Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-03-19
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

IT HAS been discovered by DIR. Luton
of Rheims that the tincture of ergot Of
rye associated with phosphate of soda
PRODUCES an hilarious excitement on those
70 whom it is administered, the exhilara-
ton resembling that cause by laughing
gas.
From the phenomena of refraction DIR
Kerber has estimated the hight of the
atmosphere at about 120 miles. From
observations upon meteors and auroras
other scientists have concluded that the
atmosphere must entend for more than
500 miles beyond the earth's surface.
SAND from the desert is seriously en-
croaching upon the inhabited territory
Of the Chinese province of Shensi. and
has already half buried some cities.
High walls have thus far protected Yulin,
but the sand is now piled outside nearly
to the top of the walls and must soon
cover them.
From observations of the moon when
ecIjpsing the sun, Prof. Alexander finds
evidence of the existence of some en-
yeIope, like an atmosphere, ON the moon.
The explanations usually offered for the
ruddy band of light seen around the
lunar disc during eclipses he considers
Inadequate. This bright band can best
be accounted for by suppOsing an atmos-
phere to the mOon-a thin remnant of
ancient nebulOsity, comparable to that
which accompanies the earth and gives
rise to the appearance of the aurora
Borealis.
THE ancients had theories to account
for earthquakes-and very curious thew
become III the light of modern investi-
cations. Anaxagoras, the RhOdian, saw
in them a sort of cosmic hatulence-
winds which had strayed into caverns
having no outlets. Aristotle believed
them to be due to the infltration of
water through a rocky sea bottom, pro-
ducing vapors Pliny ascribed them to
the pressure of air confined in deep
caves reacting against the collapse Of
everything rock strata while ST. Thomas,
of Aquinas, most ingeniously explained
that earthquakes may arise from the
struggles Of defunct disbelievers trying
TO escape from pit of torment.
A CURIOUS application of electricity is
now employed Ill the Spanish army.
Conscripts wishing to escape military
service have, it seems, often resorted to
the trick of bending the body while be-
ing measured, so as to bring their stat
ure below the limit prescribed for the
service To prevent fraud of this kind
IS the object of the new device. When
the man is standing perfectly erect the
backs of the legs at the knees press
against electric contacts, causing two
bells to ring, while a third bell is SINH
larly rung by pressure of the head. For
correct measurement the three bells
should ring simultaneously. The ring
ing ceases when there is the least bend
ing.
A SmEsIAN physician, DIR. George
Guttman, has published the results of
his experience with pilocarpin, a newly
introduced medical principle, in the
treatment of di phtheria While study
ing the effects of this drug he found that
it produced a greatly-increased flow Of
saliva without inflammation of the sail
vary glands and he was led to believe
that the increased secretion of saliva
would tend to dissolve and remove the
false membrane of diphtheria. He there
fore decided to try the remedy in cases
of that disease, and has met with such
remarkable success that he pronounces
pilocarpin a specific for diphtheria. In
eighteen months he treated eighty-one
cases of the disease with the best results
In every case. Several of the cases must
have proved fatal under the old treat
ment, while in about one half there was
considerable development Of false mem
brane. The patients have invariablyre-
covered in a very short period. With
but two or three exceptions, GONZALES
cenCe has followed the most critical cases
in from two to five days, and the milder
ones in two or three days