Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-12-12
Scientific Miscellany.

HEIGHT OF THE AURoRA.-Interest-
ing particulars concerning recent at
tempts to measure the height of the
aurora have been given to the Royal
Danish Academy by NJ. Adam Paulsen.
AT Godthaab, with two theodolites 4
miles apart, the height of different
aurorae was found to range from ] mile
to 40 miles; near Cape Farewell, with
base-line of about I mile, the calcula-
ti0ns ranged from to 10 miles; and at
Spitzbergen, with a base of about !
mile, the results were from mile to Is
miles. In earlier observations, FlOgel
estimated the height several aurorae at
80 to 80 miles, Reimann found height
for one aurora of at least 500 miles, and
Nordenskjold placed the mean height
of aurorae at about l25 miles, while
Semstrom observed aurorae as low as
1000 feet, and Hldebrandson saw them
below the clouds. M. Paulsen infers
that the aurora only appears at consid-
erahle height in the temperate zone,
while in the aurorai zone proper the
phenomenon is generally produced in
the lower atmosphere.
ELECTRICITY DIRECT FROM WORK.
The accomplishment of a hitherto ap-
parently impossible feat-that of trans
forming mechanical work directly into
electricity-is claimed by Prof. Braun.
of Tuhingen. He winds nickel wire
into spirals, and as each spiral is e'on-
} gated or compressed current of con-
siderable strength is generated. This
is increased by putting number Of
spirals in circuit. Such positive results
} have been obtained that the expert
menter is hopeful of constructing USE
, ful generator on this principle.
PHosPHOREsCENT 1NFECTION.--The
curious discovery has been made that
the phosphorescence frequently ex-
) hibited by the crustacea is infectious.
A French naturalist, M. Giard, lately
traced the phosphorescent light in
TdlitruS and other crustacea to bacteria
in the muscles, which showed signs of
disease. On inoculating healthy indi-
viduals, the same luminous appearance
, was produced. The disease runs a regu-
lar course, and the crustacea died in
three or four days, thosphorescence
lasting little after death.
, THEORY OF HYPNoTIsM.-Dr Pinel,
!. of Paris, has found that hypnotic pa
g tients obey the phonograph as readily
as the living speaker. He therefore
dscards the theory of animal magnet
ism manifested in the few "sensitives''
!, is a disordered mental state.
INDEsTRUCTIBLE LITERATURE.-F'ire
r proof and time-proof books, write leaves
" and covers of sheets of asbestos, and
r printing in gold or silver letters, have
been suggested.
SCIENTIFIC FARMING.-The first agr..
e cultural experiment station, according
= to Prof. w. O. Atwater of the United
q States department of agriculture, was
established at little German village
l. near Leipsic in 1851. In 1856 there
o were five, in 1861 fifteen, in 1866 thirty
o and to-day there are more than one
r. hundred experiment stations and kin
,. dred institutions in the countries O.
Europe. The first agricultural expert
r, ment station in America was estab
IL lished at Middleton, Ct, in 1875. There
[ were four in operation in 1880, and ir
b 1887 some seventeen in fourteen States
# In the latter year Congress made the
" enterprise national by an appropriation
of sis, 900 per annm to each of the States
n and Territories having agricultural col
20 leges or departments of colleges. This
4 has lead to increased activity, and there
are now forty-six, or, counting branches
flfty-seven, agricultural experiment
stations in the United States. To sup
70 port these forty-six stations, the Ma
s tional and State appropriations for the
present year reach about $720, 900, anc
] over $40 trained men are employed.
:, ELECTRIC POWER. utilization
u and distribution of electric power are
1t stated by Mr.. F. L. Pope to have reached
by far the greatest development il
&c Switzerland and the United States. II
the former country electricity is trans
mitted to considerable distances fol
i. large motors. At Solothurn manu-
70 factory of machine screws is driven BY
It an electric motor of so horse power
# which derives its energy from turbine
:. wheel more than five miles away on
10 mountain stream. At Derendingen, 1
8 delaine mill of 36, 900 spindles is driver
e by pair of electric motors of 2S0 horse
power, operated by turbine whee
p twelve miles distant. At Lucerne IL
- horse power is similarly carried half {
y mile. In the United States no electric
IS motor of more than go horse power il
le known TO Mr.. Pope, but there are a
rt many as 5000 small motors in use,
- favorite size being 10 horse power. /
10 is pred icted that in cities electric mo
T. tors will soon practically supplant tn
ii steam engines of less than fifty hors
power.
J. A REMARKABLE TRADE.-The abund
= ance of remains of the mommoth is al
~ most incredible. Middendorf reck
oned that at least 100 pairs of tusks ha
tv been put upon the market yearly dur
e. ing the last two centuries and iron
ID personal observation Nordensk( fold
s. inclined to regard the estimate as to
ed small. 1t thus appears that in the re
N cent modern trade the tusks of NOR
- than 10000 of these animals of past age
r. have been collected.
8. A MILITARY NOvELTY.-A vegetabl
IS. cartridge shell which is entirely con
sumed in firing, has been brought ou
France. The cartridge has scarcely hal
n the weight of one with metal shell
the cost Is considerably less, and the in
convenience of removing the shell al
!, ter each shot is avoided.
st ~s>s@
TO The proprietors of Ely's Cream Balr
do not claim it to be cure-all, but
!, sure remedy for catarrh, colds In tn
u head and hay fever. IL Is not q liqui
g or a nuff huk ia aaSilv ann1ip0 into th