Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-06-24
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.
compiled for the SPECTATOR


GERMAN CoNPLExIoNs.-By exhaustive
Investigation the German Anthropological
Society has found that rather more than
one-fourth of the school children of Central
Europe are pure blondes, about one-sixth
are brunettes, more than one-half being of
the mixed type In Germany 31.80 per
cent of the children are fair, and 14.05 per
cent are dark in Austria the dark predomi-
nate, being 23.17 per cent, while the fair
amount only to 49, 10; in Switzerland the
brunettes are 25.70 !; and ir BELGIUM the
blondes are 81. so per cent. The proportion
of dark children in Germany increases
rapidly toward the south, and that of light
children toward the north. This varying
distribution of fair and dark compilations
forms the basis of speculations concerning
the early colonization of Germany.
The celebrated Karst region in Austria is
remarkable for its Underground rivers, which
communicate with the surface here and
there by vertical shafts. These rivers are
subject to periodical overflows, converting
large areas into temporary lakes and an at
tempt is now to be made to prevent such in
undations by charging the underground
channels.
At late meeting of microscopical So
ciety in London was shown a section of a
Sheffield saw grinders lung, the irritation
from the steel dust inhaled having gradual
ly obliterated the lung structure and rem
dered it perfectly usless for BREATHING
Sections of lungs showing carbon deposit
from London smoke were also exhibited.
The sense of taste is an almost certain
guide to the wholesomeness of foods. As
a rule, poisons have a very disagreeable
taste, and accidental poisoning is conse-
quently very rare.
After numerous unsatisfactory attempts,
the American whitefish has been success
fully acclinatized in English ponds.
OYsTER-LIFE.-As spawning oyster, it is
estimate may deposit million eggs in a
season, of which only from ten to one hun
dred will reach maturity. all others being
devoured by enemies. Marketable oysters
vary in age from three to seven years. The
age which oysters may reach under favor
able circumstances is yet unknown, but
specimens have been found which were
believed to be from twenty five to thirty
years old. With care the bivalves may be
kept alive for a considerable time after re-
moval from their habitat. 1t is stated that
they have lived on the floor of cellar for
three months. and one observer concludes
that they may exist even longer if packed
80 as to keep their shells closed in venti-
lated barrels and kept at a temperature be-
ween thirly-fve and forty-five degrees
Fahrenheit.
THE AIRS ELECTRfCITY.-Prof Palmi-
eri, of the Vesuvian Observatory, finds that
the atmospheric electricity is usually posi-
tive in clear weather if negative, fall of
rain may be inferred to be in progress at
some little distance. Two maxima and
two minima daily are noticed in the electric
indications, this periodicity being disturbed
by atmospheric movements. With dew,
rain or an overcast sky the indications in
crease in intensity, and are stronger in
spring and autumn than in spring and
winter. A rain zone is positive, but is sur
rounded by negative zone, which in tnrn
is surrounded by zone of positive electric,
ity. Thunder and lightning, according to
this observer, do not occur without rain.
Using an artificial gastric juice of n.y.
drochloric acid and pepsin, Chittenden
and Cummins have deerm ined the relative
digestibl ty of various foods to be as fol.
lows: Beef, 100; veal, 90 mutton, so /;
chicken eight meat), 81; ditto Ozark meat),
81; salmon, 90; mackerel, Sc; paddock, 81;
trout, rs; lobster (young), 3d.; ditto Qarge
female), 70; ditto Qarge male), 60; fresh
cod, 72.
A Record of observations on sixteen trees
and shrubs has shown DR.. N. L. Britton
that the spring of this year was about ten
days later in the vicinity of New York than
that of 1884, and nearly month later than
that of 1878.
CONNECTING LINK Several, live speci-
mems of queer little Australian animal
upon which the formidable name ''or-
nithorynchres" has been inficted-have
been brought to this country by DR..
Fl. A. Ward. It is claimed that this
creature forms perfect connecting link
between birds and mammals 1t looks
like the beaver, but instead of hav ing hair
on its back it has scales, and in place of
scales on its tail it has hair while long in
vestigation has shown that it lays an egg
like bird, but suckles its young like
mammal Its habits are like the beavers,
but 1t is declared to be an utterly hetero-
dox creature, and entirely the most unnat-
ural known.
A forcible illustration of the weight of
the atmosphere was given by Prof. S. P.
Langley, the American astronomer, in
recent lecture in London. He remarked
that the air, SO limpid that it scarcely ap-
pears to be matter at all, is so enormous in
mass that it really presses with nearly a
ton to each square foot /; SO that the weight
of all the buildings in the worlds metro
polls, for instance, Is less than that of the
air above them.
The possibility of obtaining echoes from
icebergs or vessels at sea, even at consider
able distance, has been demonstrated by
Prof. Bell, oftelephone fame. He suggests
that shots fired periodically from the bows
of befogged vessels may reveal the presence
OF obstacles ahead in season to avert COLI
sion.
A committee of the British Medical AS
ISOLATION is collecting information concern
ing the experience and habits of persons
who have attained the age of eighty or
over. Interesting results are expected.
Although variety of microscopic forms
of plants have been found on bank-notes
and coins in circulation, none known to be
dangerous to human life have yet been dis
covered.
A piece of platinum wire only .0O075 of
an inch in thickness was lately exhibited by
the Royal Society of London.
Cheer Up! Help is at Hand.
81 am afraid will have to be taken to
hospital or to the poorhouse. I've been
sick so long that my husband, good and pa
tient as he is, can't stand the worry and
expense much longer No, you won't,
dear wife aud mother. See what Parker's
Tonic will do for you. Plenty of women