Weekly Chillicothe crisis., 1884-07-03
Scientific Miscellany.

Pale phosphorescent flames of sui
phur are often observed during the
drying of gunpowder, states Mr.. II.
Schwartz.
The sanitary value of Towering
plants has been shown by DIR. j. NJ,
Anders, who has demonstrated the ex-
halation Of ozone from them.
Statistics published since the late
earthquake in England show that a
total of 255 shocks have been recorded
in the British Isles, the severest
having occurred on November l4th,
1918.
A German chemist has obtained u
new link between the vegetable and
animal kingdom in the shape of IN an
imal gum closely resembling the plant
gums in its physical and chemical pro-
pertics.
A plan for lcsscning the violence of
storms has been submitted to the
French Academy of Sciences by Mons.
Minard, who proposes to use 4 great
number of lightning rods elevated on
pbolo anu NOllhNNNNl WIN
the iron tracks of railways.
According to Prof. X. H. Tucker, ir.,
between GOO and 700 comets have been
recorded, and 2S5 of them have had
their orbits determined with greater or
less eXactncss. A probable estimate
of the number of comets which have
come into our solar system since the
beginning Of the Christian era, under
such conditions as to have been visible
by the aid Of our modern appliances,
is 1000.
French vinc-growcrs often protect
their vines from frosts by smoke from
burning straw and other combustibles.
An electrician has suggested that, in
case of a sudden and unexpected cold,
the fires may be lighted automatically
by the electric current, simple con-
trivancc causing the electricity to pass
from battery through wires and ig-
mite the fuel as soon as the thcrmome-
ter falls TO the dangerous temperature.
The secretary and treasurer of the
new Marine Biological Association of
the United Kingdom have invited con-
tributions for establishing on the south
coast of England Il laboratory similar
to the Geological Station of Naples and
the American Laboratories of Newport
and Chesapeake, the institution being
intended for the use of naturalstS wish
ing to investigate marine life, animal
and vegetable. and to study the various
conditions affecting the welfare of
British food-iiShcs and mollusks. 1t Is
thought that $4,000 will be required
TO establish the laboratory, and that an
income Of $500 u year will be neccs-
sary TO maintain it.
Prof Lockycr. +. Il. A. S., who has
just returned TO England from visit to
the ObscrvatOries of the continent. cX.
presses the belief that in the future all
astronomical observations will bcmadC
photographically, the success of Mr..
Common in photographing the nebula
of Orion with the aid Of his great tclc.
scope having proven that the most
minute details may be thus pictured
He imagincS the existence, in 100 ol
|, 900 years hence, of rooms filled will
photographs accurately showing every
part of the heavens from the nortl
pole to the south, and he urges tina
the work Of obtaining such 4 comple,,
Photographic chart of the cc'cs,ia
bodies should commence at once.
From observations extending over
period Of eighteen wears, it appears
that I'm unusually heavy or late fall .
snow in the northwestern lIimalaya,
is followed by Il season of drought il
northwestern and western India, an,
vice versa, dry northwest or land
winds being produced during the sum
mcr months rs an effect Of the prcscnc,
of unmeltcd snow in the mountains
During the spring of 1888 ii became cvi
dent that the outer ranges of the Hima
layas contained an unusual quantt,
of snow, and on June ID warnin!
forecast Of Il dry summer was pub
lishcd. This forecast is shown to hav
been justified by the event, the rainfall
in Julyand August over 4 large portion
of India having been much below tn
, average.