The Baltimore County union., 1886-04-24
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.
. TILLABLE LAKES.


Prof Schwalbe has drawn the attention of the
Berlin Physical Society to two interesting phe-
nomena observed in the gypsum of the Southern
Hartz viz, the sinking of rivers, often accom-
panied by loud uproar, and the occurrence OF in
termttent lakes. The So called peasants ditch,"
near Rossau, was, in the last century, as the old
contracts between the two neighboring villages
prove sometimes lake serving one village for |
fishing purposes, and sometimes dry land, which |
was then titled by the other village. Several |
channels at the bottom of the lake lead to the
interior of the gypsum rack, yet the water, wnen
it gathered here stood for several years at depth
of thirty to fifty feet when it suddenly disappeared
again. In tho years 1875, 1877 and 1878, this
lake was filled with water, and since the last date
has been dry land.
METALS IN PLANTS.
Late investigations indicate that the chlorophyl,
or green coloring substance of the leaves, is most
liable to pick up metallic matter absorbed by the
roots of plants. When vines have been manured
with suphate of copper, most of the metal is de-
posted in the leaves, merely doubtful trace ap
pearing in the juice of the grapes. Tea. leaves
contain much iron, doubtless due to the ochreous
soil on which they best grow.
AN ENGINEERING FEAT.
In the construction of q tunnel at Stockholm
cold air has been applied in a novel manner In
passing under hill of light wet grayel II was
found practically impossible to underpin the
houses overhead 1t therefore decided to
freeze the gravel by of cold air, and put in
the lining while the material was solid, the under
taking having now been successfully carried out
by the use of cold air machines. None OF the
houses passed under have been injured
NEW GENUS OF DOG.
The remains of distinct type of dog, widely
differing from any of the ordinary wild or do
mestic dogs, have been described by Mr.. j. A
Allen. The bones were found in Ely Cave, Lee
Co.. Virginia. In general form the animal was
short-limbed and heavy bodied, resembling in Its
proportions badger rather than dog. IL Is
to a new genus, which has been named Pdchycyon
robustHs.
SENSES FOR HEAT AND COLD.
Vivsection experiments upon cats ana dogs
lead Mr. A. Herzen, German author, to the fol-
lowing conclusions l. The so-caled sense OF heat
and cold is composed in reality of two senses quite
independent both anatomically and physiological
w. g. Observations on healthy and diseased SUBJ
ects show that the sensations of heat and cold are
transmitted through different nerves, by different
routes and to different brain-centres. 3. Inc
cyrus sigmodeus contains the centre Tor the CEN
tripetaI branches leading thereto) of touch and
cold perceptions. 4. These sense-perceptons are
transmitted through the posteror columns OF the
spinal cord while those of the senses of pain and
warmth are conveyed through the gray substance
PHOTOGRAPH OF TIGER AND PREY.
Through accident, photograph OF tiger selz-
ing his prey has been secured In India.
camera was focused on buffalo some thirty feet
away, and just as dry plate was adjusted tiger
leaped from jungle and Frustrated the buffalo al
a single blow. Though poor, the negative gave
good idea of the relative positions of tiger and
buffalo.
MISCELLANEOUS.
In paper on harbors, Prof. Haupt mentions
that from New York to the Gulf of Mexico there
are only four natural entrances where the depth
- con ruhf fIn n
largest ships draw from twenty to twenty
eight and half feet.
1t appears that there now inhabited cave
dwellings in Saxony. They are dug in sand
stone hill, have diverent rooms, light and dark,
as well as chimneys, windows and doors, and are
said to be very dry and habitable
The larger animals are being rapidly exter'
minated in Algeria, and the lion of the desert is
fast becoming myth. During the eleven years
from 1873 to 1884 bounty was paid on 202 hons,
1914 panthers, 1882 hyenas and $4,000 jackals.
An unusual number of white varieties of animals
have been noticed in Germany this winter. A
white chamois was shot in the Totengebirge, a
white fish otter was caught near Luxembourg,
white partridges were shot near Brunswick, and
white fox was killed in Hessen.
It has been demonstrated by Mr.. j. W. Slater
that caterpillars are affected by magnetic cur
rents, which hinder their development and even
kill them.
study of $50 italian thunder-st has
shown Sgnor Ferrari that every thunderstorm is
behind a depression of barometer and hygrometer,
and before one of the thermometer.
German chemist concludes that, on account
of its great digestibility, cheese is the most
nourishing of all foods, meat and eggs excepted.
Of eighteen varieties of cheese tried, Cheddar is
most readily digested.
An interesting field for scientific research has
been opened by Prof. S. P. Langley by the dis.
covery that the heat radiated from the soil is OF
an almost totally diferentquality from that which
comes from the sun.
In the mining centres of England and Scotland
are to be established danger signals in connection
with the weather service, for the purpose of max
ing known such atmospheric changes as may af-
feet the working of the mines.