Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1883-07-26
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

Biography have been made at Kew, Eng
land, under the direction of Capt. Abney
The apparatus employed consists of two
similar cameras, stationed at distance
Of about 600 feet apart, and provided
with instantaneous shutters to be stimuli
taneously released by electricity. The
observer measures the angle of inclination
Of the cameras and the position of the
cloud Is photographed on the two plates,
and from these data trigonometric cal
culation gives the distance of the cloud
with great accuracy.
A French scientific journal describes
IN electric curiosity which it's editor has
received from DR.. Claudet. The novelty
Is specimen of electric flannel, which is
claimed TO be valuable in cases of rhcum-
atism. The oxides of tin, copper, zinc
and iron form nearly one-eighth of the
weight Of the flannel A series of threads
Of the fabric is impregnated with these
metallic oxides, and each series is alter
nstely separated by untreated threads.
The flannel thus prepared constitutes
dry pile, which has been shown by indie
pendent experiments Of Messrs. Drin-
court AID Porterin, both reputable physi-
cists, to disengage electricity when in
contact with the body, the current becom-
ing more marked as the flannel absorbs
the moist products of perspiration.
Mons. Oh. Moutigny, of Brussels, has
noticed that not only does the aurora
b0realis increase the scintillation of stars
--as other observers have noted-but
that magnetic disturbances produce the
same effect even when accompanied by
10 visible aurora. The influence is strong
- for stars in the north.
Two German investigators, Herrcn
Tonroe and Schmelck, have ascertained
that the composition Of sea water is very
nearly the same in all places and at all
depths. Unequal dilution with the fresh
water constantly being added to the sea
causes the specific gravity to vary some
what, but the respective proportions of
the different salts held in solution always
1emain the same.
Mons. G. Husson has studied the in
duence OF ENTHUSIASTICALLY salt and
vaegar-on the digestion. His expert
monts confirm the conclusions of various
Psychologists that small quantities of these
condiments are useful, especially in slim
ulating the formation of gastric juice. In
excess they render the food more indiges-
dble, and are irritating to the coats of the
stomach. The proportion of salt should
not exceed one or two parts to one hun
dred parts Of meat; Of acid it should not
be more than from one to four parts in
one thousand.
Herr Schell, Of Grund, Germany, has
reported that in the course Of mining op-
erstions in the Hortx mountains the
sounds made by the firing Of shots in a
cross-cut were audible through the rock
At point 437 feet distant in horizontal
direction; and the dropping of $40
pound stamp on the surface was heard in
s~uhnel through 81 feet Of rock, the
tunnel being 53s feet below the surface
and under q point distant horizontally
lS7 feet from the stamp mill.
ut y stated that the secretary of the
Royal Botanic Society, Of London, has
tried the experiment Of planting sea-
weeds in moist garden soil, and that most
Of the specimens aourished in their new
condition Of land plants
In England the use Of bismuth has
been patented in new alloy containing
coppsr, zinc, nickel, tin and bismuth in
varying proportions. The so-called bis
muth bronze is hard, tough and sonor-
90 metallic alloy, which is claimed to be
adapted for the following pur-
poses; for propeller-blades, shafts and
other appliances exposed to sea-water; for
wires, its toughness making it |
valuable where much strain has to be en-
aured; for piano and other music wires,
On account Of its sonorous quality; and
Tor domestic utensils and other articles
exposed to atmospheric influence, alumni
aum being added to the composition when
Intended for these articles.
Incandescent electric lamps are used
IN the carriage lamps Of Baron Roths-
'hild, Of Vienna. Storage batteries placed
under the coachman's seat are said to be
apable Of carrying charge of electricity
to feed the lights for one hun.
lred hours.
Dr.. I. r. Allison, an advocate Of the