The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-06-30
Compiled for The Arkdnsdsc TroveEer. SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY

| less than 417 earthquake shocks have been recorded at San Francisco.
 It is estimated that 100 tons can now be carried thirteen miles an hour by steamship at a mile cost, including fuel, insurance, etc., of one-eighth of a penny.
 A human subject without collar bones has been met with in St. Louis dissecting room. This structure is that of most of tine vertebrates. such as lions, bears, etc.
 The remarkable operation of trans planting the nerve of a rabbit to a human subject has been successfully performed by Dr. GersuDg, of Vi. enna, and the graft promises to per form it's ordinary functions satisfac torily.
 Of 5000 convicted criminals exam ined by French medical man, M. Marambet, more than half were drunkards-that is 79 per cent of the vagabonds and mendicants, 50 per cent of the assassins, 57 per cent ofthe incendiaries, and Fl per cent of the robbers.
 The ancient therapeutic method of licking the cornea, as dogs lick the eyes of their puppies, is still a popu- lar remedy in Greece. pr. Costomiris, of Athens, was lately induced to try 1t in number of serious cases of eve disease, and reports marvelously suc- cessful results.
 The decay ot organic matter has been found by Schloesing to begin under the influence of living organ isms. Between 100 and 120 degrees. Fahrenheit, this action ceases, and is succeeded by purely chemical pro- cess of slow combustion, which in- creases rapidly with the temperature.
 A NEW AsTRoLoGY.-A new method of weather prediction has been dis covered by Oh. Montigny, French physicist. He has observed that the sclntlllatlons of stars increase before many storms, indicating disturbance of the upper atmosphere hours before the meteorological instruments show any change. The .fiercer the storm the more is the strength of the scin- l CAlidtiOuS increased.
 What is said to be satisfactory sub- stitute for the high priced gum acacia IS prepared by Trojanowski by treat ing the mucilage of flax seed with sul- phuric acid; and another, lately pat ented in Germany by Schumann, is made from starch. The euphorbia gum, peculiar African resin is con- ing into extensive use as a substitute TOT, or addition to, caoutchouc, whose quality IS even claimed to be improved by mixture with the cheaper gum.
 RAILWAYS AND RAINFALL.-The laying of the Mexico Central railroad has been attended by some curious meteorological phenomena. With the advance of the line, waterspouts have appeared and inflicted great damage, while the rainfall has in- creased. These results are supposed to be due to some attractive force ex- erted by the great mass of metal in the rails and telegraph wires, and are attracting considerable scientific at- tention.
 A BOLD PRoJEcT.-A Swiss engin- ger has submitted plan for supply ing Paris with pure water from the lake of Neufchatel, at cost of $1OO,- OOO,OOO. The proposed aqueduct would be 312 miles in length, includ- ing tunnel twenty-two miles long under the Jura mountains. The lake is 1920 feet above the average of Par. isian streets, and it is believed that power sufficient for all the industries of the French capitol could be fur. nished in addition to potable water.
 A NEW MATERIAL FOR BoATs.- Navigators in central Africa know that boats of iron and steel quickly corrode in tropical waters, while those of wood are attacked by white ants. A missionary society has therefore built a stean-canoe for Lake Nyassa of the comparatively new alloy known as Delta Metal, which resists corro- sion, is light, and as strong as steel. The vessel is twenty-one feet long. with beam of seven feet and depth of three feet, and draws only sixteen inches of water with engine and boiler on board.
 WELDING BY ELECTRICITY,-Two methods of joining metals by electri- city are now practiced. In that of Prof. Elihu Thomson, which is es- pecially applicable to the uniting of tubes, rods, wires, etc., a very heavy current is passed between the two metals, when the great resistance of the point of contact causes it to be- come quickly heated and welded. In the proces of M. Bernados, the heat of the electric arc is used, the junction of the metals forming one pole and & rod ot carbon, rapidly applied to any point desired, the other. The first method is said to be surer and more essity can4ra!!sd end 4ha ..,e~a s