St. Landry democrat., 1883-04-14
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

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of Japan is clock which records auto
,natically the velocity OF the earth-
aual5e waves. He describes shocks OBJ
served by him as travelling at the rate
of 10000 feet per second, decreasing to
$500 feet, and still getting slower and
slower as they progressed. The waves
last from thirty seconds to four MIN
1tes. Prof. Milne is now at work upon
an atlas designed to show the large
number of seismic centres in which the
earthquakes Of Japan originate, and the
relative intensity of the waves with the
areas affected.
Those who yet cling to the ld-time
faith in the moons influence upon the
weather may be interested to learn that
so eminent scientist as Sir William
Thompson has recently felt called upon
to declare that careful observation with
the barometer, thermometer and ane-
1nometer have failed to establish any
such influence, and have proved, on
the contrary, that if there is any de-
pendence of the weather upon the
phases of the moon it is only in de-
gree so slight as to be quite imperceptl-
BILE to ordinary observation.
The electric furnace-first described
q little more than two years ago-has
been the subject Of further expert
ment by DR.. G.. w. Siemens and Prof.
A. X. Huntington, who find that it
possesses two important advantages.
viz, that the temperature attainable is
practically limited only by the refrac-
toriness of the materials of which the
furnace is made, and that the heat is
developed Immediately in the sub
stance to be used instead of first hav-
ing to pass through the containing cru
chile.
Prof. nj. w. Harrington refers to
two kinds of changes on the moons sur
face which may be regarded as fairly
established. The first is the landslide,
which is doubtless caused by the great
alterations of temperature to which the
! moon is subject. Many of these slides
may be easily recognized with good tel
lescopes. The second. form Of change is
illustrated by craters which have been
proven to be different in size and shape
from what they were recorded by ear
iier observers. Many other changes
have been suspected, but they are OF a
more uncertain and doubtful character.
A new alloy called "argasoid, recent
" described by Mr. v. Jeuptner Of vi
emma, has been used as substitute fol
silver. Its cost is said to be about fifty
per cent more than brass. It's chemi-
cal composition is as follows: tin, A.
035; lead, 8. 544; copper, 55.-
7so nickel, 13.4o6 zinc, 90. 1913; iron
trace.
a French chemist has anylyzed the
Juice of the so-called milk tree OF Cen
trail America-to the nutritive quail.
ties of which attention was first drawr
by Humboldt-and has found that the
vegetable product really posses many
of the characteristics of cows milk.
A detailed geological map Of the Rus
sian empire is being prepared under The
supervision of the Geological Insti
tute of Russia.
Herr Pascher, German chemist, la:
reported that the value of glue il
greatly increased by the addition O
twenty five per cent of glycerine. al
.cleaving and breaking of the glue beint
thus prevented.
The 'stinging treen Of Australia is ;
thrifty shrub, which grows from twt
sor three inches to ten or fifteen fee
high, emits a disagreeable order, AMI
lis very poisonous to the touch. Con
.ecerning it a traveller 4 smarks Some
times, while shootins turkeys in th'
shrubs, have entiref. forgotten th,
.stinging tree till I was warned Of it
! close proximity by its smell, and hav'
often found myself in little forest o
them. / was only once stung, and tina
very lightly. Its effects are curious
It leaves no marks, but the pain j
anaddening, and for months afterWark
the part-when touched--is tender il
rainy weather, or when it gets wet il
washing, etc. / have seen man VIII,
treats ordinary pain lightly, roll on th
ground in agony after being stung, an,
I have known a horse 50 completely ma,
after getting into grove Of the tree
that he rushed open-mouthed at ever.
one who approached him. and had t
Ia shot. Dogs when stung will rus