Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-04-15
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.
[Compiled for the SPEcrAToR.]

A THUNDERsroRM THEORY At a re-
cent German scientific congress, DR.. s.
Hoppe, of Hamburg, endeavored to prove
that the electricity of storms is generated
by the friction of vapor particles This
view was strenethed by experiments in
which compressed cold air was allowed to
rush into copper vessel containing warm
moist air, large amount of electricity be-
ing TINS produced. He concludes that the
rise of a column of warm moist air into
the colder atmosphere above will. be fol-
lowed by thunderstorm if it acquires suf
ficient velocity to prevent naturalization of
the electricity generated by the friction of
the air. Hence, he regards open districts
as more liable to othunderstorms than wooded
regions, where the trees prevent the rapid
rise of humid air currents.
| ERxoRs CORRECTED -Rheem, of the
Smithsonian Institute, las contrad;cted
much of the popular belief concerning
snakes. The venomous hoop snake. which
takes its tail in it's mouth and rolls along
like hoop, and the blow snake, the breath
of which is deadly, exist only in the imag
ination. The idea that serpents sting with
the tongue is erroneous. An impression
prevails that the number of poisonous
snakes is great, but in North America there
are but three species-the rattlesnake, the
copperhead or moccasin, and the coral.
Snakes do not jump; they reach suddenly
forward-perhaps half the length of their
bodies.
The practice of scalping is not peculiar
to the American aborigines Southall, in
his Recent Origin Of Man," quotes from
Herodotus TO show that the Scythians used
To sea p their fallen enemies. In the pres
ent time The wild tribes Of Northeastern
Bengal use the scalping-knife.
| A new test for tea is the amount of ashes
yiel' ed, the quantity being greater in in-
ftrior and adulterated samples than in those
Of good quality.
CELESTIAL DEATH MISSILES
Ing the number of meteoric stones which
reach the earth's surface, it would not be
Surprising if many lives had been destroyed
| by them. 1t is stated that loss of life re-
suited from large fall in Africa; that about
the year 1920 many persons and animals
were killed; that in 1911, about five o'clock
one evening, a priest was struck and killed;
and that, still later, in 1850, monk was
killed. But these, according to Mr.. James
R. Gregory, seem to be the only instances
recorded of death from falling meteorites.
A HARD PRoBLEM.-A Paris medical
society, seeking evidence from many sources
concerning the contagiousness of pulmona-
ry consumption. has forwarded questions
ON the subject to every practising physi-
clan in France. Similar inquiries in Eng
land and in Germany have not been partic-
nlarly successful, only 1900 out of $4,000
English practitioners answering, and but
200 Germans out of 16, 900.
| A TRANSIT OF THE EARTH.-A curious
observation has been made by DR.. Cope
land, an English astronomer. While watch
ing one of Jupiter's satellites, he was able
to see it pass over its own shadow on the
planet. For this to have happened, the
sun, the earth, the satellite, and the part
of Jupiter's disc occulted, must have been
all in one straight line, ;nd, as seen from
Jupi er, the earth mhst have appeared
making transit across the sun.
SPIDER SENSE "A German entomologist,
f Dahl. claims that spiders have perfect
sight only at very short distances. Their
sense of touch is consequently remarkably
well developed, enabling them to locate
disturbances in their web. Their smell is
so good that they can distinguish odors,
and their hearing is excellent. Some of them
show remarkable instinct in building their
webs-even their first-in perfect geometri-
cal form A reflective power is evinced by
their refusal of kinds of tough insects
which have been once attacked unsuccess-
fully.
CHOLERA VAcCINATION.-Some interest
ing researches concerning cholera preven-
ton are being made by DR.. Ferran of Bar
celona. He has prepared an attenuatsd
cholera virus, with which threa medical
men have been inoculated. The inocula
tious were followed by severe local pains
and feverisn symptoms, which suddenly
disappeared after duration of about twen-
ty -four hours No further ill effects have
been experienced. Itnow remains to prove,
as DR. Ferran confidently expects to do,
| hat these iIoculations have conferred COM
| pleie immunity from attacks of cholera.
| By micros cnpical examination, Messrs.
| Osm ond and Weith have shown that molten
s,ee possesses a kind of cellular tissue, the
iron forming the nucleus and the carbon
the envelope of the cellules. These simple
cellules form agglome rations or compound
cells, which may be easily identified with
what Is usually called the grains of the
steel.
Horses having extra toes on the inner
side of the fore feet are occasionally met
with in South America, according to DR.
Ihreng, who sugg ests that they may be the
remnant of an old natl race of horses
which escaped the notice of the early set.
tiers.
An Austrian astronomer, Prof Oppolzer,
is preparing list of the elipses-S. 900 solar
and $500 Olunar-of the period between 1907
b. C. and 206l A. D.
Two prizes of $4,000 each are offered for
essays the use of soda nitrate as manure.
One essay is to indicate present knowl-
edge and theory, and the other is to
be devoted to new experimental research
made by the author of the paper before
1887. The prizes are given by the Com
mittee of the Saltpetre Producers AssOcia.
ton of western South America.
The Russian Government is about to ex
perimeut in balloon steering by electricity.
If your daughter is in poor health, let
her use the mon ahOut the huuSa Nothing