St. Landry democrat., 1884-12-13
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

soil may be effectually robbed of some
essential ingredient by one abundant
crop as to be incapable of producing
another, so in the human system a
parasitic disease may so completely ex-
haust the blood of some Ingredient ne
cessary to the growth and propagation
| of the parasite that the production of a
second crop in fatal or considerable
quantity may be impossible. 1t would
thus appear that protective vaccination
or inoculation is simply the introduction
| into the blood of weakened and COM
paratively harmless disease germs to
consume the material which might be-
come food for similar germs in a more
vigorous and dangerous condition.
WIND WoRK.-A gale at East st.
Louis in 1871, according to Mr.. c. Shaler
! Smith, over turned locomotive exert
| ing force of no less than SO pounds per
square foot. At st. Charles a Jail was
destroyed in 1877, the pressure required
being 81 pounds per square foot. At
Marshfeld. in 1880, brick mansion was
leveled, the force necessary being IS
pounds per square foot. Below these
extraordinary pressures, Mr.. Smith has
instanced numerous cases of trains
blown off rails, and bridges, ETC., blown
down, by gales of "a to 81 pounds per
square foot.
Successful experiments in distributing
the electric light to great distances have
Electrical Exhibition. A Siemens ma
chine of 80 horse power generated q
current which was simultaneously used
by several electric light systems spread
over circuit Of about 95 miles.
A motor driven by small charges of
gun-cotton is an English novelty. It is
said to be applicable wherever small
powers are required.
A German botanist has given in
stances of the modification of plants by
insects 50 as to produce new varieties.
GREAT WoRMs.-According to Mr.. F.
3. Beddard, London zooIogist, earth
worms two feet in length have been
found in the British Isles, and various
species as large or larger are known to
exist in South America, Western Africa,
Australia and New Zealand. The larg-
est species known, however, inhabits
South Africa. Forty years ago speci-
men was described which measured six
feet two inches in length, but it seems
to have been nearly forgotten until the
other day, when gigantic creature of
the same species was sent to the London
Geological Gardens from Cape Colony.
The longest measurement of this worm
yet taken, reaches six feet five inches,
its diameter being nearly half an inch.
MONEY VEGETATIoN.-A short time
since, Paul Reinsch discovered several
kinds of minute plants-including two
algae which had before been unknown
growing upon coins after having been
long enough in circulation to receive
thin incrustations of organic matter.
A Hungarian botanist, Jules Schaar-
schmidt, has more recently found the
microscopic growths upon paper money,
even the cleanest specimens not being
free from them. He has detected seven
species, including-although they are
rare-the two new algae described by
Reinsch.
PICTURES OF SoUND.-Some remarka-
BILE photographs of pistol bullet in its
Highlander the illumination Of an
electric spark-have been secured by
Poof. E. Mach, of Prague. He has
also photographed the air streams which
one may see over a Bunsen burner plac-
ed in sunshine and has even obtained
pictures of waves of sound, these last
being made visible by a method in
which advantage is taken of the irregu-
lar refraction of light by air set in Vi
bration by sound.
"A French astronomer has found rea-
sons for believing that circular pro-
tuberance- presumably volcano
which exists in the southern hemisphere
of Venus has an elevation of not less
than seventy miles. He regards such a
vast mountain as not incompatible with
the planets volcanic nature.
The members of the German Reich
stag never receive any remuneration
for their parliamentary services. France
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