The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1886-04-02
CuRIeUs FACTS.

Shears with two blades and
spring back were used in old Rome
for clipping sheep. hair and hodges.
A Belgian treats textile fabrics
with an alcoholic solution of the green
tar OF the birch, with which he ex-
poets TO rendor them almost indes-
tructIble.
The petritied skeleton of a whsle
over thirty feet long has been dis.
covered by an officer OF the Coast
Survey, CAL, over 3s00 feet above
tne sea level.
The well at White Plains, New, il
down over 23oO feet, and can go no
further until the water, which Is
seventeen per cent salt aud 50 heavy
that the ropes and tools float on Il
and the drill does not penetrate the
rock, Is shut out.
The London Times says that on
recent test of several thousand bay
onols now 10 use Ia the British army,
being q fair representation OF tho
quality of all, thirty.thres per cent
wero found to be useless for lack OF
Stiffness and temper.
Cases OF severe collie from lead
poisoning have been reported among
tailofs and sewing women. This Il
probably due to their habit of biting
of and sometimes chewing threads
Of sewing silk which has been weight
cd with acetate OF lead.
DIR. Hartwsll, of John Hopkins
University, says that German sol
dier can scale twenty-fool wall with
bis arms and accoutremeu.s, or jump
an Iron spiked fence without getting
caught. Gymnastics are compulsory
In tho German schools.
Cures OF sciatiea are reported ~
having taken place In Paris after a
single application OF Dr.. Debovo's
method Of freezing the skin above
the palnful parts with a spray OF
chloride of methyl. The operation
Is said 70 be applicable also to facial
neuralgia.
From studies Ia Sicily, Dfs. Buch-
ner and EmmeFich find evfdsuca
that the occurrence OF cholera has
some connection with the character
of the soil, and that II makes It's way
into the system through the lung
rather than through the alImentary
canal.
II IL suggested that the PAtagon.
ians may have lost ~ much as two
inches In stature since the adoption
OF constant horseback riding, q little
over two centuries aga. They wer,
formerly reputed giants. aud thell
bodies are still huge, while their leg
are dGsproportIonateIy short ant
slender.
Evidence OF th4 decay Of flrests II
Australia l. found In the present ex
istence of few trees far exceeding
In size any OF those about them, ant
supposed TO be survivors Of q depart
cd race of giants. A tree twenty y-fiv'
feet In circumference at height o
thirty feet abeve the ground wa
described at late meeting nf tn
Royal Society Of New S,uth Wales
Brown Sequard, the Fronch physI
ologlst, has demonstrated that 70
several weeks after death, or durlni
the persistence OF the rigid condition
which Immediately follows the ces
satIon OF life, the nauscles of an AM
NAL undergo slow alternate contrac
tious and elongati,,us and he reach
es the startling conclusion that IN,
muscles In rigor mortis are not dead
but are still endowed with vital. pow
ers, being, however, Ia certaI
chemical condition which is ante
cedent and preparatory 20 finaI deatt
1 The popular notion that the inhah
itants OF Chinese cities are given
unwholesome habits does not seer
to be we'll founded. DR.. DEdgeon
Ia a recent work on the dier, drel
and dwellings of the Chinese, say
that thepsople have admirably adap
ed themselves to their surrounding
and enjoy a maximum OF cOmfor
''They have good many lessons ye
to teach as la respect OF living an
practical hsalth.'' After an experl
ence Of over twenty years with them
he says that "tney are subject {
fewer diseases, their diseases AT
more amenable to treatment, an
they possess grestsr freedom frol
acute and inf ammatory affections
all kinds, If, Indssi, these can }
said to exist at all,y than obtair
among western nations,