Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1882-02-23
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

0SA1N xE4S Mx9No4AAN
FREQUENT impurities are fund 10y
microscopic Investigations to exist il
the diamond. Organic matter, carbon
land bubbles Of gas are common impuri
, ties. Quartz, chlorite, pyritc and
'shematite have recently been discovered
! in diamonds, and small CRYSTALS OF to
,paz' have also been seen.
Paul Marcoy has discovered a leaf
: Of the giant water lily Victoria regia)
,found in Lake Nuna, Peru, as measur.
ling, "a feet 81 inches in circumference
and weighing between thirteen and
fourteen pounds. One of the flowers
was four feet two inches in circumfer.
. snce, and weighed three and one half
pounds. The outer petals were nine
'inches long.
Some valuable relics discovered at
Ninevah. in the form Of fine ivory carv.
inga, showed signs Of crumbling on
arriving in England. Concluding that
Joss Of albumen was tho cause of the
decay, Pref. Owen boiled the articles.
The experiment proved entirely sue
cessful, and the ivory was restored TO
its original frmness and solidity.
Remarkable wind pressures are cx-
sperienced in India. On October 9Th,
1864, two passenger trains, one Of eight
vehicles and the other of twelve, were
upset on the Eastern Bengal railway,
all tho osrs being overturned. Several
cars were started from sidings by the
force of the wind. On September 81,
1873, long train wa, travelling on the
.sams railway at a speed Of about eight
miles an hour, and was brought to a
standstill by a heavy storm and forced
back about a mile with full steam and
breaks against 1t. 1t was found diff
cult to proceed after detaching half of
tho train. Instances of this kind are
said to be frequent on Indian railways.
The great red spot on the planet
Jupiter still attracts large share OF
attention from astronomical observers
This spot is Of an elliptical form with
'tapering ends, and covers a vast area,
being 10000 miles long and $500
bread. The mysterious appearance was
first observed more than three years
ago, since which time its form seems
mot to have materially altered, although
the ordinary dark bands crossing Ju
pliers disc are in a state of constant
change. Speculstions as to the nature
'efthe red spot have been numerous
but not very satisfactory. The dark
lines across the planet are believed to
be due to atmospheric movements, and
the suggestion that the red spot is q
portion Of the body Of the planet which
has in some unknown way become Wis
lille through the atmospheric envelope
seems az plausible as any offered.
NJ. Gay!on Las been studying the
phylloxera Of the French vineyards
with the object Of discovering, if posi-
bic, some parasitic organism which
might DO ,propagated and made to de
stroy the phylloxera. He has found
such organisms, and has strivcn to cul-
tivate them, but with doubtful results.
He Is pursuing the investigation furth-
or. The ravages Of the phyl.oxera
have become q source Of great loss IA
the vine growers Of France, and any
re,searches promising ultimate relief
from the pest are eagerly encouraged
II is shown by N. Paul Berts' inves
LEGATIONS that green light binders tn.
growth of plants, which soon wi,hel
and die as if in darkness. M. Regnart
ends that the plants specially requir,
red light, and soen cease to thrive i
the red rays are removed from sun
light.
Tho probability that nearly ever,
large town or city will soon be suppl
I'd with large quantities Of electricity
Tor lighting purposes has given rise t.
rcnsiderable interest in the plan o
isaking use Of the same supply for pro
ducing power for light household work
Several small motors have been devise,
TO meet the expected demand. Tn,
frst Ct these little machines was con
structed about three years ago by M
Marcel Deprez, and was found to worl
effectively. A second apparatus of thi
kind has for some time been used b,
NJ. Trouvs, an electro-magnet bein,
in place Of the permanent steel magne
Of Dspres This motor drives q sew
ing machine very readily, although i
10 Of very small size. Trouve's it'll
electric canoe at the Paris electrical o.
hibition was propelled by some of ,hes
engines, and M. Tissandisr has suggest
ID their use for balloon steering. TIL
hast and best motor is that Of Nj,
Griscom, the American electrician. Gu
Of these powerful little machines fou
and . half inches long. aud weishin;
little more than two pounds, will rul
asewing machiue very rapidly with