The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1889-06-22
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

Prof. Moebius has proved, as lately stated to
the Berlin Physiological Society, that the ana
tomical arrangements of the flying fish's fins
and muscles make flight impossible. The fish
simply shoots up out of the water when fright
ened, and is carried along by the wind. The
buzzing of the fins, which has been urged as
proof of real flight, is produced when strong
current of air strikes the fins of even dead fish,
and the rising over the crest OF wave or tne
buIwarks of ship is explained by the ascend
ing currents of air produced whenever strong
horizontal wind strikes an elevated object like
the wave or ship.
STILL PUZZLE.
1t is rather surprising that we cannot yet
positively answer the old question, Why is the
Sky blue? Prof. Tyndall explained the color
as due to the smalness of the solid particles in
the air, which are thus able to reflect only rays
of short wave-length but later investigator,
Prof Hartley, believes that the mysterious
ozone exercises some influence on the rays, as
a small quantity of ozene gave sky-blue III
tube two feet long.
EGG PRODUCTION OF FOWLS.
According to a late paper by Mr.. T. l.. Sim
monds, Il. L. S., the standard yield and weight
of eggs for the different varieties OF domestic
fowl are approximately as given below: Light
Brahmas and partridge Cochins, eggs to the
pound they lay so to 100 per annum, or even
more. according to treatment and keeping.
Dark Brahmas, s to the pound, and about ~
per annum Black, white, and buff Cochins,
5 to the pound, 100 or less per annum. Ply
mouth Rocks, 8 to the pound, 100 per annum.
Houdans to the pound, 80 per annum. La
Fleche Z to the pound, 40 per annum. BLACK
Spanish, I to the pound, l5O per annum.
Dominiques 8 to the pound, 10 per annum
Game fowl, to the pound, 100 per annum
Crevecoeurs, to the pound, 100 per annum.
Ieghorns. 8 to the pound $50 to 200 per annum.
Hamburgs, to the pound, l75 per annum.
Polish, 8 to the pound, 80 per annum. Ban
tums, is to the pound, 60 per annum. Tur-
KEYS. to the pound, 80 to 60 per annum.
Ducks. 5 to 6to the pound, 14to 2Sper annum.
Geese. to the pound, 20 per annum. Guinea
fowls, IL to the pound, 60 per annum: The
eggs of the modern improved breeds of fowls
have gained onethird in weight, as compared
with eggs formerly had.
THE GERMS OF CONSUMPTION.
member of the London archaeological
Society states that the bacillus of tuberculosis,
or consumption, may enter the body by lnocu-
latiOn through cut or wounds Dy means OF
the gento-urinary mucous membrane; by the
product of conception, and by direct hereditary
transmission; by the mucous membrane OF the
alimentarv canal by the mucous membrane
of the respiratory tract, and by the alr-celis OF
the lungs. The danger from swallowing the
germs with the food makes it vitality important
to avoid milk from tuberculous cows, and pos
sibly the flesh of tuberculous cattle, fowls ana
other animals.
THE LIFE OF MAN.
Human life is estimated to have heightened
lI.4ll
average human life in Rome under Caesar was
Is years. says DR.. Todd, of Georgia, ''now it is
49, The average IN France 90 years ago was q,
the mean duration in 1887 was 455 years. In
Geneva during the thirteenth century agenera-
ton played its part upon the stage and &isap-
reared in IA wears now the drama reqV y 40
years before the curtain falls. l% the
golden reign of good Queen Bess, in E0hdon
and all the large cities of merry old England,
80 out of every 900 paid the last debt to nature
Il A,fS I, md
ten, they averaged but one score. Now, in the
city of London, the average is AZ years.
HEAT ECoNoMIZING BOILER TUBES.
French engineers have lately been testing
boiler tubes with ribs or fianges on the inside,
the invention of NJ Jean Serve. A larger sur
face for absorbing the fires heat is presented,
and saving of fuel ranging from onethird to
one-seventh has been indicated. In expert
ments on a Rhone steamboat, it was found that
with ordinary copper tubes the combustion OF
one pound of coal eyaporated seven pounds OF
water, and the smoke issued from the boiler at
a temperature of $50 f.. but when the tubes
were taken out and the Hanged ones inserted,
the evaporation Immediately rose to nine and
a third pounds of water per pound of coal, and
the heat of the escaping gases fell to 1902.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The perfect combustion of coal seems to have
been effected by Mr.. VIM. Gibbs, of Essex,
England. BY means of a fan and suitable
openings, the exact quantity of air necessary is
supplied 10 the IurlldceCndIHDeFS, anu the pro-
ducts of combustion issue as hot air, free from
smoke or Odor.
After twenty months of trial, DR.. E. Houze.
of the Hospital st. Jean, Brussels, reports tam
min the most beneficial substance in consump-
ton he has known After the first few days,
expectoration, sweats and cough diminish, and
the appetite improves.
A case of transmission of infection to an I'M
born child has occurred in Paris A child born
during the convalescence of the mother from
pneumonia was affected with the same malady,
and died at the end of five days.
The Cape Peninsula, South Africa, in an area
of 200 square miles, contains 1850 species of
plants, Of which 102 are orchids.
Prof J. w. Mallett finds that most alum
baking powders are made with alum, acid phos-
plate of calcium, bicarbonate of sodium, and
starch and he settles disputed point by show
ing that not only alum but the residues left by
its use in baking powder must be unwholesome
in bread.
Living bacteria, in considerable numbers
may always be found in snow, and they resist
extreme cold.