The Baltimore County union., 1885-08-15
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.


THE LIMIT OF COLD.
Fahrenheit supposed the absolute zero of tenn
perature to be thirtytwo degrees of his scale be-
low the freezing point of water. Later physicists
have found that it must be 492 degrees below
freezing point, 400 degrees below Fahrenheit's
zero. the temperature of the globe is known to
fall in polar regions as low rs degrees below the
Fahrenheit zero, and in recent experiments in the
liauefaction of gases two Russian chemists have
produced an artificial cold of 346 degrees below
zero. The latter temperature-114 Ia degrees above
the theoretical zero points the lowest which
has fallen under the observation of man.
AN ATTRACTION.
Mr.. W. Mattien Williams remarks that the
popular notion that mosquitoes are chiefly resi-
dent in tropical and subtropical countries is quite
a mistake, the home of their mightiest legions
being within and about the Artic Circle. On
coasting trips to the North Cape even, vessels are
invaded by maddening swarms at every stopping
place. 1t is reported that in Alaska they form
clouds so dense that it is Impossible for sportsmen
to aim at objects beyond Native dogs are some
times killed by them, and even the great grizzly
bear is said to be occasionally blinded by their
attacks and finally starved in consequence.
REMARKABLE INSTRUMENT.
Among the fints of the chalk formations is
occasionally found one which emits clear musi-
cal sound when struck with another flint. Tis-
sander tells of distinguished French musician,
H. Baudre who is a Jealous collector of these
musical stones, and who has just succeeded in
making a unique "piano" from them. In this in
strument the fints are suspended by wires above
O sounding board, and are played upon by two
other fints. The stones of the piano number
twenty-six, forming the two chromatic octaves,
and we're collected with much patient labor dur
ing a period of more than thirty years. There
seems to be no relation between the sizes of the
stones and their tones.
AMERICAN WIND-sTORMS
Lieut.. J. P. Finley, of the U. S. Signal Service,
has found that the West is not as is popularity
supposed, the peculiar home of the tornado in the
United States, such storms being much more fre-
quent in the South. Of the 180 tornadoes which
occurred last year within the boundaries of the
Union, only SO visited the Western States and
Territories, while the Southern States had 105.-
The western gales are, however, usually more
severe and destructive than those of other locali-
ties.
GLACIER CHANGES
The glaciers of the Alps have been observed to
increase and diminish in extent periodically. A
glancer of the valley of Chamounix, for in tance
is reported by Forel to have reached maximum
size in 1919, and again in 1864. 1t dwinded to
a minimum in 1888, when it again commenced to
increase its extension last year being thirty
feet. The front of another glacier was pushed
forward last year about $50 feet, and many others
which have been growing smaller during recent
years are again advancing down the valleys.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Analyses have shown that the fallen leaves of
maple contain four per cent of valuable matter
(soda, potash, lime, magnesia, phosphorus and
sulphur compounds,) and poplar and willow five
per cent more, and that consequntly the trees
constantly manure the surface soil beneath their
branches. Other leaves examined contained
about two per cent of fertiizing substances.
A physician of India proposes making expert
ments in the treatment of cholera criminals
sentenced to death. The consent of the prisoner
would be obtained, with the promise of exemp-
ton from further punishment if the experiment
should not be fatal.
According to DR.. E. Parmly Brown, the Sand
wch Islanders formerly had the soundest teeth oil
any people on the globe but their teeth have now
begun to decay rapidly-an effect, it appears, OF
eating large quantities of salt. This substance
and sugar DR.. Brown regards as leading factors
in the destruction of human teeth at the present
time.
English tests of the durability of small squares
of various woods buried one inch under the surface
of the ground have given these results Birch
and aspen decayed in three years; willow and
horse-chestnut, in four years maple and red
beech, in five years; elm, ash, hornbeam and
Lombardy poplar, in seven years oak, Scotch I'll
and Weymouth pine, partially in seven years
while arch juniper and arbor-vitae were sound
at the end of seven years.
Xyonite, one of the most remarkable of recent
products is prepared by first treating fine tissue
paper with sulphuric and other acids and then
with alcohol and camphor. The paper becomes
much like parchment and may be worked into
plates of any thickness, and made transparent or
colored brilliantly. 1t is much more flexible and
less brittle than horn or ivory.
scientific authority wishes to know why the
bodies of elephants and wild animals generally
are so rarely found after death.
The most recent volcanic eruption in the United
States is believed to have occurred at Feather
Lake, Plumas county, CAL, in 1850. The site Of
the volcano is marked by cinder cone, and by O
lava-feld about three miles long and mile wide
in which the lava may average as much as 15C
feet in thickness.
In Great Britain only holders of licenses are per-
mitted to make physiological experiments on liv-
ing animals. During 1884 the number of licenses
issued was 40. Ofthe las experiments performed
99 consisted simply in the Introduction of virus;
"a were experiments in cases of action of fungi on
fishes; and five were on the effects of absolutely
pure water on fishes.
The circulation of the blood, according to DIR.
Gordon, was familiar to the Chinese 1000 years
ago. Harvey'S discovery of it was made about
260 years ago.