Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1884-02-28
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

few degrees even when the tube is made
very hot. The flow is kept at a constant
rate, and the temperature of the furnace
is calculated very accurately from the in
crease it causes in the waters heat, as
indicated by an ordinary thermometer.
This water pyromcter has proven very
reliable in measuring temperatures of 2,
600 degrees Fahreshcit and higher.
Several instances have been recorded
Of probable injury to the brain as result
Of TOO little activity in some part Of the
body, and case OF brain wasting arising
from the amputation Of a limb has recent
" been communicated to the Paris Acad
envy Of Medicine by Mons. Bourbon. A
soldier, who lost bis left arm some forty
years ago, lately died, and post-mortem
examination showed differences in the
two sides Of his brain which indicated
that one side had been affected by the
removal Of the arm. Toward the close
Of the mans life his left leg gradually be-
came lame, in consequence, it is supposed,
Of the injury done to the brain.
Dr.. Honkman has shown that a light
balanced badly is attracted by vibrating
tuning fork; also that two smoke rings
travelling abreast attract each other, and
two paper rings or disks revolving close
together in the same direction attract,
while if revolving in opposite directions
they rcpel.
Some Of the mines from which the in.
Aabitants Of Esglaad in the stone age
obtaised fint for their weapons and i'm
plements may still be traced. Their age
Is estimated by Mr.. s. j. B. Skertchly
10 be not less than 1000 years.
DR.. J. ]. Wild, +. r. G. S., sums up
~ follows the results Of recent investiga-
&ions into the causes of the color of the
sea, and Of the apparent discolcration Of
the sea-water in certain areas Of the
ocean: "The various tints of blue and
green which constitute what may be called
the proper color Of sea-water are due to
greater or less proportion Of salt held in
solution, the color being an intense blue
when the water is very salt, and changing
by degrees to green-blue, or blue-green,
and grees color as the water becomes
more fresh. On the other hand, the
ahnormally colored red, yellow brown
and inky seas own their appearance to
the accumulation Of large masses Of sea-
weeds, from the gigantic Align, which
fringe the shores of oceanic islands, to
ths microscopic Diatoms; but almsst as
frequently the discoleration is caused by
myriads of animal organisms collected in
shoals At the surface Of the ocean"
Mons. Erickson, of Copenhagen, has
produced from asbestos an enamel for
walls, pipes, ETC., which resists the action
~ef FIRE, water, frost and oxygen. The
. coating material is prepared by powder
ing the asbestos and mixing it with soluble
salts-7-such Is silicate of potash--apd
mineral or other colors which properly
combine with silicic acid
Mr. s. N. Rhoads has given evidence
which proves that turkey-vulturcs are
directed to their prey from great distances
BY thex sense Of smell, and not by sight
alone. He partly uncovered spot where
horse and COW had been buried some
YEAR, before, and in few hours buzxards
were attracted to the place.in great num-
beEs. They must have been guided by
smell, and, rs Mr.. Rhoads could detect
No odor when directly over the burial
place, it is shown that their smelling
power is marvellously delicate. Gosse re-
lates an instance in which vultures circled i!
round house in Jamaica where some
spoiled meat was hidden.
A letter from Mr.. Edward Whymper
to Prof. j. Norman Lockyer, the English
astronomer, gives some interesting partic-
ulars concerning an eruption Of the South
American volcano of Catopaxi which &C.
CURED in 1880. At the commencement
Of the eruption Mr.. Whymper was max
ing his famous ascent of Chimborazo, and
was more than 10000 feet above sea-
level and about IS miles from Cotopaxi.
A dense column Of smoke was seen to
rise suddenly from the volcano to a height
Of about 10000 feet above the sea, when
i was borne westward some twenty miles
BY strong wind, and then gradually
Ipread in all directions. In few hours
tho cloud passed between the observers
md the sun, and color effects surprising
. vivid intensity those Of the most gor-
rooms sunnets xWere then witnessed the