The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-08-02
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 SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.


 The Australian blue-gun tree (Euca- iyptus globulus) does rot thrive in Ire land, and severe weather has lately killed trees which were experimentally intrc- duced there thirteen years ago, and which had reached height of sixty feet.
 Mons. Daubree believes that all the phenomena of earthquakes may be satis- factorily explained on the assumption that they result from the action of super- heated steam. He gives many objections to tie theory of falling rocks in internal chasms.
 Manganese is found by Mons. E. I. Maumene to exist in all wines, but in quantities too small to have any effect. In the cereals it is much more plentiful, and this chemist thinks that it may play more important part in the life of ani- malls than does iron.
 A member of the London Anthropoloe- ical society lately discovered a primitive stone axe in actual use by a Londoner. who was chopping up hrewood with it. The axA, whose keenly sha,pened blade was large piece of the stone known as banded chert, was brought by a sailor from the Andaman Islands, in the bay of Bengal.
 For many years Prof. H. W. Nogel has conducted researches on means of pho tographing colored objects in their nat ural shades. It is known generally that certain colors-such as blue, green and red-give very unnatural pictures, but Prof. Vogel has at last succeeded in ob- taining photographs satisfactorily show ing colored objects-without, of course, reproducing the colors themselves.
 A new and brilliant ring round the planet Saturn has been discovered by two French astronomers, Messrs. Paul Henry and Prosper Henry, who express surprise that 1t has not been observed before. It is suggested that the oversight confirms the suspicion that Saturn's rings are in a state of constant change, as it appears most probable that the reason why the new ring was not earlier seen is that it was formerly much less distinct than now.
 Two peaks of the Alps exceed Is,ooo feet in height, ard six or seven rise above IA, ,ooo feet; while in the Himalayas more than ,ooo have been measured which exceed 10000 feet, and it is esti- mated that at least 1000 exceed this height. In the Himalayas the feat of to an altitude of q 900 feet was lately achieved by Mir. W. w. Graham, but this height must be surpassed by }, 1000 feet before the highest poin, in the range can be reached.
 Cases of remarkable intimacy between animals of different species are not rare, although they have only recently attract ed particular attention. A writer in China mentions the shooting of a snake under conditions which make it appear that the creature was crossing a river on inc back of tortoise, and this c;rcun- stance gives some color of probability to an assertion often made among the Chinese tha, the greatest affection exists between these two animals
 Dr. Albrecht of Neuchatel, has been experimenting to determine the effect of nethodic inhalations of oxygen gas upon he development of tubercular consump- ion. Loss of weight was checked in the 'onsumptives, difficulty of breathing was and an apparent decrease vas caused in the number of the bacteria which always accompany the disease. It vas his hope that the oxygen might otally destroy the b acteria, or supposed :ause Of the malady, and thus effect a ,ure.
 The Effects of High Mountain Air. Mountain sickness is not an inevitable of travelling in elevated places. With two guides, MT. w. w. Graham has climbed 100 feet higher han any other human beingA reaching a 'oins in the Himalayas 73,7oo feet above ca level. Of the experience of his party, dr. Graham says in an account given to he Royal Geographical Society of Lon lon: Neither in this nor in any other scent did we feel any inconvenience in 'reathing other than the ordinary pant ng inseparahle from any muscular exer- ion. Nausea, bleeding as the nose, emPorary loss of sight and hearing, were conspicuous only by their absence, and he only organ percepdbly a6ected vas he heart, whose beasings became very 'ercepdble, quite audible, while the pace vas decidedly increased"