Morning journal and courier., 1891-12-14

wrong in Russia. That country has been visited by eight national famines during the present century, in 1901, 1898, 1911, 1S12, 1893, 1S40, 1869 and 1891. In addi- ton to these there have been several pro vincial famines as severe, if not as exten- sive, as those which affect the whole pop ulation.
 Equatorial Africa promises another treasure to civilization. It is a musk scented plant, the branches of which car ried about the person will frighten away mosquitoes as certainly as collection plate will disperse street preachers con gregation. The smell of this plant is neither unpleasant or unhealthy, but no mosquito will venture within its reach. The cottagers at Morris Cove ought to grow this plant.
 Some scientists are useful. A French military surgeon, Dr. Colin; has made ex- periments in the coneussion occssioned by striking the heel against hard ground in walking. This reacts on the bony struc- lures and the brain, and the sensation of fatigue is largely due to it. It is worse with soldiers, who carry about sixty pounds in arms and baggage. During a days march they strike their heels 40, 900 times. Dr. Colin proposes rubber heels to the boots.
 A recent enumeration makes it evident that the settled population of the city of London has steadily declined. Thus, in 1861, according to the imperial census, the population of the city of London was 112, ,063; in 1871, "A, ,s97; in 1881, 50,652, and in 1891, 37,69S. The local govern ment, or day, census, proved that in 1866 the population was ITO, 133: in 1881, 261,- 061; in 1891, 301, 1881. To show the char acter of this population the following division in round numbsrs is made: Elm ployers, 29,0O0; male employees, 202, 900; female employees, 50,000; children under 15, 19.000. In the twenty-four hours of the day taken for enumeration, April 9. 1,1S6,094 persons and 92,372 vehicles entered the city. This will give some idea of the congested state of central London.
 An experiment has just been tried in England with petroleum fuel, soldifed by new process. given quantity of crude petroleum is first drawn off into a vessel, and with it is mixed about 15 per cent. of certain chemicals, which are in themselves largely combustible. The vessel contain ing the mixture is then placed for short time in boiling water, which causes fusion to take place. The vessel is then trans ferred to furnace, having temperature of from 400 to 500 degrees Fah.. the mix ture being kept stirred. In short time solidfication takes place, after which the compound is pressed into blocks for use. The chemicals employed for admixture with the petroleum are said to cost only about the same as the petroleum, and the process of conversion does not require any skilled labor. The whole process from the first mixing to solidfcation occupies only about half an hour, and the converting apparatus is simple and Inexpensive. The solidifed petroleum burns freely and with but a small percentage of ash. The nature of the chemicals used wiis not disclosed. It was declared that the new fuel is much cheaper than steam coal and has much more heating power. The reports of ex- perts speak of it very favorably.