The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-01-10
co~pfied for Tzs ArkanSasv zIavelty.
 SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

A permanent school of forestry will probably be established in connection with the University of Edinburgh.
 Wet winters in Germany have been found to result disastrously to insects, each season of flood greatly lessening the ~bue- crop of the following summer.
 To recent progress in sanitary science Sir Joseph Tayrer, formerly surgeon-general Of the army in India, attributes the fact tha. England's death-rate has decreased during the present century from forty in the thou sand to twenty in the thousand.
 An English chemist has confirmed by analyses the opinion that the lack of malle- ability in heated iron-or "red shortness.n as it is called-is due to the presence of oxy- gen. red-short specimen contained I.ssa per cent of oxygen, while samples free from the defect had only o.75o per cent or less.
 A mountain explorer just returned from Asia states that during four months resi- dence at height of more than 1sooo feet above the sea his pulse, normally sixty three
 
 hundred beats per minute, and his respira- tions were often twice as numerous as at or dinarY levels.
 After many observations at sea-level and at I5,ooo feet above, Prof. S. P. Langley concludes that the mean abs orption of light and heat by the atmosphereis is atleast double the usual estimate of twenty per cent. He believes, also, that dust particles play more important part in this absorption than IS generally supposed.
 A new building material-a mixture of cork, silica and lime-s coming into exten- sive use in Germany. It has the advantage of keeping out heat and cold, and is also claimed to be an excellent preventive of damp and deadener of sound. It is sub stantial, light and durable, and seems to be especia ally adapted for ceilings and wall lin ings.
 The Royal Geographical society, of London, has published list of 12o stations occupied by Europeans in central Africa in 1884, with their latitude and longitude. Of these, sixty-one are situated between the equator and the Zambezi east of the twenty fifth degree of east longitude; and fifty nine are west of that meridian, between the equa- tor and the Kuimen or Cunene.
 The aexibility of italcolumite-a re- markable sandstone existing in Georgia and North and South Carolina-seems to be sur passed by that of magnetism limestone found at the entrance of the Tyne, in Eng land. This limestone is reported to be so flexible that thin layers three feet or more in length may be bent into a circle while damp. retaining that form on being allowed to dry.
 Body Heat-From experimental meas urements of the temperature of the body during acts of motion the following conclu- sions have been reached by a French ob- server: That the lowest temperature ID man. following a period of rest, is oS4 degrees that the temperature rises under the iafiu- ence of an ascending effort to Ioo6 degrees, and under the influence of a descending ef- fort to 1903 degrees that it increases after any exertion, but more after an ascending than after descending one; and that the chemical actions of the organisms are aug mented after every movement.
 Phosphoric Glass and Cremation. variety of articles made from so-called phos- phoric glass, which is composed simply of phosphate of lime, have been exhibited to the French Academy of Sciences by Mons. Sidot. Unlike ordinary kinds, this glass re- sists the action of huoric acid, and it will nrnhahlv he meeful fn ohap .l on that account. A novel use of it in coH- nection with cremation is suggested by Mons. Henry de Parvelle. who proposes that the phosphate of lime remaining as the ashes of each burned body be converted into phos- phoric glass, and then nodded into a vase, medallion, or statuette of the person from whom it has been derived.
 Tracing Lost River-The remarkable river Reka rises in the Austrian province of Carniola, and disappears in the Karst caves. There are reasons for believing that it flows a long distance underground, emerging twenty miles away as the Timavo, stream which mysterously pours out of hillside. Members of the Austro German Alpine club have lately attempted an exploration of the SouISc OI the Neka, ana nave succeeded in following it about one furlopg, passing six waterfalls and reaching a seventh which proved to be impass able without special apparatus. One of the caverns en- countered is reported 10 be capacious enough to contain St. Peter's cathedral of Rome.
 Respiration of Oxygen and Ozone.- A very general but erroneous belief is that the breathing of pure oxygen would rapidly destroy animal life by qui:kening the com bustion in the body as the same gas hastens the burning of the fuel of an ordinary fire. A German physiologist has just shown by exact experiment on men and dogs that the of pure oxygen produces no effect at least upon pulse, respiration and body distinguishes its action from that of pure atmospheric air; and that it's use in cases of poisoning with choloform