Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1884-06-05
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

to show that the organisms found in the
iutestiDes of cholera victims are the real
cause of the malady, the German Cholera
Commission. whose investigations in India
have Just been completed, has failed to
produce the disease by inoculating lower
animals with the germs. 1t is now an
nounced, however, that this result has
been accomplished by DR.. Vipcen, Rich
ards, surgeon Of Goalando, Bengal. Al
ter many experiments, he communicated
to pig what appears to have been GEM
inc cholera, the animal having died with
in three hours after the administration OF
the cholera-poisou.
Astronomers have found reason for
believing that the activity Of the sun, as
indicated by the dark patches on its disc,
wakes and wancs in pretty regular peri
Cd, and have concluded that eleven years
may be taken as close estimate of the
time which must elapse between one sea
son Of greatest disturbance and the next.
To accord with this theory, season OF
greatest disturbance-that is, sun-spot
maximum-should have been reached in
1882 or early in 1888: but, instead, the
day-god still continues to show increased
energy, and it even appears quite probable
that the maximum of spots has not yet
arrived.
Mr.. s. II. Trowbridge has described a
Sshovel nosed sturgeon, taken from the
Missouri river, whose eyes we're concealed
by = complete overgrowth of skin. Mr..
Trowbridge suspects that the entire spc-
cies u becoming sightless, as these stur-
geons now have eyes smaller than those
Of most fishes, while their life in mud
must make sight as unnecessary to them
u to the blind fishes Of caves.
The total number of species of Aus
tralian fishes thus far described is report
I'd to be 1901.
Reports TO the Paris Academy Of
Sciences on the lightning strokes in France
during 1883 show that such accidents
were largely confined to the months Of
June and July, the number reported for
July being lab, resulting in 10 deaths.
Most Of the persons struck occupied po-
sitions near tree, a chimney, or house
on m elevated site with trees around it,
but there were cases Of death in an open
field and on roadway. Several accidents
from lightning happened to persons car
sying umbrellas.
At recent meeting Of the Berlin
Physical Society, Prof. Landolt exhibited
solid cyliador Of carbonic acid, which
he had made an hour before by hammer
ing lakes Of the solid acid in a cylindri.
al vessel. The hammered mass Of solid
lied gas resembled common chalk, and
could be touched by the hand.
Nj. G. Reid, Of the British Geological
Survey, contends that the formation of
roll cannot have been wholly due to the
veathcring Of the underlying rocks, since
agood soil must contain mixture Of ma
Aeriah from different rocks. This mix
ture must have been effected, in high
places At least, BY the action Of winds in
distributing dust.
Mr.. W. ]. Knowles has exhibited to
ths London Anthropological Institute a
chipped flint implement which he found
in undisturbed boulder clay in Ireland,
and which he therefore regards as evidence
Of The existance Of man in the glacial
period.
Rabbits are said to be increasing in
Australia with astonishing rapidity and
they have become 10 destructive to crops
that schemes for their determination are
now being discussed.
The perceptible earthquakes of the
sivilised world are estimated to average
II number lilo per anaum. Slight trem-
ers, detected by delicate instruments, are
everywhere numerous.
The manufacture Of artificial human
milk is growing into quite an industry in
England. It ID made from pure COW
milk, which il first boiled to destroy all
germs, then treated with digestive fer
ment called pancreatine, by which artii-
cial digestion Is produced, and is finally
brought to the same constitution as hu-
man milk by the use of dilute acids for
precipitatiDg the excess Of albumen. Sick
children in hospitals have been fed on
this product, and have gained most rapid
y in health and weight.
The dark green circles Of gras known |
~ "fairy rings" have been puzzle to
scientists, but Messrs Lawes, Gilbert aud