The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1882-08-12
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.


quently infested by parasitic worms,
which suggests the possibility that they /
may also carry about the germs of infec-
tious diseases.
Besides the transit of Venus observa-
tions in December efforts will be made |
to determine the SUMS parallax by other |
methods. Arrangements have already |
been made for observations of the minor |
planets Victoria and Sappho when at
opposition on August Oath and September
oath respectively.
It is quite commonly believed that in |
running a man descends at each stride |
upon the ball of the foot, so that the
arch of the foot may serve as spring to
break the shock. In his instantaneous !
photographs, however, Mr.. Muybridge
shows that either in walking, running or
jumping, man-like all other animals so
far observed-alights upon the heel.
The celebrated rose-bush at Hides |
helm, in Hanover, reputed to have been
planted by Charlemagne and therefore
to be more than thousand years old,
has borne more blossoms this season than
ever before, and is an object of much
curiosity. The branches of the bush ex-
tend to about three feet and eight inches
in height and three feet and four inches
in width.
Dr. Wood, of Bishops College, Montre-
al, has reported numerous cases in which
rheumatism has been cured by fasting
from four to ten days. The patients
were allowed to drink freely of water
and lemonade, but no medicines were
given. DR.. Wood is inclined to believe
that rheumatism is simply a phase of
indigestion, to he cured by giving rest to
all the viscera.
From observations with the spectre
scope and polariscope since 1858, NJ.
Prazmowski concludes that comets are
formed of condensed portion, which
constitutes the nucleus, surrounded by
an incandescent gaseous atmosphere,
which contains carbon and reflects the
| light of the sun, and of a swarm of loose
material which is not controlled by the
comet but moves in obedience to univer-
sal attraction.
It is reported that III graphing for a
cable in the Pacific. off the Central
American coast great masses Of trunks,
roots and branches of trees were drawn
up from depth of 500 fathoms. If the
report proves true the discovery is an
interesting one. Neither history nor
Indian tradition refers to any great con-
vulsion or submergenee of land which
could account for tbs presence of the
trees at the place where they were found.
Prof. E. L. Larkin has demonstrated
mathematically that the fall of the
largest comet to the sun could only be
observed by the most powerful telescopes
and spectroscopes, while only the most
delicate heat-measuring apparatus could
detect any increase of temperature upon
the earth as an effect of the collision.
Far from fastening our destruction,
whatever heat may be added to the sun
by the continued fall of cometary matter
from space must tend to prolong mans
existence upon an expiring planet whose
poles are already frozen in death.
A paper in the London Medical Record
on the poisonous properties of quinine
mentions a case in which complete tenn
porary blindness and permanent injury
Of the eyesight were cansed by taking
sixty-eight grains of qninine in abont
twenty-one hours to relieve an attack Of
pneumonia. In another case the death
of the patient is attributed to the action
Of only twenty-eight grains of quinine
taken in two days, but in this instance
it seems to he quite probable that the
fatal result may have been caused by the
intermittent fever with which the patient
was suffering rather than by the drug.
NJ. Toussaint has shown experiment
tally the serious dangers of eating meat
nearly raw as is now so generally done.
If the meat is unsound, the germs Of
disease must pass into the system. The
most frequent and dangerous malady
with which animals slaughtered for food
are affected is consumption, and even if
the animal is only slightly affected
persons eating the uncooked meat are
liable to infection. The raw juice pressed
from slightly affected cows lung was
used to inoculate rabbits and young
pigs, and all the subjects died in a short
time from the disease. The experiment
was repeated with u portion of the juice
which had been partially cooked, and
the result was the same. Thorougl
cooking of the meat at temperature ol
$50 or 100 degrees is recommended as q
precaution unsafe to neglect.
A large part of the business portion o
Vienna, Caldwell parish, was burned the
night of July 8. .-.
!
The best remedy for exerting a powerful
tonic effect on the muscles governing ant
controlling the action of the heart, il
Browns Iron Bitters.
Mr.. +. J. Polk was dangerousl.
wounded in shooting atfray with D.
, Norwood at Floyd. Both gentlemen ar
J members of the West Carroll bar aud ha.
loo,, IN fr;apIo