Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1883-12-06
SCIENTIFIC MI3CCLLaUy.

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land is 4,406 feet above sea-ovel, and is
much higher than any other in The Brit
ish Isles. America has two elevated
weather stations-that of Pixies Peak De
ing 14,15l feet high, and that Of Nit
Washington 6,2S6 feet; while France
claims four ranging from 1883 to II,
1879 feet; and Italy has three, Of which
the highest is 1886, and the lowest is
1887 feet. Russia has one as high as
3,787 feet; and Switzerland maintains one
1t height of 1906 feet, and another at
1915 feet.
On the Devonshirc coast in England a
sea grass (Porphyra laciniata) is collected
and made into bread by cleansing, boil
ing, mixing with small proportion Of cat
meal and baking. This bread keeps from
four to eight days. Most Of it is sent to
the Welsh town of Swansea, where the
poorer people are fond of it.
Mr.. T. r. c. f. Peek states that there
are important differences in the compost
ton Of the hot springs of Iceland and OF
New zealand. The hot mud wells Of lee
land contain SO much copper that several
companies have been formed to work
them commercially; while the New Zeal
and mud springs are so full Of infusoria
that in times of famine the natives sns-
tain life on diet consisting chiefly OF
mud.
A bureau of commercial science has
been instituted in France. Its purpose
is to bring together information bearing
on commerce, foreign industries, etc.
A remarkable modification of the
microscope has been perfected by Mr. j.
Letter, of Vienna. 1t has received the
name Of gastroscope, and it is to be used
for viewing the interior of the human
stomach. 1t consists of metal tube
about 26 inches long and half inch thick
bent at an angle of $50 degrees at about
one-foarth of its length from the lower
end. At its lower extremity is an mean
descent electric lamp for lighting up the
stomach, and microscope objective.
Prisms are arranged to reflect the image
bearing pencil OF light along the tube and
past the bend to the eye-piece. Provis-
ion is made for circulation Of water
about the lamp to prevent inconvcnient
heating.
From measurements of the brightness
Of the suns corona made during the total
eclipse of last May Mons. JANSEN the
eminent French astronomer, estimates its
light to be somewhat greater than that
Of the full moon
The returned comet of 1912, which
astronomers are now watching with much
interest, has shown a singular variability
in brightness. One observer reports that
powerful telescope failed to reveal it on
the night of Septembe 23d, but on the
next night it was easily seen in very
small instrument while after that time it
again became very difficult object to
detect.
In removing the foundation of an old
bridge built by Charlemagne, German
engineels have found the piles so well
preserved, although nearly LOO years
old, that the wood can still be used in
building. The iron rivcted to the posts
is practically unimpaired.
It has been thought that the freezing
Of the sap causes trees to expand in cold
weather. Prof Thomas Meehan finds,
however, that such is not the case, as the
trees contract to considerable extent.
"The selective power of roots" says
Mr.. Roberts Brown in paper upon the
food Of plants, sis in reality the primary
cause why nations spread naturally over
the world. They must have land to cul-
tivate their crops, and before artificial
methods Of renewing the fertility of the
soil were discovered, it got exhausted
or worn out, and the agricultural people
had to seek newer lands, which as yet lay
in all their virgin richness
1t is generally supposed that luminous
paint was not known until quite recently,
but, according to DR.. Macgowan, the
Chinese understood the art of making
such paint at very early period. A
tradition relates that the Emperor Tai
Tsuns, who fourished toward the end of
the tenth century of the Christian era,
was presented with picture, which at
night represented COW lying down with
in fence, while during the day the COW |
browsed outside. 1t is explained that the |
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