Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1884-06-26
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

il crowded with microscopic organisms.
it has been supposed that the air over the
open sea is remarkably free from them,
and two French Observation-Disclosures
MORGAN AMI Planty'Dansion--hsse ldst
proven By direct observation while cr'ss-
ing the Atlantic that such is really the
case Over the open sea al distance
from their vessel the air was found TO
contain very little solid matter Of any
kind, although Immediately about the
ship the atmosphere swsrmed with nitro
bes. The germ-dcstrcying influence which
the sea appears to exert is regarded as
rcassuring matter, as it probably prevents
the conveying Of epidemics by winds
across the ocean to distant countries.
A method Of growing house-Plan,s
without soil is claimed by Capt. Halford
Thompson, similar plan haTing been
previously suggested by Frenehman
named DumesniI. The plants are reared
in . prepared or "fertilired moss, and
are said to grow even more luxurantly
than in coil. Specimen baskets of plants
cultivated in this way have been exhibit
ed in London.
According to Mr.. Geo. Grindon, who
recently referred to the subject at Man
chester, England, not less than about
100000 Aower-bearing plants are known
to botanists, and not more than 10000
Of them-including 500 kinds Of fruit
trees, all sorts Of vegetables, timber trees,
plants yielding 6bre for clothing, etc
can be said TO be Of direct service to man.
He thinks there may be about 5000
plants which are more or less poisonous
asd hurtful, and it is surprising and
important fact that many Of the deadly
plants are useful medicines in the hands
Of competent physicians.
The latest announcement from Mons
Pastesr promises the human race perfect
safety in future from hydrophobia. 1t
appears that after being bitten by mad
dog man or any other animal may be
saved from an attack Of hydrophobia by
being iuoculated several successive times
with hydrophobic virus in different de-
grees Of strength. Vaccination as pre-
ventive Of smallpox is applied before
exposure to the disease, although it has
been maintained that it can be done sue
ceafully after the poison has entered the
system, while incubation with hydropho-
bia il quite unnecessary until after bit
has been received from a rabid dog
Whatever may have been the origin Of
hydrophobia, Pasteur believes that it can
now be impaired only by actual biting.
He hopes, therefore, that the disease may
entirely disappear It his system be applied
to every case in which an animal is bitten
By mad dog.
A sum equal to about a, 900 is to be
distributed BY the French Association for
the Advancement Of Science at it's meet
ing in September at blois. That amount
Is the first Eve years accumulation Of
legacy left to the society in 1878 by Mons.
Girard 70 enable it to give prizes to en-.
courage geological research relating to
the antiquity Of man.
BY new proceas Of treating petroleum
taTs French chemist has extracted new
war-ike substance, to which the name
"petreoline" has been given. II has
antiseptic properties, and is said to be
valuable - food-preservative.
Dr.. Stevenson has found that, contrary
70 general belief, considerable quantities
Of zinc may be dissolved by water kept
long in contact with it.
"Since,' says Prof. G. A. Young, "the
superstition rs to the moons influence
upon the wind and weather is 20 wide
spread and deep seated, word on that
subject may be in order. In the first
place, Since the total heat received from
the moon, even according to the highes.
determination Chat Of Smyth,) is not SO
much as one hundred-thousandth of that
received from the sun, and since the only
hold the moon has on the earth's wealth
er Is through the heat she sends US q
ignore here the utterly insignificant at.
nospherie tide, } il follows necessarily that
her influence must be very triaiug. In
The next place, all carefully collated OBJ
servations show that it is SO, and not only
tr'hing but generally absolutely insensi-
be-"
The island Of Cos, in the Mediterran.
can, contains a gigantic plane tree, in
whose shade Hippocrates, the Father Of
Medicine, is said by tradition to have
been consulted by his patients. The