Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-02-07
Scientific MISCELLANY.


At certain seasons kind of fish
eaten in Bombay is liable to contain
very small worms, 10 which the natives
often aseribe eases of cholera aud sew
eral eases of the disease among Europe
ans have followed a fish supper.
Two of the known comets of short
period arrive At perihelion in 1881
D'Arrest's on January 18th. and Bror-
sens about September. For several
months astronomers have been unsuc-
cessfully watching for the former, and
It is probable that it may pass unseen
at this return.
A novel and interesting application
of electricity has been introduced at the
court opera at Vienna. The effect of
swarms of tireilies fitting about tropi-
cal forest is produced in strikingly
realistic manneE by the plan OF sus-
pending tiny incandescent lamps by
fine swinging wires, the flashes of the
artificial tireflies being caused by rapid
switching the current on and of,
1t seems that the injurious effects
sometimes resulting from the use of
presence OF lead in the cans. At a la.e
inquest near London, medical evidence
was given to the effect that death had
been caused by eating salmon which
had been poisoned through decompos-
ton by nitrate of tin formed by the
action of the preserved fish on the tin
Of the can containing il.
Mr. r. W jenkins, of Ceylon, reports
that in the mountain districts OF that
island the volcanic explosions of Kraka-
toa were distinctly heard, although
>, 900 miles distant. The sounds re-
sembled those of heavy canncns at q
distance of few miles, or of dynamite
rock-blasting q mile or so away. Prof.
r. A. Proctor supposes that the sound
waves were conveyed through the
earth's crust, and not through tho air.
From experiments upon dogs, Lewas-
chew and Klikowitch nave concluded,
that the effect OF ordinary natural MN
cral waters is TO incr ase the quantity
of bile and to make 1t more fluid and
watery. This increased tlow IS beneh-
cial in freeing the gall-bladder from
stagnant bile. The action of artificial
solutions of alkaline salts, as well as
of hot water, was found TO be similar
to that of the natural mineral waters.
The work of the municipal laborato-
~ at Paris in testing food substances
results in some interesting disclosures.
Ii has lately revealed the fact that
spurious fruit ilavors are extensively
made and sold in that city, the llayors
of the strawberry, pineapple, melon,
apple, pear. cherry, plum, apricot and
peach being successfully Initiated by
artificial chemical compounds. A So
called gooseberry Jelly was examined,
and proved to have been made from
sea-Weed
Among the scientific results of his
| Greenland expedition Baron NordensG-
jold mentions the discovery that, con-
irarv to the general belief, the west
coast Of Greenland is washed by cold
water, while a greatly heated current
coming from the south runs along the
east coast at u short distance only from
! the shore This current must exercise
great influence on the climate Of the
east coast, which may be more moist,
/ but, in the Baron 5 opinion, not colder
/ than that Of the west coast.
A kind of timber found in yellow
clay in China, near the border OF Thi-
bet, is stated by Mr.. T. Colbornc Baber,
of the British legation at PeNn &c
be held in high esteem as material
for collins, on account Of the resistance
it offers to decay and insect rayasos.
A single collin made from its planks is
valued at an equivalent Of three nun
bred pounds sterling. Unfortunately
| Mr.. Baber has been unable to give any
information concerning the botanical