Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-08-05
SCIENTIFIC. MISCELLANY.
compiled for the SPECTATOR. I

| lCompiled for the SPECTATOR.
| THE LIMIT OF CoLD.-Fahrenheit sup
posed the obsolute zero of temperature to
be thlrty-two degrees of his scale below the
freezing point of water. Later physicists
have found that it must be 492 degrees be-
low freezing point, or 4G0 degrees below
Fahrenheit's zero The temperature of the
globe is known to fall in polar regions as
low as 70 degrees below tile Fahrenheit zero,
and in recentexperiments iu the liquefaction
ofgases two Russian chemists have produced
an artificial cold Of 346 degrees below zero,
The latter temperature-114 degrees above
the theoretical zero points the lowest
which has fallen under the observation of
man.
AN ARTIC CATTRACTIoN.-Mr w. Mattieu
Williams remarks that the popular notion
that mosquitoes are chiefly resident in
tropical and subtropical countries is quite a
mistake, the home of their mightiest legions
being within and about the Arctic Circle.
On coasting trips to tee North Cape even,
vessels are invaded by maddening swarms
at every stopping place. 1t is reported that
in Alaska they form clouds SO dense that it
is impossible for sportsmen to aim at objects
beyond. Native dogs are sometimes killed
by them, and even the great grizzly bear is
said to be occasionally blinded by their at
tacks and finally starved in consequence.
Analyses have shown that the fallen leaves
of maple contain four per cent of valuable
matter (soda, potash, lime, magnesia, phos-
phorus and sulphur compounds), and poplar
and willow five per cent or more, and that
consequently the trees constantly manure
the surface soil beneath their branches
Other leaves examined containt about two
per cent of fertilizing substances.
A physician of India proposes making ex-
periments in the treatment of cholera on
criminals sentenced to death. The consent
of the prisoner would be obtained, with the
promise of exemption from further punish
ment if the experiment should not be fatal
A REMARKABLE INTRUMENT.-Amon
the fints of the chalk formations is OCCASION
ally found one which emits clear musical
sound when struck with another flint. Tis-
sander tells of distinguished French
musician, H. Baudre, who is Jealous COL
lector of these musical stones. and who has
just succeeded in making a unique ''piano"
from them. In this instrument the f1ints
are suspended by wires above sounding
board, and are played upon by two other
twenty six, forming the two chromatic
octaves, and were collected with much pa
tient labor during a period of more than
thirty years. There seems to be no relation
between the sizes of the stones and their
tones.
According to DR.. E. Parmly Brown, the
Sandwich Islanders formerly had the sound
est teeth of any people on the globe, but
their teeth have now begun to decay rapid
ly-an effect. it appears, of eating large
quantities of salt. This substance and sugar
DR.. Brown regards as leading factors in the
destruction of human teeth at the present
time.
English tests of the durability of small
squares of various woods buried one inch
under the surface of the ground have given
these results: Birch and aspen decayed in
three years; willow and horse chestnut, in
four years; maple and red beech, in five
years; elm, ash, hornbeam and Lombardy
poplar, iu seven years; oak, Scotch fir and
Weymouth pine, partially In seven years;
while larch, juniper and arbor-vitae were
sound at the end Of seven years.
Xylonite, one of the most remar kable of
recent products. is prepared by first treating
a fine tissue paper with sulphuric and other
acids and then with alcohol and camphor.
The paper becomes much like parchment,
and may be worked into plates of any thick
ness, and made transparent or colcred
brilliantly. 1t is much more flexible and
less brittle than horn or ivory.
A scientific authority wishes to know why
the bodies of elephants and wild animals
generally are so rarely found after death.
AMERICAN WIND-SToRMs.- j. P.
Finley, of the .. S. Signal Service, has
found that the West is not as is popularity
supposed, the peculiar home of the tornado
in the United States, such storms being
much more frequent in the South. OF the
1S0 tornadoes which occurred last year
within the boundaries of the Union, only
SO visited the Western States and Terri
tories, while the Southern States had 105.
The Western gales are, however, usually
more severe aud destructive than those of
other localities.
GLACIER CHANGES. The glaciers of the
Alps have been observed to increase and
diminish in extent periodically. A glacier
of the valley of Chamounix, for instance, is
reported by Forel to have reached a maxi
mum size in 1919, and again in 1854. 1t
dwindled to minimum in 1888, when it
dRdlu COuucuCcu " luCICdoC, It's cAtOuolOu
last year being thirty three feet. The front
of another glacier was pushed forward last
year about $50 feet, and many others which
have been growing smaller during recent
years are again advancing down the valleys.
The most recent volcanic eruption in the
United States is believed to have occurred
at Feather Lake, Plumas Co., CAL, in 1850.
The site of the volcano is marked by cinder
cone, and by q lava field about three miles
long and mile wide in which the lava may
average as much as $50 feet in thickness.
In Great Britain only holders of licenses
are permitted to make physiological expert
ments on living animals. During 1884 the
number of licenses issued was 40. Of the
145 experiments performed, SO consisted
simply in the Introduction of a virus; "a
were experiments in cases of suspected poi
soning; ten we're to determine the action of
fungi on fishes; and five were on the effects
of absolutely pure water Oh fishes.
The circulation of the blood, according to
DR.. Gordon, was familiar to the Chinese
1000 years ago. Harvey's discovery of it
was made about 260 years ago.
Rosebuds of Thought.
Keep the heart tender and pure, and
Sweat thOuChtS which ara hut the yhis.