The Republican., 1892-08-05
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

Margarine is the name of a new ale
10y, consisting of copper, nickel and
manganese. which has been brought
into the market by German firm as a
material of great resisting power. it
having a specific resistance greater than
that of nickeline, which has hitherto
passed as the best resisting metal.
What is believed to be the largest
aerolite ever known to have fallen from
the clouds is lying in the Caspian sea,
near the Peninsula of Asheron. In fall
ing it made terrific noise and illumi-
mated the country and sea for miles 1t
projects twelve feet above the water. so
enormous is its size. Scientists are
deeply interested in the phenomenon.
Recently compiled figures show that
the total number of regular trains of all
classes in and out of Chicago daily via
all railroad lines is $3.50. There are 269
through express and mail trains, $50 ac-
commodation and suburban passenger
trains, PA merchandise freight trains
and an average of 164 grain, stock and
lumber trains.-Railway Review.
During the past ten years the total
number of rabbit skins exported from
New Zealand amounted to, in round
numbers. OO,OOO,0O0 increasing from
about 1000, 900 in 1899 to 1882, rs in
1899. The value of years sale OF rab-
bit skins outside of the colony amounts
10 nearly half a million dollars.-
Graphic.
| --India, with an area of 5000, 900 kilo-
meters and population, according to
the census of 1891, of 275, 900, 900. pos
sesses but 81, 900 kilometers of railroads.
The greater part of the materials for
the roads came from England, only the
cast-iron sleepers and wrought-iron
fastenings have been in great part pro-
duced in India. India imported in 1890
iron and steel, chiefly railroad mate
rials, to the value of S13, 120, 900.
AT the general meeting of the Paris
Pasteur institute, which was held re-
Gently, a report was presented which
showed that since the esta blishment of
the institute there has been steady
diminution in the death rate of the cases
treated. Thus in 1856 the percentages
of death was 0.94: in 1897, 0. 73; in 1888,
0.55: in 1889, OBS; in 1890, 032; and in
1891, O.19.-Philadelphia Medical and
Surgical Reporter.
The annual meeting of the society
of German Men of Science and Physi-
September II to IS. At the same time
and place there will be meeting of the
German Mathematical association. In
connection with these meetings there
will be a mathematical exhibition, in
cluding models, drawings, apparatus
and instruments used in teaching and
in research in pure and applied mathe-
matics.
The four largest paper machines in
the world are under construction in
Worcester, Mass, for the new paper
mill at Rumford Falls, Me. Onei is 1875
inches wide. two 125 inches wide each,
and one 112 inches More than thou
sand mechanics and laboEers will be
employed this summer in building up
the new manufacturing town of Rum
ford Falls. and the factories now build
ing will, when completed, furnish en-
ployment for 1000 hands. N. Y. Sun.
-Pliny, the great naturalist, who
| lived about the time of Christ, reckoned
the whole number of known species of
fish at "a. Linneus, the great Swedish
Investigator of the eighteenth century,
could classify AIS, and he is known to
have been the greatest ichthyologist of
the age in which he lived. The progress
made in that particular branch since
the time of Linu@us seems all the more
wonderful, for now. since the expedi-
tiohs of the Challenger aad others,
49, 900 species show up in the catalogues
Of the fish specialists - Manchester
Union.
Look at the Pleiades with the I'M
aided eye and you may see six or seven
or dozen stars. Look at it through a
three-inch telescope and you may,
perhaps see 300 Study it through a
telescope for three years, as NJ. Wolff
has done, and map the stars and their
places, and you may record 600 to ZOO
stars on a strange background of nebu-
lous light Expose sensitive plate for
an hour, and more than twice that
number are revealed. Lengthen the
exposure to four hours. and you have a
picture of 2,326 stars with different
and more extensive background of
nebulosity.
The study of the causes of radical
immunity from disease has a very prac-
teal side. When we find, for instance.
that the Japanese are not liable to scar
let fever. and the negroes are equally
exempt from yellow fever, if we could
ascertain what condition it is that con-
fers upon them this exemption, we
might be able to take long step in the
direction of personal and general pro-
phylaxis. There is no more vital ques-
tion, none more attractive to the most
active minds of the medical profession
to-day than this of immunity: and in
the direction of ethnic immunity there
lies wide avenue for investigation
promising to lead to results of the Ut
most utility to the health and welfare
of mankind. Science.
How to Apply Some Pet Names.
1t will he found advantageous to se-
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