Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1883-03-22
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

In tbs white sand 81 the Ergent
Mountains at Sarspta, Asiatic Russia,
are found some curious stones. They
have round, cylindrical and target
shaped forms, aud range 10 size from
Jumps smaller than walnuts to masses
Of more than fourteen inches in length
and from two to seven inches in thick
ness. Each Of the cylindrical stones
which are often forkcd and root-like
10 appearance--is found to contain
brown kernel with white spot in the
centre. These singular formations have
perplexed many persons, including
Alexander Won Humboldt, who, while
declaring the stones to b. Of recent
date, could not explain their origin.
Alex. Becker now believes that he can
with certainty assert that they have
been produced around the roots of
plants containing milky juice. Several
such plants grow abundan,ly in the
white sand. The long roots are LAGER
ated BY insects, and the milky fluid
lows continually from the wounds,
sticking the chalky sand firmly around
the roots. In time the roots die and
disappear, leaving in their places white
often hollow--kernels, together with
the brown color OF the root-cortex.
The round and target shaped stones
emily few Of which have brown kernel
may have formed where the milky
huid ran away into the sand.
The distinctness with which small
stars appear in photographs Of the great
comet Of last year leads Mr.. Gill, as
tronomer Of the Cape of Good Hope
observatory, to suggest the possibility
sf making star-maps BY direct photog
rapny Of the heavens.
DR.. OFT has learned that the rattle
snakes tail makes sixty vibrations Z
second.
The readiness with which certain
solids conduct sound is familiar fac
II physics which Mons. Goblin mentions
q having long had curious applica
ton on the Rhone. Considerable guam
tities Of gravel are carried down the
river by the current, and, by placing
one end Of q cane in the water and
applying the other to the ear, the clash
Of the moving pebbles IS they strike
together is distinctly heard BY persons
in boats on the surface. Tho sound il
) cracking like that produced in fry
Ing.
Mons. Fayol has found that the dur
alton Of oak timber used in collieries il
ipc. eased and sometimes doubled BY
treatment with tar. The same substance
has, however, little influence upon tn.
durability Of pine.
Good reason exists for believing thai
hay-fever il caused by pollen, accord
ing to Mr.. 9. B. Plowright, an English
microscopic, who says the pollen rap
idly begins to throw out pollen-tube'
when brought into contact with thu
warm and moist mucous membrane o.
the bronchial tract. Similarly, h.
thinks that the spores sf some fungus
growing on grasses must enter thu
bronchial tubes Of sheep and germinat.
therein to produce the "sheep cough
known 70 English sheep growers.
Mons. Brown Sequard recently dis
covered that carbonic acid has re
markable anesthetic action when blown
into the upper opening Of the larynx
insensibility being produced not onl,
In that organ but 10 the entire body
II is found that the effect is not due t
the passage Of carbonic acid into tn.
blood, as might BE- supposed, but to Al
influence exerted on the nerve centre.
by irritation Of tho sensitive nerves OIL
the larynx.
A Vienna chemist has made q new
glass, which seems to be an interesting
production. Its composition is no,
given, but it is said to contain neither
silex, potash. soda, lime nor borax. /,
is perfectly clear and transparent, anc
can be cut and polished, while it is re
ported to be more brilliant in appear
ance than the common crystal. 1t i,
completely insoluble in water, and il
not affected BY fuoric acid, but hydro
chloric and nitric acids corrode it
When fused it adhsres to iron, bronz,
and zinc, and would probably form
valuable protective coating for thos'
metals.
LOckver's sunnoxit;on that nn II n,