St. Landry democrat., 1882-11-04
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY

A remarkable block of ambs
lately found in the Baltic Sea. is
of amber rarely weigh more a
pound, but this specimen noy
weighs more than eight pount
possesses all the qualities of thet
kinds. The largest piece OFF,
known is one in the mineralogicl,-
scum of Berlin, weighing thirted
a half pounds.
Prof. w. Zenger has for cor
able time been trying to prove &
istence of tolerably well-detine,,
riod in the occurrence OF teral
phenomena, such as earthfs,
storms, variations in atmospherls-
sure and in temperature, magnets
turbances, etc. The length OPT. |
Lenger's period is 70. 6 days, IS
ponding to a half-ratiOn OF thes
According to the report of thrls
Electrical Exhibition judges, thet-
. est efficiency of incandescent rlc
lamps cannot be assumed to b're
than 800 candle-lghts for eachse-
power of current.
Straps made from various mails
have been tested by Herr Weinliho
finds that the straps Of Russiamp
are about ten per cent strongah
those Of italian hemp and t1as
strong as those OF cotton.
The height of the atmospheas
been estimated by DR.. A Kerb0m
the phenomena of refraction. No
different methods of working che
problem he obtains a result q. 4
and of 119. 7 miles respectively.
A curious fact in connection vim
stantaneous photography has ely
been noticed. In the photograr q
vehicle drawn by q trottlng hOall
the parts are very distinctly shO5x-
cept the wheels, which are less act
in their upper part than in the Ier.
The reason is the mathematione
shat the spokes of the wheel , a
much greater velocity when at tp-
per part than when their extrles
are near the ground.
An English aronaut. Mr.. aph
Simmons, has made balloon of
40 miles in an hour and thretar-
: ters.
The total amount of gold in thri-
ferrous sand of the Rhine has bees
timated at $3O,OOO,0O0; but it is silly
covered by soil under cultivation The
richest portions of this sand cair
only about one part of gold in tWil:
lions, yet sands have been Kec
when containing a much smallero
portion. Gold in small quantitialst
occurs in the sands Of the Rhirtht
Aar, the Danube and several OthEu
, aropean rivers.
In all departments Of scientth
rmiscroscope is rapidly gainingIvo
as a means of investigation. In re
cent paper H. Reinsch claims I'll it
use in chemical analysis is not on in
creasing, but that in some resps
surpasses the spectroscope in uul
ness.
A physician reports musk to hh
only etficacious remedy for whan
cough he has ever tried.
Mr.. r. McSachlan gives it as hip
.riion that many of the wood -eatiIir
.sects do not attack healthy treebr
only those which have commend t
decay from the operation OF ht
causes. These insects are not reor
sible for the destruction OF the be
but simply for Fastening the pie
after it has been begun.
A regular and strong electricu
rent has been observed in germiEin
seeds exposed to moisture, the raea
being negative to the cotyledonsT Il
phenomenon is being investigat.
Herr Herman.
The number of hours of brightu
shine recorded at Greenwich Obrv
tory during 1881 was 1901, which iao
than 100 hours above the average t
four preceding years.
The annual report of the Greevi
Observatory for 1881 calls attenth
remarkable change in the moth
Sirius, the dog star. During 1871 a.
1878 this star was travelling thu
space at the rate of about twentt,
miles a second, but last year thi "a
seems to have been diminished tobo
seven miles a second. This apLre
decrease of speed is supposed b
due to the movement Of Sirius /
orbit.
A subterranean forest was redn
uncovered at depth Of ten feet ii,
the surface on the estate of Lord n,
manton, near Peterborough, Enal
Some Of the trees are Of great sizea
SO we'll preserved that the diffrt
varieties-such as oak and elm m
be readily distinguished.
It is proposed to try an impDv
Fphonograph in a Paris institution
teaching pupils the pronunciation
foreign languages.
DR.. r. C.. THOMPSON, of th' Fl
of Thompson, George & Co., whdes
I...o Ealuacton Texas Saws faaf