The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-07-26
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 SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

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 Mons- Honigmann, of Aix-la. .ChapelIe propels locomotive without fire and without coal by means of caus,,c soda
 Experiments have been made al Lyons with sheeP's-herns as material for horse. shoes. It is a little more expensive than iron, but ii has proven to be more durabl. and it offers the important advantage of keeping horses from slipping on City pavements.
 Workmen on the St. Gothard ,unne! were affected with peculiar disease. which seemed 10 be caused by minute worms. The same malady has been ob- served among brick-makers. From the latest researches it appears that the worms develop in muddy water, which the work. men careiessiy drink
 In the Philippine Islands luminous paint IS used as safeguard agains, earthquakes Patches of the paint are so placed throughout the dwellings tha, the occupants may be quickly guided to the street at night on the frs, warning of an earthquake. Time for escape is thus gained before the buildings fall.
 Dr. Pehl, of St. Petersburg, has dis covered that bacteria are much less num- erous in running water than in still water having apparently the same chemical composition. He believes tha, germs are destroyed by rapid motion, and tha, water may be rendered comparatively pure by passing it through a centrifugal machine.
 Several years ago two white spots were detected on the surface of the plane, Venus, and have since been studied by Mons. Trouvelot in nearly ,5o obsera- tions. The spots appear to be near the poles of the planet, and the eminent as- tronomer concludes that they are the sum- miss of high mountains projecting above the opaque cloudy envelope which covers Venus.
 Mons. De Rochas intimates that Frank lin was anticipated in his discovery of lightning conduction, as the ancient, Etruscans appeared to understand the art of guiding the lightning. Servius relates that in ancient times the priests ignIted their sacrifices by lightning, and on one occasion Tullius Hostilus neglected the precautions laid down by Numa and was struck dead in consequence.
 Liquid idAir.-Wroblewski' experiments indicates that pure oxygen boils-or re- turns from liquefied form to its ordin- ary gaseous state-at a temperature of about 500 degrees below zero Fahrenheit: nitrogen, at SIS degrees, and the air at about 5I4 degrees. The clements com- posing the air do not separate on being lique6ed. It is predicted that liquefed eir ~ill he the refrigerator of the future. it's evaporation in a vacuum causing the temperature to fall to point lower than 56o degrees below zero.
 Niagara Water Power.-Mr. Benj. Rhodes estimates the average power of Niagara Falls as 100000 horsepower, On the total fall, including the rapids above, of ,3o feet. He places the cost of plant necessary to utilize this power, transform it into electricity. and transmit, it anywhere within radius of 500 miles, at $. 900 900 900. The economy of the power is shown by the calculation that its use instead of steam would effect saving of s+o per annum in the COS, of running each electric light used in the city ot Buffalo.
 A Scientific Season.-The present sum- mer promises to be an important one for science in America. The annual meet ing of the British Association fos the Ad- vancement of Science takes place this year at Montreal, from August ,7ih to September md, and is to be closely fol- lowed by the American association's meeting at Philadelphia, September 4,h 10 IIth. An international electrical exhibi- ton will be in progress in Philadelphia in September, with probably an electrical congress. A greater number of foreign savants will undoubtedly visit this coun- try than were ever before present at one time.
 Alaska Glaciers.-After visit to some of the Alaska glaciers, Mir Thomas Nee han states that beneath the Muir glacier, said to be 100 miles long, flows a rapid torrent, which he estimates to be 100 feet wide and four feet in an average depth, and which runs summer and winter with out interruption. At it's termination the glacier hangs over the sea, and gives of icebergs. Mir. Meehan remarks tha, the