The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1882-07-01
For the CARBON ADvoCATE.l
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

During a shower in the neighhor
hood of Paris 1900 flashes Of lightning
were counted within period of two
; hours.
An estimate Of the quantity of sedi
ment carried down by Chinese rivers in
dcaies that if the deposit continues al
the present rate the Yellow Sea will be
converted into dry land in SO 600 years.
Remains of remarkable bird of the
Eocene epoch have been found near
Rheims by NJ. de Lemoinue. The bird
las at least ten feet high when erect, with
u much larger skull than that of the os-
trich, and alhniiies-it is believed to
ihe duck.
1t is reported that a telegram and a
telephone message from Brussels were
received simultaneously over one wire at
Paris. The system is the work of the
Director of the Belgian Meteorological
Bureau, Herr Won Kisselberghe, and if
successful must prove very valuable.
Several English collieries are testing
blasting cartridges of caustc lime in
place OF the ordinary gunpower or dyna.
mite cartridges The coal is broken by
the expansion Of the lime in sinking.
There is no concussion, and the danger
from flame and premature explosion is
avoided.
--Colors fade under the influence of
the electric light as in sunlight, but NJ.
DecGux finds that the effect is weaker.
With an arc light of 200 candle power,
the influence upon oil and water paint
ings and colored wool seemed to be about
one-fourth as powerful as sunlight IN
huence.
The first effects of small doeses of
arsenic taken from time to time are shown
by experiments of NJ. NJ. de Poncy and
Livon upon cats-to be fattening of the
body, increase of appetite, and general
appearance of improved health, This is
SOON followed, however, by emaciation,
loss of appetite, al emia, and death.
A recent paper by Major Hallett
gives instances Of the remarkable results
which have followed Efforts to improve
food-plants by regularly -continred
practice of selecting the seeds of the best
plaats for planting. Vines, beet-roots,
cereals and potatoes have greatly i'm
proved under the system of selection, in
some cases the annual yield per acre be.
ing trebled in few years.
The size and weight of the human
brain are absolutely greater than in any
animals except the elephant and the
larger whales. The brain of the eleph-
ant is said to weigh from eight to ten
pounds, and that of the large fnner whale
between five and six pounds Z, latively
to the bulk and weight of the body the
brain of man is exceeded IN size only In
some small birds and mammals.
The electric light has become so i'm
portant feature in building operations
that the Royal Institute of British Archi.
tects is considering the merits of the
various systems with reference to archi-
lecture, and is trying to decide upon the
expedieney of requiring its students to
pass an examination in physical science
as preparation for the study of electri.
cal apparatus.
"A peculiar effect is produced upon
the workmen IN Russian bichromate of
potash factory. The partition of the rose
is attacked, hole is eaten through it,
and after a time it is totally DESTROYED,
both nostrils being converted into one.
An inspection has shown that about fifty
per cent of the men employed have dis
eased noses, some ha'iog been attacked
/ during their first month of work while
others have been employed ten years
without being affected. The progress of
this curious disease is entirely painless.
Mr.. Edward Muybridge predicts
that in the near future the aid of photog-
raphy will be sought TO determine the re-
suit of all important horse races. With
an invisisible thread stretched across the
track TO operate camera slide. it is a
simple matter to Photograph the animals
in twinklng Of m eye as they pass the
winning post. In the operation of this
system there could be no dead heats"
on account of the disagree ment of judges,
as the record of the photograph would
show with unerring accuracy the winner
of the races.
Two methods of utilizing the mower
of sea-Naxes have been proposed. In the
system of NJ. Gauchez, the rise and fall
of a large float produce corresponding
motions of a bell-sbaped iron vessel by
means of pulleys. As this vessel rises ar
IS drawn through valves in its tap and
as it falls the air is forced through pipes
into a compressinG reservoir BY the
other plan, suggested by Prof. Welluer,
Of Brun, species of air-trap in the SEA
wall serves as an air compressor under
the beating Of the waves. Prof Wcllner
produces motive POWER from the COM
pressed nir by running pipe from the
reservoir under an air wheel (resembliug
an overshot water-whetl immersed in
water. The air displaecs the water from
the cells and drives the wheel round
while expanding and rising to the surface,
p-----------sa--
- Political: Julia" wants TO know
"what a party platform is" Well,
platform, Julia, is one preamble and
twenty resolutions, strong in non essen
tials, vague in essentialsi round the bush
on tar If and rough as thunder on the
Mormons; clamorous for civil service re-
formj down on corruption. loud on in i
praise of purity and determined to have
it if it takes every cent the party can
raise The platform, you understand,
Julia, is a legitimate and necessary part
part of the campaign pomp and eircum-
stance, il goes along with the banners,