The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1889-11-01
POPULAR SCIENCE.

An electric motor has been applied in
Chicago for running brushes used IL
grooming horses.
The assertion is made that the Ameri-
cans-a pre-eminently mixed race-are
fast becoming a dark haired and blue
eyed nation.
A Russian mineralogist, K. D. Chrust-
schotf, claims to have discovered n new
metal, which he proposes to name rus
SUM" 1t resembles thorium.
A paper OF the sardine read by NJ
Boucher before the Paris Academy of
3 Science expresses the opinion that it is a
young fish which has not attained its full
development.
A citizen of Winnemucca, Col, while
making some changes in his well, discov-
cred that trees 100 feet away had sent
roots to and down into the well How
did the trees discover the we'll?
DR.. Foster, director of the University
Ophthalmic Chnique at Breslau, believes
that a common cause of short sightedness
in the young is restriction of the circula-
ton produced by the wearing of tight fit
ting collars.
The population of Norway exhibits q
higher percentage (97.25) of light eyes
than any other country in Europe. Flaxen
hair occurs in SIS per cent, while abso-
lutely black hair is only found in the ratio
of two per cent.
The danger to life and property from
sparks emitted from electric light wires
has been so well recognized in London
that it is recommended that the city au-
tborities take the matter in hand and see
that the wires are properly insulated.
From recent study of the bones of
anthropoid apes it appears that the 60
rita and chimpanzee approach nearest to
man, but in different degrees, orang
Outang holding the third place. But
great differences exist between the pro-
portions of the human frame and those
of all the apes.
Probably the most important inven-
ton shown at the Paris Exposition is a
new railway, to be run by water power
at a speed from eighty-seven to 124
miles an hour with absolute safety. It
promises to revolutionize the railway
system, doing away with the locomotive
engine and dispensing with coal.
The floods of the summer have shown
how great a protection against the in
roads of water row of willow trees may
be. The engineer in charge of the Poto-
mac River improvements says that where
willows were planted the land was pro-
tected from washing, and practically no
damage was done, while in the improved
land not so protected there was great
loss.
The Indian Planters Gazette says that
''Dr. Lazarus, the well-known occulist,
has invented a shooting spectacle made
with adjustable shutters for use as ordi-
binary distant spectacle for target shoos-
ing, and which modified will be found
most useful to target shooters. This
useful invention will be found a God
send to near-sighted soldiers and sports
men,"
1t is stated that ABOUT five hundred
veterinary surgeons in Great Britain have
signed a paper condemning overhead
check reins as painful TO horses and pro-
ductive of disease. 1t distorts the wind
pipe, and is liable 10 cause paralysis of
the muscles of the face, apoplexy, coma
and inflammation of the brain, all these
resulting in shorting the life Of the
horse.
President Diaz, during the four years
of his administration in Mexico, has rem
dered substantial services to science by
encouraging archaeological investigation
and taking measures for the preservation
of ancient monuments and historical re-
mains. The ruins of Xochicalco and the
pyramids of Teotihuacan have been ex-
plored. and the searchers- rewarded by
-t-.---iJ InCci esCIng dlscOvsrIes. Al a. cnisC>
logical map of the republic has been
made, and the palaces of Militia inclosed,
for their preservation, by a great wall.