Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-18
Rcientinc Notes.

Mr.. John Brashear, Of the Allegheny OBJ
servatorv. Pittsburgh, Pa, has gone TO Eu-
rope for the summer, and will visit the prin>
cipal observatOrcs and most eminent astro-
nomers OF England and the Continent.
1t Is stated in Science that philosophical
society has been formed at the University OF
Vienna under the leadership oil Professor
Zimmerman and Professor Meyuert Pro-
feSsor Hotter has been elected president.
The object Of the society is 10 bring before
specialists Of all classes general scientific
problems having philosophical import.
It's SAID that vessels built OF African teak
wook have lasted one hundred years, TO be
then broken up because Of faulty models. Its
weight is from fortv-twO TO ffty-twO pounds
per cubic foot; it works easily, but wears
the tools rapidly on account OF the quantity
OF slick in IT, II also contains an oil which
prevents the iron in contact with it from
rusting.
The interiniection OF diptherla between
man and various lOwcrauimals, from pigeons
aud fowls 10 cats, horses, and sheep, has
been pretty well established by Or. George
Turner. who reports the results of his in
vestigations to the British Local Government
Board. He found that the "glpes" IN
chickens was frequently complicated with
diptheretic membraneOus growth.
President Willis, Of the Agricultural Col
lece OF Michigan, while he disputes the eX-
ercise OF a direct influence OF forests in pro-
noting notwithstanding that all the trees IN
the world will not put 1t where 1t Is not
believes that the moisture on the continent
is advancing towards the west, and that the
plapling OF forests and increased cultivation
will cause the rainfall TO advance farther
west every wear. Seven hundred thousand
acres of forest have already been planted in
Nebraska: the cottonwood and the willow
first, and then tue soft maple and the hard
woods.
Although glass pipes OF large diameter
have not &, yet been successfully produced,
the opinion has been expressed by those
engaged IA the manufacture OF glass on
large scale that the time is not far distant
when some method Of casting such pipes
satisfactorily aud cheaply vii be devised;
and it Is believed that made in similar form
to the present castiron pipes, with some
suitable mechanism for joint, and OF MALE.
able glass, water pipe would thus be formed
to which there could scarcely be an objection.
strong, tough, smooth, and indestruchOle,
ana made of q material that is found almost
anywhere, it Is thought not improbable
tudl, IN llult, WutUtNtI u lhlEb quantity VI
pine is required in any one locality furnace
will be erected and the pipes be there made.
The use OF balloons for securing observa-
lions Of the enemy's position. and for other
military purposes, though never as yet prac-
tcay tested on n large scale, seems to be oc-
cupying The attention OF military authorities
and inventors To an extent which makes IT
safe to predict that military ballOonng will
play an important part in future warfare. The
actual practice Of military ballooning is pow
being carried on by the Italian forces In the
Soudan TO a considerable extent, and theques-
ton OF obtaining gas for the balloons has
caused not little trouble. The hydrogen
required has been manufactured at Naples
and taken to the seat Of war in steel tubes,
each OF which is about 81 inches in diameter
by 4 feet "a inches long. the walls being
about five eighths Of all inch thick. The
hydrogen IS produced by action on iron
turnings with dilute sulphuric acid, and Is
pumped into these tubes at a pressure OF
1910 pounds per square inch. Forty OF The
tubes are needed in initiating single balloon.