St. Landry democrat., 1882-03-25
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

A year VI IlIOlc dSO d dtC-pOSO "iilch
had been painted with so-called zinc
white was noticed to appear black all
day, gray in the twilight and white
during the night. changing to black
again very soon after sunrise. Mr.. t.
s. PhipsoD was led to investigate this
singular chameleon property Of the
paint, and after much research has
shown the cause to exist in a new
metal, which has been named actinum
on account of its peculiar actinic effects.
It is found in zinc ores, and resembles
zinc.
In an experiment by M. Paul Bert
upon live crocodile, the animal being
made to forcibly close it's mouth exert
ed d pulling force OF 3O8 pounds upon
a rope attached to the end of its upper
Jaw. The extremity of the jaw being
the end of a long lever, the real power
exerted by the muscles was much
greater, and was computed to be 1910
pounds. This experiment was made
upon crocodile already weakened by
cold and fatigue.
A schoolmaster of Nice has formed
his pupils society for the protection
of vegetation. The members are to
destroy injurious larval and protect
harmless birds. Their interest in the
work is kept up by the election Of lau-
reates and the award of prizes. In
four months OF 1881 the children de
stroyed 4,555 belts of moth-eggs, repre-
senting no fever than / 1865, 800 larvae,
1914, 1928 cabbage Larvae; 1858 grasshop,
pers; 500 butterflies 5S.911 sluggs and
snails; 1874 grubs; and 35,721 insects
of various kinds. The work is both
very valuable and very instructive.
Attention has been called to some
new facts in relation to color-blind-
ness. Careful investigations have
shown the Chinese and the Nubians to
be practically free from the defect.
DR.. Roberts has observed that color
blindness is most common among pei
sons of reddish or red hair, and it is
very prevalent among the jews, who
are the most decidedly red haired OF all
known races. 1t is thought probable,
therefore, that there may be some cor
relation of blindness with pig
mentation, and indirectly with racial
peculiarities.
Sounds produce in certain individuals
the impression of color. This curious
phenomenon, which was first described
by Nussbaumer in 1878, has recently
been made the subject Of systematic
study by Herren Bleulen and Lehman,
of Zurich. They find that the colors
associated with different notes differ
with the individuals, being as rule
light for high notes and dark for low
notes. Chords either cause the colors
which correspond to their notes to APP
pear to the mind side by side or give
a mixture of those colors. The same
note in different keys changes in color,
and to many persons different colors
appear when the same piece is played
by diffefferent instruments. Noises, as
we'll as musical notes, are accompanied
by colors, varying with the intensity
and pitch Of the sound. Or 500 indivl-
duals examined, one-eighth were col,
or-hearers." Four persons perceived
and color. A broad, quietly burning
gas flame led to the perception OF a
sound formed Of 10 and light vowel
like 3; but when the flame fickered the
sound became that of /. These cases
can generally be explained by an asso-
citation of sounds with colors by the in
dividual minds, and the phenomenon
is largely hereditary.
The newly completed observation on
Mount Etna is 5000 feet above the sea-
level, and the clearness of the atmOs
phere at that height leads astronomers
to expect some important observations
The French Minister of the Interior
is said to be making provision for the
widows and children OF men who have
died or been wounded while making
scientific researches.
The air of London during a fog is
found to contain large excess of car
bonic acid over the normal proportion.
In June, 1888, Stephen and Joseph
Montgolfier sent up the first balloon.
To commemorate the centenary of the
event, it is proposed that an interua
tional exhibition OF "arial arts" be
held at Paris next year. The aerial
artsD are to include every industry,
science or art, relating to gas or the at
mosphere, which is supposed to have
any connection directly or indirectly
with prostatic experiments.
At Antilles, on the southern coast of
France, a remarkable lowering of the
sea-level to the extent Of a foot or
more was lately observed, the phenome-
non lasting fortnight, High atmos-
pheric pressure is thought by M. Faye
to have been the cause, although NJ.
Naudin suggested an elevation Of the
ground. Tides in the Mediterranean
are barely perceptible.
The Chinese In Hong Kong are re-
ported to practice vaccination SO thor
oughly and effectually that small pox
never spreads there, although no port
in the world is more liable to vista
ton of the disease.
MANY astronomers have held the OPT
Mon that .4lcyonc, the chief star of the
Pleiades, is the centre about which our
solar system revolves. Very curiously,
an extraordinary Importance seems also
to be given this group of stars by many
savage and semi-civilized tribes, who
have peculiar beliefs concerning it,. ap-