Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-04-23
Scientific NfiSceiIaney.~

The photograph of tailed boy from
Saigon was lately shown to the London
Anthropological Society. His AGE is
about eight years, and the appendage
6 or s inches long.
Under the influence of galvanc ac-
ton milk has been kept sweet three
weeks in summer, and it is suggested
that beer and other liquids may he pre-
served in a similar manner.
The artificial heat of London has
been estimated sufficient to raise the
temperature of an entire air stratum
100 feet thick over the entire city two
and one-half degrees every hour.
A large amount of oil exists in the
stormy petrol, and when fat, according
to Brunnich, the inhabitants of the
Farce Islands use it as lamp, obtain
ing their light from a wick drawn
through the birds body.
An English writer points out the
probability that smoky atmosphere is
not wholly unmitigated evil, since
its carbon and sulphur must absorb
many germs of disease, and tend to
prevent the spread of epidemics.
The attention of the Russian govern
ment has just been drawn to the ex-
istence of extensive deposits of sulphur
in Western Siberia, and an expedition
is to be sent to examine them Eu-
ropes supply of sulphur is now chiefly
obtained from Sicily.
Several agricultural chemists Of Ger
many have been studying to improve
heavy soils, and now recommend lime
as dressing. The crop for the first
season should be potatoes; for the sec
ond, oats; for the third, tares, or peas;
and for the fourth potatoes again.
A collection of skulls from the south
ern hemisphere has been studied in
England, the most notable conclusion
reached being that some of the races
of South Africa, Australia, and the
southernmost part of South America
are remarkable for the smallness of
their heads.
A disease called the potato-scab has
been described by Prof. E. Heiden,
who finds it to be occasioned by par
asite fungus, Rhizoktonia solani, and
not due, as is commonly supposed, to
the action of caustic lime upon the sur
face of the tubers. The disease is Sc
verest in fields dressed with farm-yard
manure.
Prof. Huxley has remarked that
while birds now constitute a we'll de-
fined group, nobody mistaking the
forms included therein, we find the
case to be different when we turn to
the geological record. Fossil forms are
found that present definitions do not
embrace, Indicating wider range of
structure, and the existence of types
intermediate between birds and rep
tiles.
A study and comparison of the ocean
temperature records of the Challenger
exploring expedition have shown DR..
James Croll that the surface of the
Atlantic must be lower at the equator
than farther north, the maximum
height Of the north Atlantic being
reached between the fortieth and fiji
tieth degrees of latitude. The differ
ence is due to the specific gravity of
the water. In the latitude Of Havana
the Atlantic's surface must be two and
one-fourth feet higher than at the equa-
tor, and in that of Chesapeake Bay the
difference is foot greater.
1t has been found by DR.. Lawson
TAFT that as rule, the ear in women
can perceive higher notes-that is,
sounds with a greater number of vi
brations per second-than the ear in
men. The highest limit of and ability
for the human ear is somewhere be-
41,000 and $4,000 vibrations. The
ears of most persons seem to be I'M
equally sensitive to acute sounds, the
right ear usually hearing higher note
than the left. To show the ears range,
it may be added that very low notes of
about fifteen vibrations per second may
be perceived, but when the vibrations
become little slower they cease to
produce the effect of a continuous
sound, and each gives a separate i'm
preston upon the ear.