The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-02

RAIN WATERWAYS. c. NJ. City. Pure water
is never found in nature. The nearest approach
TO natural pure water is rain water after a
continuance of wet weather; but even this
water always contains In 100 volumes about
twO-ffths volumes OF atmospheric air with
trace of ammonia; IN fact il seems impossible
to obtain water that does not contain his in
gredlent. as rain is the product of distllation,
carried on by nature, the water that falls should
be pure unless it meets Ia its progress to the
earth foreign substances which il may take
along either mechanically or in solution. lhe
carbonlc acid OF the atmosphere and ammonia
which often exists in the air. are the most fire.
quent Impurities present In rain water, both OF
which. If at all Objectionable, are expelled
by boiling. Nitric acid is sometimes
detected In ii. particularly in thunder
storms, and Is supposed TO be a product of the
combination OF the nitrogen OF the ammonia
with the oxygen of the air. the union induced
by the electrical discharges Many ms ances
are recorded OF solid bodies common TO the
earth being brought down by the rain, such as
fish, frogs, great varsity of vegetable sub
stances. such as pollen and so forth; also min-
eral substances. All these are first raised up
by whirlwlnds or watersDouts, and being car
ried by The rush OF the winds to such distances
as these are able to support them they then fall
10 the earth by their gravity. The first rain
that falls contains dust, sooI and other foreign
matters which were suspended in the air, which
II washes down with 1t. For this reason the
rain first falling even if directly caught by use
VI the cIcdncSI surfaces OF vessels. Is StlIi
highly impure; but these foreign matters being
after time mainly removed, the RAIN, II con-
tinuing TO fall, Is much more nearly pure, al
most as much so as distilled water so that for
most chemical and many other purposes it
serves In place water that has been distilled.
The rain in Its descent from the clouds brings
down organic substances present in the air,
these sometimes being living germs, such as
probably often lead TO the propagation of
disease, and sometimes mere fine particles OF
dust derived from The bodies OF living or dead
organisms.
HORSES IN WATER-Mrs. c. NJ City.
Horses naturally are not born swimmers, but
when once in the water will swim very much
after the manner OF a dog. Recently The off,
GERS OF the English army have devoted much
attention TO swimming horses across streams.
Tho London Court Journal, In recent issue,
had the following on the subject and this shows
thar horses can swim:
The Royal Horse Guards not far behind IN
point OF excellence in the art OF crossing rivers
by swimming. Captain Ferguson OF the Blues
mas TAKEN up this subject for some months past.
ana the swimming squadron OF that regiment has
poen brought TO high state OF efficiency. as was
evidenced The other day when the detachment in
question swan across the Thames at Elton in th
presence of Lord Methuen. The idea which
Tue exercise was based wasthat small force adj
Vanclng on Ascot. finding the Windsor bridge
down up, was compelled to fluid means to cross
the river one officer (Lieutenant Forester) and
-FOUR men, seeing some punts and boats, four in
NUMBER. on the other side of the river, rode to
the waters edge. stripped themselves and re-
moved the Kits from their horses, rode them into
the river. swan with the animals to the other
side. seized the boats from the enemy-the
natives-Who were expected to make some show
OF resistance, and brought them back. Meanwhile
main body OF the detachment leaving nothing
but the brides. BY this time the boats and punts
had Deon Drought over from the other side. Into