The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1882-11-04
For the CARBON ADVOCATED
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY,

For the CARBON ADVOCATED
sCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.
Prof. Dufour states, as an overlook
cd fact, tbrt hail-preventers of tho nature
of lightning-rods we're set up in several
vineyards of the Canton le Vaud in '25;
the object being to binder the formation
of hail by Withdrawing electricity from
the clouds. Some of the vineyards TINS
protected were destroyed by hail the
next year. aud the experiment was de-
clared a failure. While doubtiiiS the
influence of such apparatus on hail
clouds, the Prof. thinks the matter deserv.
ing Of fresh investigation, inasmuch as
it has recently been shown that the pres
ence of forest-wbich bag be regarded
as collection of lightning -rods-may
greatly lessen the frequency of hail
showers.
When long heating has driven all air
from the water in steam boiler, boiling
sometimes ceases, and superheating may
occur with danger of explosion. Clean
pieces of zinc in the liquid, by Uniting
with some of its oxygen and hberating
hydrogen, should theoretically maintain
boiling. As more feliable plan in prac-
tice, however. Mons. Treve advises the
injection at the bottom of the boiler of
hot air, or, still better, of a non-oxidiz-
ing gas such as carbonic acid the iniec-
tion to be moderate but continuous.
Superheating, which may be conceiTed as
a sleep of the liquid, would thus be rem
dered impossible, and rapid evaporation,
saving of fuel and freedom from risk
would be secured.
-Whon the spectroscope is turned to
the sky in daylight the presence of watery
vapor in the atmosphere produces in the
instrument characteristic lines known as
tho rain-land. Sanguine British meteor
ologlsts expect to base weather predic-
tions on observations of this band, and
the probability that the spectroscope mey
be thus used is a matter of much interest.
Some idea of what is becoming of
the forests may be had from consider
alton of the amount of wood that is being
used by the railroads. A recently pub
lished report shows that in the mainten-
ance and repair of French railways since
1877 more than 700 fine trees must have
been used daily for sleepers alone; and
some 5000, 900 cubic feet of timber have
been required yearly for rolling stock.
And yet the mileage of the railways of
France is less than one.sixth as great as
that of the United States.
"A female performer in Partisan
circus remains under water two minutes
and half at time. To appreciate, says
Mons. Kerlus, what is implied in psssing
two minutes and q half without taking
breath let any one make a small expert.
ment holding his bfeathfRS long as pos
sible while watching the second. hand OF
a watch. Few persous reach one minute
the majority are obliged to take breath
before As seconds have elapsed Sponge
and pearl fishers seldom remain under
water two minutes, and voluntary i'm,
mersion of more than three minutes has
never been automatically observed.
Prof. Ludwig, in Germany, has beel
led by his investigations to conclude that
contrary to tho assertion of Sonnenschein
arsenic may be readily detected in tht
bones after poisoning hy that substance
He even found the poison in the bone,
of dog twenty-seven days after the las
of q series of doses had been given thu
animal.
Obs rvations in France by Nom
Raffere show that flies quickly disappear
from room after the introduction of
castor-oil plant Q;icilus oommunis'
Deal flies are found near the plant, from
which it appears that the leaves are hig'
ly poisonous to these insects.
Mons. d'Abbadie reports to III,
French Academy that immunity from
marsh feyers is often secured in uuheal
thy Ethiopian regions by exposing tt,
naked body to sulphur fumes. In Slcil,
the wurkmon in sulphur-mines on low
ground suffer much less from iutermit
tent fever than tue rest Of the population
while Mons FJuQu2 has shown lhat il
Greece once l,ufisLirg town Of 41OCC
inhabitants Zerh!ria has been almost
utterly depopul"ted through marsh lever
the decadepce having cuIrespond,d 10 Il
gradual removal OF sulphu mining up,r
atoms eastward beyond mouatti,
range, so that the sui pLur-emanalivrs II,
longer reach the town.
Since 1875 accurate measurements
have bsen uade 20 show the range of n,
changes in Iryel Of macy Russian riyurs
and some Of The Results are given IA le
cent paper by Mons Tillo. Itappear.
that the highest range is reached 10y a.;
, Okla ut Kuluga, the difference bciweel
the bighest and the lowest levels beins
, as much as IS feet; while tie ayerag,
range Of the same river from its sourc,
} to its mouth is 322 fest The averAg,
range from source TO mouth Of the Yolg,
. is 80 6 feet; of the Kama, S0l feet; o
, the Duna, 20 2 feet; of the Don, %
, feet aud Cf al otLer rivers, less than q
feet or course this range dimiai,.c
yrry much toward tho mouth ut sac.
= g.ysT; yet !. le-.Le- II lsot fJr - y.