Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1883-10-04
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

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which are attacked much less often. have
been tried as substitutes at Coblcntz,
Prussia, from which place they made very
satisfactory trips of about 40 miles.
A study of 80 years has convinced
Mons. V. Burg that copper absorbed In
various ways into the system affords al
most certain protection against cholera.
Among other precautions he recommends
the external Application Of metallic copper
in the form of plates or even ordinary
coins, the burning Of dichlorido Of copper
in alcohol lamps the drinking of wine
mixed with the water Of cupreous springs
and the use Of vegetables rendered green
by sulphatc of copper.
For considerable time the Belgian
War Department has been testing a pro
cess Of interpreting soldiers uniforms
in which the cloth is soaked in solution
of acetate of alumina. The medical au-
thorities are said to have satisfied them
selves that the articles of dress thus treat
cd permit tho persplration to pass of
freely, and chemical analysis has proven
that the solution does not injure the IA
brio or its color The cloth may be
washed without affecting its waterproof
quality.
1t has long been proposed to extend Il
chain of earthquake obseryatories over
the volcanic districts of Italy, and Prof,
de Rossi now urges the immediate COM
pletion of the series of such stations.
Earthquakes are often heralded days in
advance by phenomena familiar to seis-
mologists, making it possible to issue
earthquake warnings in season to enable
Inhabitants of threatened districts to find
places of safety. An observatory at Gas
samicciola might have saved many lives
Lieut.. Dick, of the Russian army, has
discovered new Illuminating substance
in the form Of powder which causes any
objects to which it may be applied to be.
come luminous. Water in a glass vessel
may be converted into an illuminating
fluid by the addition of some of the pow
der. This new illuminant consumes no
oxygen, and its use in mining operations
is therefore recommended Its illumin-
ating power lasts eight hours, when new
supply Of the powder becomes necessary,
The German Government has lately been
experimenting with the substance
Chemistry-which, like other sciences,
has been wonderfully developed during
the past century--is often mentioned us
q science of recent origin, but many
chemical facts were known to have an
clients even before the dawn of historical
times Specimens of their work still in
existence indicate that the ancient Egyp-
tians had considerable chemical knowledge
They were skilled in smelling ores and
working metals, had good understanding
Of dyes, made glass, and knew how to
prevent the decomposition of dead ami
NAL matter, while the priesthood evident
~ had some idea of pharmaceutical chem
istry.
An international congress of ornitholo-
gists, in which the Crown Prince of Aus.
tria will take prominent part, will meet
1t Vienna next spring. Among the
topics to be discussed by the meeting is
the possibility of protecting harmless birds
In the various countries of continental
Europe.
AT scientific meeting at Naples in
April Mr.. Charles Deperais advocated the
embalming Of bodies by boiling them in
. solution of chloride of calcium. and
then in a solution of sulphate of soda.
An English writer proposes that his
countrymen raise their own tea, and dis
continue the use of the adulterated pro.
duct now imported from China. He has
found that an infusion of the leaves of
Chimonanthus fngrans, shrub which
mas been acclimatized in England for 80
years, forms an excellent beverage re-
sembllng 'the best green tea without any
Chinese dirt mixed with it,
The appearance of new disease in
New South Wales is reported, the symp- |
toms exhibited by persons affected with
It being very similar to those of hydro
phobia. The peculiar malady is suppos-
ID to result from the eating of the flesh
'f sheep infected with parasites.
Prof. N. II. Winchell, of MINNEAPOLIS
gives 23,3lS pounds per cubic inch as
he average strength of Minnesota gran
ties, determined by crushing twenty sam.
lies. The records of tests applied to
wenty specimens OF New England gran