The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-02-05
SCIENTIFIC CHAT.

A writer In TIE Popular Science Monthly disa-
grees with Darwin in the view that love Is the sole
incentive for the bird to sing, and points cut the
fact that nearly all singing birds warble as much
after before the pairing season, and when they
are beyond the lover season in age as earlier in
life. He thinks they sing largely for their own
individual amusement, for they frequently let
themselves out Justify when they know they
all alone. They also sing, he says, because the
tendency Is innate In the organs OF song TO exer-
else themselves.
Far out at sea, along both the Gulf and Allan
tic coast of Florida says the Savannah (Ga) Net0s
several springs of fresh water. They are well
known TO the spongers and fishermen, who fire.
quenty visit them to replenish their water-cstsks.
On this same coast Is an oil spring, which dIffuSes
calm over troubled waters, and affords q refuge to
small vessels during II gale.
1t is stated in the North British Agricuturist
that three of the men who were engaged to slaugh-
ter cattle suffering from foot and mouth disease,
and belonging to Mr.. w. +. Webb, of Newstead
Abbey, have contracted the disease by holding
their knives in their mouths. An application WAS,
it is said made to the Lords in Council to know
whether the men were to be isolated or siaugh-
tered.
According to the Journal of Chemistry, men-
thol, the substance recently introduced IN the
treatment of headache and neuralgia is likely to
prove valuable addition to the remedies for those
ailments. 1t IS white, semi-crystalline body,
with strong, bur0ing odor of peppermint, and Is
usually made into small cones mounted on
wooden handle. 1t is rubbed over the locality of a
headache other pain, burning sensation is first
felt, followed by feeling of refreshing GOODNESS
and temporary relief of the pain. The liquid oil
of Japanese peppermint has long been used in
japan and China for this purpose, menthol being
simply the solid constituent of this oil. Chemi-
calIy considered it is camphor, differing only
from ordinary camphor by the addition OF four
atoms of hydrogen. Its medicinal effects prob
ably due to the counter-irritatiou it sets up The
strong, agreeable odor of peppermint may also
have some effect on the nerves.
A Georgia machinist has invented re-proof
cotton bagging which promises TO abolish the old
jutc bagging and reduce the cotton insurance rates
To minimum figures. IL consists of an earthly or
asbestoS-like substance, dissolved in glue-like
whitewash and spread over bagging made of cot
ton goods. The invention is called anti-phlogan' -
and the inventor claims that 1t IS easily made is
cheap sand, and that the whole bagging is made
cheaper than the jute or gunny bagging now used
- Charles Westwood, of Shoreditch, being an
and permitted three of his children to remain un-
vaccInated. They have recently died of small pox.
The Lancet says that Mr. Westwood will have to
look far back into history for any accident from
vaccination to he compared with the disaster that
has accrued to his home rom small -pox-
- The lost and starving dogs in London are caro-
fully collected and taken to q home," where to
the number sometimes of 100 day. they are killed
by process than which none could be more hu-
name After being given a hearty meal they are
placed in cages graded according to size nearly
possible, and with the vicious dogs by themselves.
The cages arc then surrounded with an atmos-
phere charged with chloroform and bisulphide Of
carbon. In froLa to two minutes sleep falls upon
the animals, often stertorous, like that Of men In
uneasy attitudes or when dreaming. They begin
breathing fainter apd fainter, and in six minutes
dead. Their bodies then buried In heaps Of
bog moss, SO prepared that decomposition Ia COM
pletely perfected within . week from nterment.
Tho ink pencils lately brought into use arc