The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-02-21
Srirnrr Nntrs.

ephone receiver. The earth currents
which are indicated by sounds in the
telephone never fail to give notice to
the observer, who consults the appa-
ratus several times a day, of the ap-
proach of storm from twelve to fl
teen hours in advance.
In 1881 the International Polar con-
terence was organized in st. Peters
burg, and planned the scientific expe-
dltlons to fourteen points within OF
near the Arctic Circle. These expedi-
lions were to make meterplogical and
other observations during the year
ending with August, 1883. A meet
ing OF the conference is to be held at
Vienna in May of the present year
to receive reports of the work done
by the observers.
Efforts are being made to establish
a weather service in China with the
Hong Kong Observatory as its center.
Meteorological registers are to be sys-
tematically kept at the principal ports
OF the country, and it is expected that
the government astronomer, who is at
the head Of the project, will ultimate
ly be able to give forecasts of the
weather and to furnish information
to mariners which will greatly lessen
the dangers of voyages.
Mr.. G. w. Heaton, an English chem
ist, has analysed a sample of water
from the famous Hagar's Well, at
Meca-to which thousands of Moham-
medan pilgrims resort annually-and
reports that the water is most dan
gerous compound, containing an ex-
traordinarily large proportion of filth.
The total amount of solid matter
found in gallon of it was more than
twenty-five times as great as that
found in like quantity of water from
the Thames river.
The pulse-beats of a criminal dur
ing execution have been recorded.
After the rope was adjusted the pulse
rate was 121; Immediately after the
drop it fell 70 81, So, SO, 20 and 0 in the
fifth minute; but the sixth minute it
ros5 to 20, then to 70; eigth minute, O;
ninth, "a; after this no pnlse was per-
ceptible in the arteries, but the heart
beat two or three times between the
ninth and nineteenth minutes, and
once in the nineteenth minute. The
death was from strangulation, the
neck not being dislocated.
Prof. Huxley has declared that in
his voyage around the world, and in
all his studies of savage life, he found
no people so miserable, wretched and
degraded as those who exist in the
poorer quarters of London The bar
Darians who live in constant state
OF violence and depreciation, and who
are exposed to the worst rigors of
climate and weather, have more enjoy
able and independent lives than these
miserable workers and artisans, and he
says that if hehad to make his choice
he should unhesitatiDgly prefer the
existence of the former.
Physicists have lately been trying
to determine by experiment, whether
the electricity of thunder storms is
generated either by the evaporation of
water or by the condensation Of Vapor.
Freeman and Blake have each OBJ
tanned results which inGicate that no
electricity is produced by the evapor-
alton of pure water; and Mr.. S. Kali
ischer has since made some investiga-
ton with delicate apparatus which
have failed to show that condensation
of Yapor or the formation of hail is
source of atmospheric electricity.
Our stock of knowledge of the ami
NAL kingdom is increasing very rapid
ly. The number of mammals is now
estimated at 1900, of birds 1900, of rep
tiles 1000, and of fishes 10,OO0-mak-
ing total of about 10000 species be-
longing to the higher classes. Near
the close of the seventeenth century |
these groups of animals-now known |
as Vertebrates-were thought to in
clude a total of about 1900 species. |
AS naturalists have become familiar |
with the invertebrates their list of |
those creatures have become enorm-
Gus. Of beetles alone the museums of |
the world contain over 100000 species,
while the best estimates place the
total number of distinct forms Of in
sects at more than 100000. The whole
animal kingdom is believed to EN-.
brace 100000 species.
The results of photographic sur
veY made in the Straits of Sunda since
the volcanic eruption of last August
have been given by M. C. van Doom.
1t appears that the southern part of
.he peak of Krakatoa yet remains I'M
changed, and rises with an almost per-
pendicular northern edge to height
If $500 above the sea. The northern
cart of the island, however, has en-
;irely disappeared, and soundings on
he place where it had stood reached a
lepth of 1900 feet without touching
,ottom. The lost ground of Kraka-
oa is evidently found few miles to
he north, where the depth of the
water has been greatly diminished
md one old island has been much en-
arged, while several ew ones have
appeared above the surface. The en-
ire examination of the north Of Kra-
.atoa suggested the idea that the sur
reying ship was above crater which
lad been filled by water and quenched
~ it.
Out of the 700 species of solanum
.nown to botonists. according to a
'aper read by Mr.. J. G. Baker before
recent meeting of the Linnean so
iety in London. there are only about
tx which produce tubers, and only
ne of these, the common potato, sola-
um tuberosum, has yet been cultiva-
ed. The native home of the potato
, in the dry and elevated parts of
hill. In other portions of the same
ountry is found another species, s.
iaglia, which should be much better
dapted to general cultivation, as it
rows in moist places. AS long ago
3 1926 the cultivation of this species
/ England was attempted, with most
results, but was soon aban-
Oned because the plant was believed
, be identical with the common po- \
to. Another species, S. Commersoni,
ON the eastern part of South Amer
a, is now being cultivated expert
entally in France, and is likewise
litable for damp soil; while a third G
lid species, S. Jamesii. is being tried
the United States. This last spe-
es is the one which Mr.. ]. &. Lem
on discovered in southeastern Ari-
ma in 1881.
Perfect health depends upon a per- :
ct condition of the blood. Pure blood
nnuerS auarv disease and gives new l