Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1884-05-29
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

Sciences By Mons. Charles Brongniart
The creature must have been at least 90
inches long, with an expanse OF wings OF
nearly 90 inches. To science this insect
Of q long past age will be known as
Nctyoneura monyi.
The annual meeting of the British As
ISOLATION for the Advancement of Science
will open at Montreal August 9th and
will close September Sd. The week 5
session Of the American Association be
gins September Sd, at Philadelphia. The
fact that the British Association is visit
ing America for the first time will give
unusual interest to these gatherings Of
English-speaking scientists.
A French writer regards the familiar
yet mysterious phenomenon known as the
sodiacal light as simply a reflection of
light from the Illuminated part Of the
earth upon an upper stratum of the at
mosphere.
According to Grant Allen, almost all
very carly or primeval types of animals
or plants yet existing belong to one or
other Of three peculiar habits--islands,
fresh water streams or lakes and caves
A French anatomist, Mons. Luys, has
found that when person lies down or
stands upon his head the brain changes
its position in the skull in obedience to
the law of gravita,ion. The movements
take place slowly, five or six minutes be-
ing required for the brain to adjust it.
self to new attitude Of the body.
Pasteur has affirmed that the smallest
quantity Of the virus Of rabies which pro-
duces effect upon any animal has the
most furious type of the disease.
According to Mons. Legoyt, the num-
Der Of insane admitted to the public asyl-
ums Of France increased So per cent. be-
tween the years 1871 and 1850, although
the population Of the country gained but
four per cent. The cures numbered only
one in IL among the male patients and
one in 10 of the female patients, while
the deaths were one in six of the males
and one in nine Of the females. OF every
Thousand cases Of insanity, Mons Lcgoyt
hnds GOT to be due to physical causes,
such AZ old age, want, alcoholic excuses,
epilepsy, complaints peculiar to women,
and other nervous affections, while he
ascribes the remaining 1913 to ''moral
causes, such as loss of fortune, domestic
trouble, disappointment in love, jealousy,
disappointed ambition, and highly strung
religious sentiments Suicide, it is inter
ssting to note, may be traced to the same
causes as insanity.
DR.. A. Ernst, of Caracas, Venezuela,
cites two severe earthquakes of that Vi.
cinity as instances Of the remarkable in
luence Of the soil on the destruction of
buildings by such shocks. In each case
the houses built ON rocks were ruined,
while those standing on thick stratum
Of loose material were scarcely injured.
1t is now known to medical science
that diseases Of the eyes and ears are fire..
quenty induced by decaying teeth. A
serious case Of this kind, in which par
tial loss Of sight from cataract was traced
to diseased condition Of the teeth, has
Just been reported to the Haryeian Society
Of London.
Prof. J. Wiessner has pointed out that
the moistening Of plant increases the
Transportation Of its leaves and accelerates
the Aow Of its sap. This effect is bene-
Acial If the soil is sufficiently moist to
supply the increased demand Of the roots,
and injurious il the ground is very dry
The foliage Of plants, therefore, should
only be watercd when the roots are quite
veil supplied with moisture.
Mons. Montigny, of Brussels, has no.
ticed in the scientillation Of the stars
great prcponderence Of blue, the color Of
water or ice in great thickness, when the
is heavily charged with wat
cry vapor and rain is imminent. In june,
1883, he announced that for two months
the twirkliDg Of the stars had shown less
Of the blue than in the corresponding
months Of previous years, while green, a
Fair weather color, had been much more
lrequcntly seen. These observations led
him to predict that the succeeding part
IF the year would be unusually dry. 1t
s now stated that this prediction was so
fulfilled that 1888 in Brussels
Eas the driest year since 1879. A study =
f the atmospheric conditions with the
ain-band spectroscope has enabled observ-
n to Determine the character of imme.