The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-12-08
Complied for The ArkansaW TrGpeter
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

A fund of 81 900 900 has been left by an English
brewer for advancing economic and sanitary science.
Experiments by NJ. G.. Cow indicate that ordinary
sunlight does not give US the true colors Of bOdes
These can only he shown by light combining all
the visible colored rays, and giving q complete
continuous spectrum. The spectrum of sunlight
is interrupted by bright and dark bands.
A WooD- PREsERvATIvE.-Sulphat of copper is
recommended for keeping posts and timber from
decay. Telegraph poles in Norway are said to be
preserved by boring inch holes about two feet from
the ground, and filling with the lphate of copper
crystals, afterward plugging the holes with wood.
The crystals gradually dissolve and permeate the
wood, turning IL greenish color.
HEN PoSsIBILITIEs.-The number of eggs a hen
may lay has been estimated by German natur-
alist as follows: The ovary of hen contains about
600 embryo eggs, of which not more than 20 are
matured in the first year. The second year pro-
duces l20; the third, 1885 the fourth, ia and in
the following four years the number decreases by %
yearly. In the ninth year only 10 eggs can be
expected.
Edisons "Jumbo" dynamos, with a capacit5 OF
POO lights, were electric generators of astonishing
size four years ago. A London lighting station Is
now having built, however, two 300 horse power
Ferrant dynamOs, each of which will supply cur
rent for $4,000 lamps These will be followed by
some 0000 horse power dynamos, each weighing
500 tons and having an armature forty five feet In
diameter.
ErEtcrs on ToBAcCo-IIowever harmless tobacco
may be to moderate and careful users-who, as DIR.
G. w. Lyman states in a late entertaining paper,
may avoid some of the virulent oil and nicotine by
thorough combustion and clean pipes cigar
holders-it is unquestionably capable of producing
most poisonous effects. The most noticeable and
important symptom of nicotine poisoning Is
depressing action of the heart, often known
smokers heart" In an Experimental observation
of thirty eight boys of all classes and of average
health, who had been using tobacco for periods
ranging from two months TO two years. thirty-two
were found TO have rregularity of the hearts
action, disordered stomachs, coughs and a craving
for alcohol; twenty seven showed severe injury TO
constitution and growth; thirteen had intermit-
tency of the pulse, and one had consumption.
These symptoms disappeared within a year after
the tobacco habit was abandoned. The Maoris, of
New Zealand, were finely developed and powerful
people at the time of the advent among them of
the Europeans but passionate fondness for tobacco
has sprung up among Them and has resulted In
decimsting their numbers and reducing them to =
very inferior physical condition. There Is a wide
spread belief that tobacco Is a powerful germ
killer, and Italian Psychologist has just obtained
some scientific confirmation of this view. Various
microbes-such those of cholera, typhoid fever,
and pneumonia-were exposed to the fumes of
burning tobacco, and in every the subsequent
development of the germs was either greatly
retarded or prevented altogether. Further expert
ments will be made to determine the germicide
value of tobacco and its constituents, and whether
smoking claim any place in the treatment
prevention of disease.