Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-06-17
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.
TCompiled for the SPECTATOR

compiled for the SPECTAToR.]
ANOTHER METAL Increasing knowl-
edge of simple substances existing only in
very minute quantities bids fair to eventu-
allv extend our list of the elements making
ND the unive,se considerably beyond the
65 or 70 thus far catalogued by chemists.
A newly discovered rare element is "nor-
wegium," found by DIR. T. Dahl in nickel
ore from Kragero, Norway. 1t is mallea-
bic metal of white color slightly tiuged with
brown, hardness about equal to that OF
copper, specific gravity Of 8, All, and
melting point Of $50 degrees Fahrenheit.
1t appears to differ in physical properties
and chemical reaction from every other
known metal.
The an@sthetic effect of rapid breathing,
like that of inhaling nitrous oxide, is as
cribed by DR.. Bonwill to the influence of
the surplus of oxygen thus forced upon the
lungs. In variety of cases remarkable
insensibility to pain, without appreciate
loss Of consciousness, has been produced; in
one instance boy of eleven, after breath
ing rapidly about minute, having had four
permanent molars removed, the operation
being painless and lasting twenty seconds.
Remains of gigantic birds lately discov-
cred in the Thames valley, show, according
to Mr.. G. E. T. Newton, Of the London
Geological society, that England was once
inhabited by birds as large as the famous
Moa of New Zealand, or much larger than
the ostriches now existing.
Of at least dozen fishes having electric
organs the electric eel of South America is
the most powerful. 1t reaches q length of
six feet, and is provided with pair of bat
teries, containing some hundred minute
nerve-supplied cells, which exhibit the same
phenomena as artificial batteries
Glass and paper have great future. Tun-
ing forks and grindstones, rails and seepers
are now made from the former; houses,
furniture and clothing. car-wheels and
boats, are among the applications of the
latter.
FAUNA OF CENTRAL AsIA.-In work
soon to appear in London, Rev. DR.. Henry
Lansdell proposes to make generally access
ible what is known of the animal and vege-
table life of Russian Turkistan. The ami
mails of Turkistan he finds to embrace over
80 species of mammals; nearly 400 species
of birds, with an additional 81 frequenting
the Pamir; 80 species of reptiles; probably
moro than so species of fishes; 90 species
of mollusks; so species of crustaceans; 146
beetles; several hundred species of hymen-
opterous insects, including 36 of ants; sew
eral hundred species of butterflies and
moths; over 60 species of dragon-flies and
other neuropterous insects; 70 species of
locusts, crickets and other orthopterous
creatures; AZ species of intestinal worms,
and an unknown number Of other insect
species.
TIL, No. l,ae info ,aI t1a (nx
al Astronomical Society that in the period
from A. D. 1878 to 1924 the sun has been
totally eclipsed in every spot in the British
Isles except small place on the coast of
Ireland. Twice-in 978 and in 1715-Lon-
don came within the narrow path of total
ity. Twice also did the moons shadow fall
on Dublin, and five times on Edinburgh.
1t has been found that compressed teak
may be made to serve some Of the purposes
for which boxwood-which is rapidly be-
coming scarce-is now used. A powerful
hydraulic press for COMPRISING teak for
loom shuttles has just been made in Man
chester, England.
The British experiments to test the rela-
tive merits of oil, gas and electricity for
lighthouse illumination, have resulted in
demonstrating the superiority of electricity
over all other lights, even-as has been gen.
orally doubted-in derse fogs.
The phenomenon of red hail, the coloring
matter being diffused throughout some Of
the stones and the others being white, was
lately observed in the English county
Down.
How FAR CAN WE SEE PA discussion
is going on among European savants con-
corning the distance at which large objects
on the earth's surface may be visible. Emil
Metzger mentions that he once saw, with
some difficulty. Keizerspick in Sumatra,
when distant 10 English miles; and he has
also made out Gng Merapi, in Java. when
1870 miles away. From the Piz Muraup,
Ie,r Dissentis, E. Hill has seen Mont
Blanc, the intervening space measuring
about ITO miles. J. Starkie Gardner states
that Mont Blanc is visible from thePiz Lam
guard, though distant about three degrees.
In Greenland Mr.. Whymper beheld noun
tain from which he was separated by $50
miles, and from Marseilles Zach SAW
Mount Canigon at distance of 15S miles.
The whole range of the Swiss Alps has been
looked upon by J. Hippisley when 200 miles
away; while Sir W. Jones has affirmed that
the Himalayas have appeared to view from
the great distance of 244 miles.
GERMS TAKING Root IN THE LUNGS
SIN the ordinary healthy lung" says Dr.
Curtis, perhaps even in persons having a
consumptive heredity, 'the germ which
causes the breakdown Of the lung may not
be able to make an impression; but if the
physical integrity is destroyed by poor food
or any facilitating influence, or by cold,
then the germ is able to get in ifs work,
and to multiply and produce its kind, and
fill the lungs with tubercles.
An audible demonstration of the earth's
magnetic induction has been by DR.. Scha-
per. A series of telephones was placed upon
one circuit, and telephone or simple mag
net was then repeatedly turned end for erd
so that its north and south poles were up
permost alternately. AT each reversal
crack was heard, resulting from the earth S
induction on the reversed magnet.
An International congress of botany and
horticulture will meet at Antwerp from
August list to 10th. Questions of great
commercial as well as scientific importance
will be discussed.
A CONSIDERABLE POSTMASTER Wash.
angton, June 5.-Postmaster Sanderson, of
GAINESVILLE, Tex, has resigned, and gives
the following explanation of his reason for
SO doing: 81 wish to engage in other bust
DpSS apd xrhi1a r m, n Doo,l>l;aox 81