The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-10-13
POPULAR SCIENCE.

In climates having difference of sew
enty degrees in temperature between the
hot and cold seasons, a railway track OF
400 miles is 338 yards longer in summer
than in winter. Of course the length OF
road remains the same, but expansion
forces the lengths of metal closer to-
getner, making an aggregate closing up
of space between tho rails of nearly
yard in each mile.
A contagious disease, believed by
Prof. Lemaistre to be new, is now very
prevalent among the school children OF
France. 1t is commonly known as per-
lecle, and it consists of small ulcers at the
corners of the mouth, lasting from two
to four weeks. Prof. Lemaistre has
found microbe which he suspects to be
the cause of the sores, and to be the
means of spreading them through drink
ing water.
A fine specimen of the primitive art of
Europe in prehistoric times has been
found at Montgaudier by Monsieur Eu-
gene Paignon, and presented to the Paris
Academy of Sciences. 1t is reindeer's
antler, bearing carvings showing much
idea of form on the part of the ancient
artist. Two seals, a fish and three twigs
of plants ure engraved on one side, and
on the other side are two slender animals,
probably cells, three other figures, and an
insect.
DR.. V. G. Vaughan of the Univerity
of Michigan succeeded about year ago
in separating from some specimens of
cheese which had produced alarming
symptoms in many persons highly
poisonous substance which he named
tyrotoxicon Cheese poison). A sample
of ice-cream which had made eighteen
persons sick also yielded tyrotoxicon.
DR.. Vaughan thinks the production of
the poison is due directly or indirectly
to the growth of some micro-organism.
On the trans. Caspian railroad in Rus
sia, now approaching Merv, it is claimed
that about eight hundred dollars per mile
is being saved by the use of ozokerite, or
mineral wax. for ties. When purified,
melted, and mixed with limestone and
gravel, the ozokerite, which is abundant
in the vicinity of the railroad, produces
very good asphalt. This is pressed
into shape in hoxcs, and gives ties which
retain their form and hardness even in
the hottest weather.
A remarkable example of the increase
of temperature in tie earth toward the
centre has been presented at Pesth, where
the deepest artesian well in the world is
that now being bored for the purpose OF
supplying the public baths and other es-
Establishments with hot water. A depth
of 2, 2,120 feet has already been reached,
and it furnishes ITO, ,060 gallons daily, at
a temperature of 15S degrees. The mu.
nicipality have recently voted largo
subvention, in order that the boring may
be continued 10 greater depth, not only
to obtain larger volume of water, but
at temperature of 176 degreea.
The discovery that heat influences one
set of nerve points in the skin, while
sensations of cold are received by another
set, has been followed by an interesting
investigation by two italian physiolo-
gists, whose experiments seem to indi-
cate that the various tastes result from
the exciting of distinct sets of nerve
fbres in the tongue. The prolonged ap-
plication of ice removed the sensibility
for all tastes-sweet. sour, salt and bit
ter. Cocaine destroyed-temporarily, Of
course-sensibility for bitter only. Other
substances, such as caffeine and morphia,
reduced the mower of discriminating be-
tween the different degrees of bitter.
Dilute sulphuric acid had peculiar ef'
feet, causing distilled water and even
ouinine to taste sweet at the tip of the
tongue, although tbs bitter of the qui-
nine was elsewhere tasted as usual.