The Columbus journal., 1886-05-05
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

!, 1t has been demonstrated by Nj. ].
w. Slater that catcrpillars arc affected
by magnetic currents, which hiides
their development and even kill them.
A study of $50 Italian thunder-storms
has shown Signor Tcrrari that every
thunderstorm is behind 4 depression Of
barometer and hygromcter, and before
. one of the thermometer.
! Glass plates have been substituted for
copper in the sheathing Of an italian
ship the advantage claimed being ex-
empion from oxidation. and incfusta-
don. The glass was cast, Nke hon. In
plates 10 TT the hun.
An Interesting field for scientific re-
search has been opened by Prof. 8. p.
Langley, by the discovery that tho heat
radiated from the soil il Of an almost
totally different quality from that which
comes from the SUM-.
A German chemist concludes that, on
account Of its great digestibility. cheese
is the most nourishing Of all foods. meat
and eggs excepted. OF eighteen varie-
ties of cheese tried. Cheddcr is most
readily digested. -.s -.
In the mining centers of England and
Scotland are to be established danger
signals in connection with the weather
service. for the purpose Of making
known such atmospheric changes a.
may affect the working of the mines
The larger animals are being rapidly
exterminated in Algeria, and the lion Of
the desert is fast becoming a myth.
During tho eleven years from 1873 to
1884 bounty was paid on POP lions. l..
PA panthers, 1882 hyenas. and 1900
jackals.
In a paper on harbOrs Prof. l. NJ.
Haupt mentions that from New York
to the Gulf Of Mexico there are only four
natural entrances where the depth at
mean low water Ia over sixteen feet,
while the largest ships draw from twenty
six to twenty-eighi and a half feet.
An unusual number of white varieties
of animals have been noticed in Ger
many this winter. A white channels
was shot in the Totengcbirge. a white
fish-otter IA caught near Luxembourg,
white cartridges were shot near Bruins
wick, and a white fox was killed in
Hessen.
Late Investigations indicate that tho
chlOrophyll, or green co!oring substance
of the leaves. is most liable to pick up
metallic matter absorbed BY the roots Of
plants. When vines have been manur-
ed with sulphate Of copper, most of tho
metal Is deposited in the leaves. merely
trace appearing In the Juice Of tho
grapes. Tea-lcaves contain much iron,
doubtless due to the ochreous soil on
which they best grow.
In the construction of a tunnel at
Stockton cold air has been applied in a
novel manner. In passing under = hill
of light, wet gravel it was found practi-
cally impossible to underpin the houses
overhead. 1t was therefore decided to
freeze tho gravel by mean, Of cold air,
and put in the lining while tho material
was solid, the undertaking having
been successfully carried out Mons of
the houses passed under have been in
jured.
Vivisection experiments upon cats
and dogs lead Mr.. A. Herzcn. = German
author. to the following conclusions: 1.
The so-caiicd sense OF heat and cold il
composed in reality Of two senses quite
independent, both anatomically and
physically. 2 Observations on healthy
and diseased subjects show that tho SEN
sailors of heat and cold are transmitted
through different nerves, by different
routes. and to different ~brain-centres.
2. The cyrus sigmoideus contains the
center (or centripetal branches leading
thereto) of touch and cold perceptions.
4. These sense-perceptions arc transmit
ted through the posterior columns of
the spinal cord. while those of the senses
of pain and warmth are conveyed
through tho gray substance.