St. Landry democrat., 1882-03-25

phere, although the combustion may
proceed so slowly that the rise OF tenn
perature will amount to only a few
degrees.
Granular vegetable carbon, saturated
with sulphuric acid, of which it holds
about seventy times it's own volume,
is now being tested as destroyer OF
phyIloxera. Buried amongst roots, 1t
gradually gives off sulphurous acid gas,
and this being heavier than air, not
only permeates the soil, but hangs
about the surface and asphyxiates the
phylloxera.
Prof. C. Bing has announced the dis
covery Of sleep-producing qualities in
ozone.
Icebergs are often of enormous size,
measuring miles in area and many hun
hundred feet in thickness. Hayes saw
one reaching an altitude of 315 feet
above the sea, and most OF the Arctic
explorers have encountered bergs OF
200 feet or more in height. Pyer has
estimated that in an iceberg 300 feet
above the water total height OF 600 to
800 feet may, as rule, be inferred.
An exception to this rule must be the
bergs Capt. Ross saw aground in 1900
feet of water. A mass Of ice floating
in the Southern ocean is reported by
Capt. d'Urville to have been thirteen
miles long with vertical walls 100 feet
high.
In recent address in justification of
compulsory vaccination, DR.. w. B. Car
penter, the eminent British physiolog-
list, presented some interesting status
tics showing the decrease of smallpox
in great Britain with the adoption of
modern protective measures. From
1860 to the commencement OF the
present century the average annual
number of deaths from smallpox was
upwards of 1000 for each million of in
habitants. For the decade 1SO1-10 the
yearly smallpox mortality was 2,O4O
per million inhabitants. In 1875 it
had fallen to s 80. In 1910 means for
vaccination were provided by the
government, and the annual rate fell
to 400 per million. Then came compul-
cade 1851 go there were each year but
27S deaths from smallpox in each mil
lion inhabitants. In 1S61-70 the num-
Der was 276. In 1S71-S0 the rate was
greatly increased, but the circumstances
we're so decidedly exceptional that
these years can afford no basis for an
argument against vaccination.
Archaeological researches have shown
indisputably that the art OF weaving
was practiced in prehistoric times. 1t
may even date back nearly to the crea-
ton of man, as fragments OF woven
of the Lake Dwellers, who are sup
posed to have been about the first
representatives of the human race.
The Bronze Age furnishes specimens
| which place the art above most others
in degree of perfection, even fabrics of
wool being found in the remains OF
Denmark, Scandinavia England-the
remains of France and Switzerland
yielding linen fabrics. The oldest his
| torical reference to the art of weaving
is furnished by the Billie Job lamented
that his days were passing with the
fleetness of a weavers's shuttle; and
Joseph was attired in yestures Of fine
linen"
It is. proposed by Mr.. G.. F. McGlashan,
editor of the Santa Barbara (Cal.)
Press, to place moving railway trains
in constant Geographic communication
with the rest of the world. In his
method train telegraph Office would
be kept in electric connection with an
overhead wire by means of a truck
running upon the latter and carrying
a short wire leading into the car.
Aside from its convenience to the
travelling public, this application of the
electric telegraph would seem to fur
nisf engineers with considerable
safeguard against accidents.
Cases of poisoning by carbolic acid
are not infrequent. Twos drachms is,
according to DR.. Reichert, the minimum
fatal dose on record, and recovery rare
ly follows dose Of half an ounce.
It is a familiar fact that black OBJ
iect on a white ground will appear
much larger than it is in reality. For
example, white stripe on a black sur
face is apparently broader than a black
face. Peter Schertfer has sought an
explanation Of the phenomenon, and
thus accounts for it: When one Of
our senses receives double sensation,
one being strong and the other weak,
the latter is not felt. Especially is this
the case when both Impressions are OF
the same kind, or when a strong effect
upon one Of the senses is followed by
a weaker one Of the same kind.
Eight prizes of 1926 each have been
offered by the Royal Society of New
South Wales for the best communica
tions giving the results of original
study or observations on as many
specified subjects. The subjects have
special reference to Australian pro-
gress.
Recent attention has been drawn to
the value of the Quillia tree of Chill,
on account of the powerful cleansing
properties of its bark. 1t is said to be
more effective under certain conditions
than the best soap. 1t is already used
to some extent in washing silk and
wool.