Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1882-08-03
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

pores, as an improved disinfectant, a
solution Of chloride of lime, camphor
aud glycerine. This compound may
be used in all cases where picnic acid
is now employed, and its od1r is less
poisonous than the latter. 1t is
claimed that the putrefaction Of ami
NAL bodies is Immediately arrested
by it.
A remarkable block Of amber WAS
lately found in the Baltic sea-. Pieces
of amber rarely weigh over pound,
but this specimen rot only weighs
more than eight pounds, but possesses
all the qualities of the rarest kinds.
Tho largest piece of amber known is
one in the meteorological museum Of
Berlin, weighing thirteen pounds
Prof. w. Zenger has for con sider-
able time been trying to prove the ex-
isteuce Of tolerably well defined Pc
Rod in the occurrence Of terrestrial
phenomena, such as earthquakes.
storms, variations in the atmospheric
pressure and in temperature, magnetic
disturbances, ETC. The length of Prof.
Zepger,s period is l2.6 days, CORES
ponding to halfrotation of the sun.
According to the report of the
Paris electrical exhibition judged, the
greatest efficiency of incandcscent
electric lamps cannot be assumed to be
more than 800 candle-lights for each
horse power OF current.
Straps made from various materials
have been tested by Herr Wainlig,
who finds that the straps Of Russian
hemp are about ten per cent stronger
than those Of italian hemp and twice
y strong as those Of cotton.
The height of tho atmosphere has
been estimated by DR.. A. Kerber, from
the phenomena Of refraction. by two
different methods of wording out the
problem he obtains result Of liza
and Of ll9.7 miles respectively.
A curious fact in connection with
instantaneous photography has lately
bed noticed. In the photograph of
vehicle drawn by trotting horse, all
the parts are distinctly shown except
hs..whcels, which are less distinct in
the upper part than in the lower. The
reason is a mathematical one, that
No spokes Of the wheel have n much
greater velocity at the upper part than
when their extremcties are near the
ground.
An english aerouaut, Mr.. Joseph
Simmons, has made a balloon trip Of
l70 miles, in an hour and three quar-
ters.
The total amount Of gold in the
auriferous sand of the Rhine has been
estimated at $3o,0o0,O0o, but it is
mostly covered by soil under cultiva-
ton. The richest porti onsof this sand
contain only about one part OF gold in
two millions; yet sands have been
worked when containing much
smaller proportion. Gold in small
quantities also occurs in the sands of
the Rhone, the Aar, tho Danube, and
several other European rivers.
In oil departments Of science the
microscope is rapidly gaining favor as
means of investigation. In recent
paper II. Rsinsch claims that it's use
in chemical analysis is not only in
cseasing. but that in some respects it
surpasses the spoc,roscope in useful
ness.
Mr., r. McSachlan gives it as his
opinion that many Of the wood-eating
insects do not attack healthy trees, but
only those which have commenced to
decay from the operation Of other caus.
e. These insects are not responsible
for the destruction Of the trees, but
simply for fastening the process after
i has been begun.
Aregular and strong electric cur
rent has been observed in terminating
sseds exposed to moisture. the radical
being negative to the cotyledons. The
pheaemenou is being invessiga ed by
Herr Herman.
The number Of hours of bright sun.
shine recorded at Greenwich obserya
tory during 1881 was 1901, which is
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