Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1883-04-19
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

6@1tGc, DNt dit uht " u Va W."
nerves of smell in the presence of per
fumes for an unwontcd length OF time
The effect is analogous to that produced
upon the eyes by an unusual exposure to
light, or en- the ears by long-continued
sounds.
A comparison of skinned with un-
skinned milk has shown Herr J. KONG
that the former is by far the cheaper and
more nutritious food for adults 1t also
appears that, in German markets, the
price paid for the albuminoids in skim
med milk is lower than that paid for them
in any other common food except stock
6sh. For example, certain amount
Of nutritive matter from skinned milk
costs ALI; pfenniss, while in pork it
would cost ia; in butter, 81, and in
eggs, 2ol.2.
Mons Timiriazeif informs the French
Academy that he has found the leaves
Of plants to be capable of Transforming
into chemical work as much as forty per
cent. Of the energy absorbed by them
from the suns rays. This chemical work
is the locking up in plant tissue of a great
quantity of solar energy, which remains
ready to serve whomsoever shall liberate
it, the leaf being the wonderful storage
battery of nature which bottles the sun
beams 50 securely that W. are able to APP
ply them at pleasure to heating our furn-
aces, driving our engines and sustaining
our bodies.
Herr Jensen affirms that potato disease,
which is caused by a fungus, first attacks
the tops of the plants, and is conveyed to
the nbers by means Of spores washed
into the soil by rain. To prevent the in
lection Of the tubes he recommends run
ming pillow between the rows so as to
turn up a furrow on the top of the hills,
and then bending the plants over the
furrow. This causes the water which
washes the tops to run away from the
hills. The furrowing should be done on
the first appearance Of the disease, and,
Is future prccaution, should not be dug
for at least two or three weeks after the
tops are entirely wilted. A trial Of this
method has given very good results.
Sir John Lubbock states that more
than thousand species of ants are known,
and that is certainly far short Of the num-
Der actually in existence.
The solar eclipse of May II, 1901,
will exceed that of the present year in its
total phase by about half minute. The
sun will be entirely covered for period
Of six minutes and twcnty-four seconds
At the most favorable point Of observation.
1t is considered remarkable that leprosy,
which tho progress of civilization has
driven from most parts of Europe, should
still flourish in Norway. Late returns
show that such is the case, although the
number Of lepers in that country had de.
creased..from zoos at the end of 1875
to 1882 at the end of 1880. The dis
ease is attributed to the use of food
particularly fish--in an unwholesome con
dition, and also to uncleanliness
A Partisan has announced new ex
plosive-"panclastite (which he claim
TO be more powerful than dynamite.
For lighting mines Mons. Mongin ha
proposed the use Of incandescent electric
lamps immersed in water contained il
glass globes. The safety of such an ap
paratus has been demonstrated by plaoin:
it in the middle of a balloon filed witt
hydrogen.
The idea has become current that sub
marine telegraphic cables do not last NOR
than ten years, but, according to ST
Daniel Gooch, NJ. p, repairs on one o
the Atlantic lines last year showed tn
cable to be in good order after submera
ence of thirteen years.
Some curious stones are found in man
parts of Switzerland, They are smooth
fat, evidently hand polished, and al
covered with dots, lines, circles and hal
circles. In the opinion of Herr Rodige
these stones are charts of the countr
made by prehistoric inhabitants, and i
claims to posses collection of ston,
picked up in Solothurn which form tt
gether map of the entire canton. III
dots are seen to correspond with tow
and villages now in existence, and ii
lines with roads now open. Even fore
and mountain passes are indicated II
stones are mostly discovered at interva
of about six miles, and at spots whel