The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1886-11-27
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.
A SUPPOSED NEW DISEASE.


A contagious disease, believed by Prof. Lemais-
tire to be new, is very prevalent among the
school-children Of France. 1t is commonly known
as perleche andit consists of small ulcers at the
corners Of the mouth, lasting from two to four
weeks. Prof. Lemaistre has found q microbe
which he suspects to be the of the sores and
to be the means of spreading them through drink
ing water.
SIBERIA DRYING UP. fpA 4elf
Russian geographers report that numerous lakes
in Siberia, chiefly in the Tobolsk and Tomsk
Provinces rapidly drying up, and that villages
now stand on spots covered by extensive sheets
of water hundred years ago. Lake Tchebakly
has shown the most remarkable change, its area
being $50 square miles century ago, while it now
consists of three small ponds the largest covering
not more than five or six square miles.
NOW, DID BACON WRITE SHAKESPEARE? 10
One of the most curious papers read at the late
meeting of the American Association for the Ad-
vancement of Science was one by Mr.. T. G. Men
denhall, in which it was shown that by plotting
the proportion of words of the various lengths
used by and author, very regular curve may be
obtained, which is characteristic of the peculiar
vocabulary of the writer, and gives means of
determining whether two works had the same
authorship. The plotting consists in counting a
thousand words from any passage, then on slip
of paper drawing short line in one column for
column for each word of three letters, and SO on,
the curve being formed by connecting the lower
ends of the columns.
EARTH-wARMED WATER.
The earth's internal heat is now being forced
into practical service at Pesth where the deepest
artesian well in the world is being sunk to sup
ply hot water for public baths and other purposes.
A depth of 3,12O feet has been reached, and the
well supplies daily 10000 gallons of water heated
to l76 degrees.
wATER-PIpEs OF PAPER.
Paper pipes for water and gas have been exhib-
tied in Vienna. They are rolled from sheets OF
paper, and coated on the inside with an enamel
of secret composition. In winding the paper is
soaked in melted asphalt, and the pipe is painted
outside with asphalt varnish, and busted over
with sand 1t is claimed that such pipe will
resist some 1900 pounds internal pressure, al
though the material is only about half an inch
thick
STATISTICS OF BLINDNESS.
The worlds blind are computed to number
about ,0OO, 000 or about one sightless person to
every I,400 inhabitants. In Austria, one person
in every 1,7S5 is blind in Sweden, one in every
LAS; in France, one in every 1,19l; in Prussia,
one in every LII in England, one in every
1,037 Incorporation is greatest in Egypt, where
in Cairo, there is one bling person to every TWEEN
ty inhabitants; while in New Zealand 1t falls to
one in every 1850 inhabitants. Germany has
the greatest number of institutes for the blind,
thirty five; England has sixteen France thir-
teen Austria Hungary, ten Italy, nine; Bel
GUM, six Australia, two; while America, ASA
and Africa together are said to possess only six.
UNIQUE WEATHER SIGNALS.
In the Swiss village of Meyrin some disused
wells have been Theoretically sealed to serve as
barometers On a fall of atmospheric pressure,
air escapes through small hole in the well-cover,
blowing whistle, and thus giving warning OF a
coming storm but when the outside pressure is
increasing, the air being forced into the well
causes a different sound, and announces the prob
ability of fine weather.
A PREHISTORIC ENGRAVING.
fine specimen of the primitive art of Europe
in prehistoric times has been found at Montgau-
der by Mons. Eugene Paignon, and presented to
the Paris Academy of Sciences. 1t is a RENDERS
antler, bearing carvings showing much idea OF
form on the part of the ancient artist. Two seals,
fish and three twigs of plants are engraved on
one side and on the other side are two slen-
der animals, probably cells, three other figures,
and an insect.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Mr. Richard A. Proctor deplores the lack of
mastery works astronomy, finding nothing in
the literature of the science comparable with the
admirable geological works by Lyel the Geikies,
and Others
Careful measurements of seventy human skele
tons have shown the lower limbs to be squa in only
in length from an eighth of an inch to an inch
and fve-eighths, without any deformity being re-
cognizabe.
A Hanoverian physician, DIR. Brandes, has
found reason for believing that malaria is checked
by growths of amacharis alsinastrum, somewhat
troublesom water-plant from Canada, and he re-
commends the introduction of this plant into
marshy districts. AA tFt.
The French Academy of Sciences has been be-
queathed the entire fortune of Madame Pinsen,
of Mons, for the purpose of founding prize, to
be awarded every five years, for the best work on
political economy especially adapted for the work
ing classes.
In the British town of Kimberley, in South At
RIGA, the current used for electric lighting also
does duty as ready means of killing stray dogs
remarkable illustration of the enduring
character of human hair may now be seen in the
British Museum, where has been placed wig,
lately found in temple at Thebes, which is sup
posed to have been worn by an Egyptian priest
at period not less than 3,4OO years ago.