their
efficacy was not great Illumination
1t night is not fatal to plants, but no
prcoi has been obtained that 1t is really
beneficial.
DR.. Koch, Of Berlin, claims to have
discovered the nature of the parasite
which causes consumption. He has
propagated it artifcia!ly, and killed |
lnimals with the parasites thus produc |
ID. The expectorafions from the lungs
IT consumptlve individuals are found !
o be swarming with the highly infec-
i've organisms. BY working out the
'uggestion offered by Pasteur's recen,
achievements, DIR. Koch hopes to pre-
luce through artificial culture harm
ess form of the parasite which by in
'culation may prevent consumption.
1t has leen observed that when
liquid manures are too much diluted
rees are injured thereby by being com,
'elled. in seeking nougishment, to take
Up more water than is needed; but, on
he other hand, too strong solutions
ause a decay Of the roots.
Messrs. Z. aud II. Becquerel find
nat, contrary to the general belief,
hick covsf.ne OF snow does MT prot ct
ne soil as e'iectually as does turf from
he severest cold and frost.
The Londoa Lancet says, in com
aenting on an article on the medico,
physiological features Of Guitteau's
ersonality: At is remarkable for the
lnguiar circumstance that the author,
u. Allen McLane Hamilton, seems to
laim the fact that the head c. the as.
lssin reveals no special asYmmetry'
evidence Of his sanity, whereas
symmetry is well known u be one of
re commonest character,st cs of heads