The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-08-11
JOCULAR SCIENTIFIC NOTES
Recent Discoveries That Bid Fair to Rsvo-
Iuti0niEe the Entire World.

Recent Discoveries That Bid Fair to Rsvo-
Iuti0niEe the Entire World.
I
The glowworm is attracting a deal of
interest. It has been discovered that it re-
quires only one-sixth as great an expendi-
ture of force on it's part to produce given
quantity Of light as is req uired by any 9th
er known means. The insect Is rapidly
coming to the front. Only few months
accounts of the efforts Of a western farmer
to cross his bees with glowworms so they
could see to make honey after dark.
Now the scientific world is agog to know
and develop its method for producing light.
A better plan would be to increase the size
of the insect. By breeding, cultivation
and an arbitrary enforcement of the sur
vival of the fittest, in a short time-say
ten years-it ought to attain the proper
tiOns of a 2-year-old steer. A roost could
be constructed for it on 3 street cor
ner, above the madding crowds ignoble
strife. A small wad of hay or a bunch of
burdock leaves would suffice for it's sub
sistence. 1t could sleep or chew its cud
during the day and glow industriously all
night.
OF course, in a large city it would be
necessary to guard it against dissipation.
Otherwise it might fall into the habits Of
the dissolute and go out nights. When we
prevail upon an insect to do our illuminat-
ing and the ground mole our blowing, and
use sea serpents for coast defenses, we are
making gigantic strides toward the COM
plete emancipation of our people from
work.
A Frenchman has succeeded in some
rather unique experiments. He takes tad
poles, cuts several of them in two or more
parts, then fastens those different parts to-
-.
In short time the parts become complete
ly grown together and the creature enjoys
good health.
In this way he has tadpoles with tails at
each extremity, but no heads; others with
heads in abundance and nothing caudaL
He has lizards with the heads of tadpoles
and frogs with two heads which vainly try
to jump in opposite directions
All this may appear insignificant, but
think what discovery it means. With
little practice the natural scientist can re-
move the head cf snake and put it back on
wrong end foremost. Then every time the
reptile tries to bite he would find himself
chewing his own neck.
The probability is that one animal will
soon be made to perform the offices of
many of our domestic animals. The
chickens head could be taken off, a cats
head substituted, and the creature would
be able to live on mice around the barn,
thus doing away with the necessity of
keeping a cat.
Some enterprising genius may at last
succeed in grating together certain pro-
portions Of COW and sawhorse so that the
resulting product will be unable to kick
while being MIXED.
III
There are many phases of hypnotism. In
Pennsylvania the other day man had
grudge against a wealthy farmer, hypno-
tiled a third person and compelled him to
burn the farmers barn. The susceptible
subject was tried for the crime, all the while
contending that he had been hypnotized.
This condition had been brought about, as
the evidence showed, after the common
method of having the subject gaze intently
at a small, bright object. In this case a
$40 goldpiece was used. The subject look
ed at it, and then, to make the spell all the
firmer, was allowed to keep it, all the while
having it impressed upon him that it was
his hypnotizer's will that the barn should
be burned
Thus it is demonstrated that one can be
hypnotized with money. This practically
places the gift of hypnotism in the control
of the money kings. 1t gives them the
power to hypnotic the laborer, take the
will right out of his soul and lock it up in
the safe. This will transform him into an
unresisting automaton. The great factory
proprietor can have cellar full of captured
wills, keep his men working night and
day, and not let them strike until the
works are closed down. Doubtless before
long some enterprising genius will take
one of the hypnotized wills, put it in
glass can and exhibit it as either a COM
pressed halo or one of Wagner melodies.
w. 6. Brooks in Up to Date.