The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1882-06-03
NUMBER 80.
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

has been observed as the result of long
exposure to dazzling light.
| The venerable French chemist and
instructor, NJ. Chevreul, has just cele-
brated his ninety sixth birthday.
1t has been pointed out that the
fragrance Of violets differs widely, beins
influenced evidently by the season ant
temperature, warmth and shelter ar
pearing most conducive to sweetness.
Herr Kraus has lately proved that all
plant organs swell and contract periods
cally every day. This phenomenon is
due to variations in the amount of water
contained at different periods during the
twenty -four hours.
A new geyser has been discovered near
st. Etienne, France. A vein of hot
water was tapped at depth Of f50OO feet,
and the result is an intermittent foun-
tain throwing stream to a height of
nearly 100 feet above the surface of the
earth.
NJ. Blavierattributes the disappearance
of the sardine from the coast of Brittany.
where it was once the source of a large
revenue, to a change in the direction of
the Gnlf stream. The question was
deemed so important by. the Paris
Academy of Sciences that special
committee has been appointed to inyes-
tigate the matter.
DIR. Schweinfurth has succeeded in
freshening and preserving many of the
leaves and flowers from garlands found
on tho breasts Of mummies discovered
last year at Deir 81 Bahari. A small
herbarium is thus formed from plants
which grew some thirty-five centuries
ago. A number of the species have been
identified with those now found in the
east.
For the photography of birds in their
different positions i'll flying, NJ. Marcy
employs an instrument, like q rifle in
shape, giving twelve successive images
per second, each image being taken in
the LOO part of q second. In bright
sunlight the time of exposure is reduced
to the 1850 of q second. These views
furnish an analysis of the motion Of
birds in flight which could not lie
obtained before the perfection of the
processes of instantaneous. photography
It is very generally known that th,
existence Of a planet between Mercur,
aud tile sun has long been suspected Il,
astronomers, but if such an object exist.
it is ordinarily rendered invisible &c
| telescopes by the diffusion Of tho solar
| rays. During total eclipse the glare of
the sun is removed, and it is hoped that
the hypothetical planet may be discovered
on such an OCCASION With that purpose
in view, many observers will eagerly
scan the heavens about the sun during
the eclipse of May 18th inst, which viii:
he chiefly visible in Africa.
A new method of preserving meat is to
cause the heart Of the animal to pump
boracic acid into the tissues. For ex-
ample, sheep is stunned by blow, and
blood being withdrawn from the left
jugular vein, strong solution of boracic
acid, kept at blood heat, is injected.
The heart of the still Lying animal
quickly pumps the antiseptic fluid into
all parts of the body, and the sheep is
1 laI 1xyf f1,o ,fal, =
way. The cost is slight, and the meat
thus treated will keep several weeks in
the heat of summer.
The celebrated "Kent's Hole - Of the
geologists is located near Torguay, il,
Devonsllirc, England. This remarkable
cavern, first scientifically explored in
1924 by Catholic clergyman, has given
up remains Of the mammoth, rhinoceros,
hyena, elk, and other animals now ex-
tinct in England, together with many
flints and other relics of ancient man.
The earth in the cave has now been
explored to great depth, and the
finding of human Jaw far below the
surface has added link to the chain Of
evidence establishing mans great antiq-
uity.
1t appears to be quite we'll established
that ants and few other insects have
the highly organized faculty of commit
nicating their ideas to one another. The
researches of modern observers, such az
Lubbock and McCook, have confirmed
the beliefin such a power. DR.. franklin
shared the belief, and tested the matter
i'll an interesting experiment. He placed
a small jar, containing, little treacle, in
u closet, where q number of ants soon
| collected to prey upon the vessel !.
contents. When all was eaten Tho
Doctor cleared the jar of tue ants, and
putting some fresh treacle in it, sns-
pended it by a string from a nail in the
ceiling. A single ant remained in the
jar, which ate until satisfied, and then
sought to find its way out. 1t was fol
some time perplexed, but finally climbed
tue string to the ceiling, and escape d
down the wall. 1t had been gone but a
short time when a large swarm of ants
fiocked into the closet, climbed up tie
wall to the ceiling, and then descended
hy the string into the jar, where the,
remained until the treacle was deyoured
and then departed by the string. It i.
hardly possible that this should hav,
taken place had not the first ant mad,