The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-07-16
POPULAR SCIENCE.

POPULAR SCIENCE.
The latest scientific theory is that ther
are microbes in ice.
Oil bearing rock is said to have beer
discovered under Big Rapids, Mich.
An electric bicycle lamp has beer
patented in England, which will burn fol
fifteen hours.
An Iowa porcine-propagator is said te
be breeding hogs with solid feet instead
of the cleft hoof.
An electrical vcntilator has been in,
vented, which will change the air in a
large apartment every two minutes.
Ten and half inches of rain fell in
Maine during May, the largest precipita-
tion in any month for twenty-one years.
The new observatory near Tananarivo,
Madagascar, will be one of the highest in
the world, as the site chosen is about
4400 feet above the sea level.
The explanation of the peculiar density
of thunder clouds is said to lie in the
fact that the vapor is partially condensed
into drops by the electrical action.
DR.. L. B. Clifton, an English natural
ist, who devotes particular attention to
raising rare moths, has just succeeded in
bringing one out that he values at $50,
A signal service officer has compiled
statement of the number of tornadoes in
this country for the last seventeen years.
While there were 2S0 in 1885, there were
only forty-two in 1889. -.....
An addition has been made to the facts
in the controversy regarding the use OF
chloroform, in the shape of statistics
showing that the accidents due to the
employment of chloroform in Paris hos
pitals during the last ten years have been
in the proportion of one to 1860, while
the accidents due to the use of ether have
heen one in 1851.
The electric microscope promises to
make some wonderful revelations in the
world of science. At a recent medical
congress in Europe microscopical prepar.
ations under magnifying power OF
II, 900 linear were made visible to an as
semblage of 300 persons. The pulsating
heart of dog and the heart beats pro-
duced by suffocation were successfully
demonstrated.
According to naturalists, a scorpion
will produce sixty-fve young, common
fly will lay LA eggs, leech $50, a
spider 17O, frog 100. A female moth
will produce HOO eggs ahd a tortoise
1000, a gall insect has laid so, 900 eggs,
shrimp 5000. One naturalist found
over IL, 900 eggs in lobster, another
21,000. Leuwenhoeck computes 900,
900 as the crabs share.
1t has been ascertained that salmon
which have suffered any abrasion or in.
Jury while in salt water are almost sure
to die when they pass into the fresh.
The contrary is true of inland fishes
which do not have access to the sea.
These, when affected with fungus, the
result of injuries received in transporta-
ton or otherwise, when placed in brack-
ish or salt water are restored to health.
Grape culturists will doubtless be in
terested in the announcement by the
noted French professor of chemistry, NJ.
Vile, that he has discovered a new
chemical fertilizcr-intense and almost
miraculous in its effects on the vine. 1t
consists of mixture of phosphate of
lime, carbonate of potash and sulphate
of lime, which, if placed round vine
growths, will enable them to defy the
onslaughts of the phylloxera.
DR.. Alexander Zoroastrott, of Belostok,
cmphaticaliy recommends to people
! working about water 4 grease for boots
which is said to completely prevent sore
feet. and so protects pedestrians from the
whole train of familiar affections caused
by that minor accident. The ointment
is made of four parts of lards, four parts
of olive oil and one part Of caoutchouc
(raw rubber, melted together on slow
fire. Having moistencd the sole OF the
boot with water the inventor warns the
boot in stove or before fire and then
smears it over with the compound. The
boot is said to become soft, pliab!e. shin
ing, waterproof and even more durable.