Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-25
BITS OF SCIENCE.

According TO 1FOi. >. W. 1OWell blb
Indians were the ''mound-buildArs."
An equivalent of S., 800 has been offered
for a sale substitute for gunpowder in
coal-miaing.
The forests of the United States COM
prise 4l2 species of trees. OF these sixty
are peculiar to Florida.
Asbestos as lining for mems hats is
new idea. Being non-cOnductor of heat
the advantage is apparent.
A botanical phenomenon was Witnessed
on the shore of Todos Saudos Bay. Lower
California, where an apple-tree blOssOmed
and bore large perfect fruit on It's trunk
an inch from the ground.
The Columbus Nedicdt Journal reports
case of death from poisoning with
bromide OF potassium. The victim was
given doses OF eighty grains each at inter-
walls OF four hours during four days.
The only land from which the total
phase OF the solar eclipse of September 8
can be seen is New Zealand. The total
ity lasts only two minutes and a half.
An expedition will be sent from Melbourne
to observe it.
Ii has been observed in Russia that eX-
treme cold converts tin into a semi-crys-
talline mass containing large cavities.
In one instance the pipes OF church
longer sOnOrous.
The musk beetle, according to an Eng
lish observer, has the power Of emitting
or suppressing its OdOr at pleasure; but
when dying the scent is continuous, and
after death more powerful than at any
time during life.
The attention of the French Academy
of Sciences has been called to a new pro-
cess of hardening plaster of Paris. The
product is recommended for floors, being
as durable as oak and costing only one
fourth as much.
1t appears from observations made in
France that the development of vegetable
lite is retarded by an average of nearly
four days for each additional 100 yards Of
altitude. The arrival of the chimney
swallow is delayed about two days for
each increase of 100 yards In height.
A curious physiological effect produced
by the action of turning eggs during in
cubatiOn has been noted by NJ. Dareste.
From experiments made with artificial
incubatOrs he has found that eggs not
turned two or three times day all in
varlably perish. He explains the effect
of this act on the embryo, and accounts
for the action OF the sitting bird on purely
physiological grounds.
Malaria is not confined to low-lying
districts. 1t climbs TO high attitudes,
following the course of the valleys. In
Italy it rises TO the height Of 400 10 800
feet; in California, 1000 feet; along the
Appalachian chain, 3,eo0 feet; in the
West Indies, 400 to /, 800 feet; in India,
1900 feet. On the Andes it is sometimes
found at the height of II 900 feet. Under
ordinary circumstances a moderate atti-
tude will he found comparatively free
from malaria.
Experiments have been made by a COM
mittee OF French experts, including NJ.
Pasteur, in order to ascertain the best
means Of disinfecting chambers IN which
cases OF contagious affections have been
lodged. The committee reports that sui
phurOus acid gas is the best disinfectant;
but recommends that instead of simply
burning sulphur, rs is done in barracks
and such places. bi-sulphide Of carbon
should be burned i'm rooms. as it is less in-
furious TO furniture or metals.
European inventors intend to utilize pO-
tatO peels, bread crusts and the vegetable
refuse OF households and hOtels,a and 10 con-
vert it into alcohol by the following pro-
cess: The refuse is placed Ia vessel,
and water and sulphuric acid are added;
the whole is heated at II degrees G. for
an hour, and then boiled until all the
starch contained in the mass has been
converted into sugar. The mixture is now
left TO cool, in order 20 allow fermentation
TO take place, and the vessel is kept her
Inetically closed.
Prof. Huxley lends scant cOuntenance
70 what has been called by our English
brethren the "mackerel scare" In let
ter he says: at is quite true that mack
erel, like other fish, are more or less in
fected by parasites, one Of which, a small
thread-worm, ~ often 50 abundant as 20
be conspicuous when the fish h opened.
But 10 is not true THAI there ~ any reason
% believe that this thread-w0rm would be
Injurious to man even Il swallowed un-
cooked and alive, and % speak Of II as a
possible cauee Of cholera is sheer non
sense"