Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-05-05
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.
TCompiled for the SPECTATOR.

SENsIBIL1TY OF PLANTs.-Biologists are
becoming aware of the existence of low
order of intelligence in plants Prof. Nor
rem, in late publication of the Royal
Belgian Academy, argues that the law of
sensation producing motion is common to
both animal and vegetable kingdoms, that
plants are sensible, to the influ ences Of en-
vironment, and not only move but are able
to coordinate their movements. All the
phenomena of motion are ultimately traced
to protoplasrl, a living substance common
alike to plants and animals, and whose
general and essential characteristics are
precisely the power of sensation and move
ment. 1t has the faculty of receiving i'm
pressions and of moving responsibility. 1t
stirs, therefore it lives, and the same is true
of every organism from man to the microbe
and the plant. Life may be defined as the
activity of protoplasm, although this is a
substance whose true nature is still un-
known.
The housewives of Norway make their
common fiat bread largely of the powdered
branches of the young pine, not SO much to
save flour as to secure a light loaf. The
bark proves to be not only innutritious but
actually injurious, and is now being de-
nounced by medical men.
There is no patch of the moons visible
surface half mile square that is not accu-
rately mapped, according to Prof. Young,
while the earth contains immense tracts, as
in Central Africa, which have never been
surveyed.
In late experiments by Russian physiolo-
gist, neither pure tin nor the bichloride of
tin proved poisonous when introduced into
he OF IF Int
chloride was injected into the veinsfit was
quickly fatal.
A prize Of So, 900 is offered for the best
essay on the progress of electricity applied
to motive power and lighting before Jan. 1,
1889, the King of the Belgians being
donor.
TEA-PoIsoNING.-Chren tea-poisoning
according to DR.. w. N. Bullard is a fire.
Quent affection, the most common symptoms
of which are loss of appetite, dyspepsia,
palpitation, headache, vomiting and nausea,
combined with nervousness, and hysterical
and neuralgia affections, frequently accom-
panied by constipation and pain about the
heart. Among adult women the average
amount needed to cause poisonous symp-
toms is little less than five cups daily,
but the young and weak are more easily af-
tected.
SNAKE vENoM.-The quantity of poison
conveyed in the fangs of venomous snakes
appears to be very small, but of very power
full quality. DR.. Vincent Richards, of Ben
gal, mentions kraft which quickly killed
three men and seriously poisoned fourth
by bites given in rapid succession. He esti-
mates that the reptile carried eight grains
of liquid venom in it's poison glands, which
are smaller than those of the cobra.
The botanic gardens of the world, most
of them scientific in character, are reported
to number 1877, of which Germany has "a;
Italy, 90; France, 20; Great Britain and Ire
land, 70; West Indies, 6; and the United
States, 5. More than half are supported by
government and only five per cent by pri-
vate enterprise. q.
The captain of an Australian schooner,
Mr.. 7. 81. Grifiths, reports the setting fire
of his vessel by meteorite on Dec. 18th,
while in latitude $50 53t north and longi-
tude 1880 49, west. No shock was felt, but
two or more hot metallic pieces as large as
mans hand were picked up.
The brain of ioness has been dissected
at Berne, and found to be in many respects
intermediate between the dogs and the
cats brain.
The air of different places seems to vary
little in its proportion of oxygen and nitro
gen, air lately brought from Cape Horn be-
ing about like that of France.
A PRE-EDIsON PHoNoGRAPH.-A writer
in China claims to have discovered a record
of the existence of speaking monograph
in that country as far back as the seven
teenth century. The instrument is men
toned as "the thousand Ii speaker" and the
description is as follows: SIT WINS bamboo
tube covered with disk of glass and opened
by a key. After speaking into it several
thousand words, it was closed and carried
to distance not exceeding thousand-li
On opening it and applying the ear, voice
was still distinctly heard. If carried a
greater distance the voice became indis-
tinct." DR.. Mcgowan suggests that in
distinctness might result from injury sus-
tanned by the apparatus in long trip over
the rough roads.
A NEW SEWAGE sCHEME.-The precipita-
ton method of treating sewage is to be
adopted in London on large scale. The
sewage is left in tanks, and the separation
of the solid portion is FASTENED by the addi-
tion of lime and protosulphate of iron. The
liquid becomes as clear as fresh water, and
may be drained into the Thames; while the
solid matter is to be pressed into blocks for
transportation to the sea. The process has
been tried experimentally for some months,
but is now to be applied to 5000, 900 gallons
Of sewage daily.
A NATURAL BIRD-TRAP.-The ornament
al pisonia grandis of Australia has seeds
like an elongated barley corn, which are
covered with very sticky gum. This ad-
heres to the legs and feathers of winged
creatures coming in contact with IT, and |