The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-03-21
compiled for THE ARxkxsAw TRAvxlxn.
 SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.


 an order of knighthood upon Sir Joseph Lis. ter, the eminent British surgeox, whose anti. septic method of surgery has done so much for suffering humanity.
 A brain-model of gigantic sire has been made for an American museum by Ruechi as Berne. It is about four feet in heightby tvo feet and half in width, and shows the in,r;- cate mechanism of the brain in detail.
 A specimen of ancient dentistry, in the form of dental bridge-work made by the E'rnscans ;n ;he Sssh century before Christ has been discovered in an old burial plac. near Civita Veeehia by pr. J. G. Van Mar ter, of Rome.
 Experiments recently made with vet and dry coal in the evaporation of water have shewn that loss of from fifteen to twenty five per cent results when coal is used while wet-that is, the heating value of coal is ths, much less when water Is oded.
 The parasitic character of diphtheria has been established by two investigators Klebs and Leffier-who have independently found organisms which have been proven by experiments on guinea pigs and birds to be the specific germs of the disease.
 An interesting exhibition of whale skeletons and products has been held in Hamburg. The most imposing exhibit was the skeleton of the blue whale, the greatest animal on earth. It measured z5 feet in length, and was mounted in it's natural posi- ton.
 According to Herve-Mangon, the sys. tenn of telegraphic weather warnings in France was created by Leverrier in rsss. In 1878 central meteorological bureau was established, and numerous observatories had been erected all over the country, while Paris was in telegraphic connection with I,soo sta lions.
 Potato Celluloid.-A material possess ing the properties of celluloid is now made from potatoes, and is being used in France fer imitation mcerschaum pipes, and for bil- Hard balls. The substance is prepared by boiling the peeled potatoes in dilute sulphuric acid-eight parts. of acid to one hundred parts of water-for thirty-six hours, and then drying between plotting paper by pres sure.
 In the opinion of Sir John Lawes, a greater profit may be returned from sewage if cast into the sea than if applied to the land, for the reason that sewage will supply the enormous quantities of phosphate of lime, potash, and nitrogen which fishes require, but which exist in the sea only in small 9uan- titles. As much, at least, of these substances should be returned to the sea as our fisheries take from it.
 Balloons in the Soudan Campaign The first attempts at British military balloon- ing are to be made in Africa, three balloons having been sent out for the purpose of making captive ascents for watching the enc my's movement. A hundred or more iron cylinders containing compressed hydrogen for infiating balloons form part of the equip ment, and gas factory and pumping station will be established at Suakin for refilling these reservoirs. Telepbonic commuaica- ton will be maintained between the balloons and the gronnd.
 An Age of Aorn.-A variety of prehis- toric objects in horn-such as amute,s, cups, knives, daggers, rings, buttons, bracelets, etc. have been found in a stratum existing at a depth of ab out five feet in the mud of Lake in Switzerland. The finder, Herr G. Kaiser, believes them to be older than the stone and bronze implements of the same To- cality, and be proposes to call the period to which they belong "the age of horn." It may well be doubted, however, whether the ancient lake people ever experienced an epoch for which such name would be justi- ted, as il is evident that some implement probably of stone or bronze-must have been used in cutting the horn.
 Lung Diseases of Wild Animals.-In he period from October, 1881, to the close of 1884, there died in the gardens of the Lon- don Geological society ses mammals, 1908 birds, and 7ss reptiles. Mir. J. Bland Sutton hat of the death among the mammals only i've were from genuine pulmonary tubereu- osis or consumption, showing that the gen. .ral notion that wild animals in captivity are liable to that disease is erroneous. 0f the m annals 3o3 were quadrumana, and 'f them thirty per cent had other forms of pulmonary affection. Bronchitis attacks a Tery great variety of animals, but other well tnown chest diseases appear to be chiefly confined to certain groups. The carniyora, or instance, are very liable ts double pleu- ises and pneumonia, while ruminita have the peculiar disease known as " Perisucht 1.-the ,o-called bovine tuberculosis. In Dir ds k loiiced a liability to inflammation sf the air. aes, which gives rise ts peculiar exudations n which mould develops and spreads trough the lung.
 The Polar Lght.-Following up small experiments made in 1871, Professor Selin 4emstrom, of the Finnish Meteorolosical tation al Sodankyls, Laplard, attempted ia ss7 to produce an aurora on large scale rom the electricity supposed to be flowing rom the air to the earth. the means employed 'eing discharging apparatus" !" consisting if q uefwork of v,aiof@A ~r,va ~-,~a~~.---