Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1883-09-22
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

ed Mons. V. Burg that copper absorb
ed in various ways into the system
affords almost a certain protection
against cholera. Among other pre-
cautions he recommends the external
application of metallic copper in the
form of plates or even ordinary coins,
the burning of dichloride of copper in
alcohol lamps, the drinking of wine
mixed with the water of cupreous
| springs, and the use of vegetables rem
dered green by sulphate of copper.
For q considerable time the Belgian
| War department has been testing a
process of waterproofing soldiers uni
| forms in which the cloth is soaked in
| a solution of acetate of alumina. The
medical authorities are said to have
satisfied themselves that the articles
of dress thus treated permits the pers-
piration to pass off freely, and chemic-
al analysis has proven that the solution
does not injure the fabric or it's color.
The cloth may be washed without
affecting its waterproof quality.
1t has long been proposed to extend
a chain of earthquake ObservatOries
over the volcanic districts of Italy, and
Prof. de ROssi now urges the immedi-
ate completion of the series of such
stations. Earthquakes are very often
heralded days i'll advance by phenO-
mena familiar to seismOlOgists, MAX
ing it possible to issue earthquake
warnings in season to enable inhabit-
ants of threatened districts to find pla-
ces of safety. An observatory at Cas-
samiociola might have saved many |
lives.
Lieut.. Dick of of the Russian army,
has discovered q new illuminating |
substance in the form of powder |
may be applied to become luminous.
Water in a glass vessel may be con-
verted into an illuminating fluid by
the addition of some of the powder.
This new illuminant consumes no
oxygen, and it's use i'll mining works is
therefore recommended. It's illumin-
ating power lasts eight hours, when a
new suippy of the powder becomes
necessary, The German Government
has lately been experimenting with
the substance.
Chemistry-which, like other scien-
ces, has been wonderfully developed
during the past century-is often men,
toned as science of recent origin,
but many chemical facts were known
to the ancients even before the dawn
of historical time. Specimens of their
work still in existence in icate that
the ancient Egyptians had considera-
BILE chemical knowledge. They were
skilled in smelling ores and working
metals, had good understanding of
1yes, made glass, and knew how to
prevent the decomposition of dead
animal matter, while the priesthood
had some idea of pharma-
,eutical chemistry.
An international congress of orni-
biologists, in which the Crown Prince
If Austria will take prominent part,
will meet at Vienna next spring. A
nOng the topics to be discussed by the
Meeting is the possibility protecting
birds in the various countries
# continental Europe.
At scientific meeting at Naples in
April Mr.. Charles Deperais advocated
he embalming of bodies by boiling
hem in a solution of chloride of call
ium, and then in solution Of sulph-
tie of soda.
An English writer proposes that his
ountrymen raise their own tea, and
discontinue the use of the adulterated
'rodqct now imported from China.
lie has found that an infusion of the
caves of Chinaonaaattus .fragrans, a
hrub which has been acclimatized in
England for eighty years, forms an
xcellent beverage resembling "the
est green tea without any Chinese
irt mixed with it,"
The appearance of new disease in
lew South Wales is reported, the
exhibited by persons affect
d with it being very similar to those
# hydrophohia. The peculiar malady
$ supposed to result from the eating
# the flesh of sheep infected with pa
asites:
Prof. n. II. Winchell, of Minnea-
'olis, gives 23,3lS pounds per cubic
nch as the average strength of Mime
ota GRANTEES, determined by crushing
wenty samples. The records of tests
pplied to twenty specimens of New
England GRANTEES give an average
trength of only 1876 pounds per
ubic inch. To account for this re-
difference of strength, Prof.
Ninchell suggests that the western
ocks may have been less affected by
lecay than those of New England. g
'he glacial period may have been
realty prolonged in Minnesota leav-
ng the GRANTEES comparatively fresh
Trough a recent grinding away of a
considerable thickness.
1t has long been supposed that tame
nonkeys die chiefly from eonsump-
ion, but q careful inquiry by the Lon
on Pathologica.. Society shows that
uch is not the case. Out of fifty three
eaths in the collection of the Zoologi-
al Society, only three were ascribed :
o that disease Bronchitis Is very
atal, and caused the death of twenty !
wo monkeys during the sixteen
months of the investigations.