The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-05
SCIENTIFIC.


is truly magnificent, and probably much
exceeds in size any other in the world, the
total number of species represented in this
collection being now over four hundred.
AT the beginning of a, recent thunder
shower, after warm and MINDLESS day,
M. Maurice Despres, of Cordova. Spain, no
ticed electrified drops that cracked family
on touching the ground and emitted sparks.
Inc phenomenon lasted several seconds,
ceasing as the air became moistened
The first use of the monograph in teleg-
raphy seems to have been in Spain, where
receiving operators were unable to take
down rapidly enough messages received by
telephone and repeated the messages into
monograph. This repetition, being heard
at the sending end, serves also a con-
troll for the correctness of the message.
A new laboratory turbine, claiming great
steadiness, noiselessness and economy of
water has been designed by a German
chemist and IS to be made in Berlin by
Koehler & Martini. A circular piece of
wire gauze, rotating in a thin cylindrical
space, is attached to the axle. The water
jet strikes the edge of the gauze at a tan
gent escaping by pipe in the center oppo-
site the axle, and may readily be made to
give a speed of 1900 revolutions per minute.
Professor Eschenhagen. of Potsdam has
continued his researches on the small va
riations of the earth's magnetism first an
portant oscillations have a period of about
thirty seconds, and occur chiefly between 6
a. m. and p. m, but on two days since
last October-Nov. Z, 1885, and Feb. 4. 1897
shorter waves. lasting twelve or fifteen sec
onds were observed. Groups of waves
nave been noticed on several occasions. The
cause of the phenomenon is uncertain, but
1t is believed to be atmospheric.
A French scientific journal condemns the
high standing collar, declaring that the
hot fJ,n cbo1
be bare, or nearly so, and that collars
should be loose and turn-down. Cases of
narrow escapes from suffocation by tight
collars are not rare. and wealthy Ameri-
can found dec on a train arriving at Paris
a Few years ago, was proven to have been
strangled by his high collar. Such an ac-
cldent is not even unlikely, as there is a
point in the throat close to Adams ap-
pie where pressure will stop respiration
at once and bring about asphyxia.
The eyes of sailors and marines on
French war vessels are reported to have
suffered severely in consequence of the use
of the electric light. Eyes in which the
iris is not heavily charged with pigments
such as grey or blue eyes-are found to be
more liable to injury than brown eyes.
Two cause.-the intensity of the light and
the action Of the ultraviolet or chemically
active rays-are assigned for the eye trou-
bles. The use of spectacles that will inter-
cept the ultraviolet rays-such as yellow
uranium glass-is recommended by oculists.
Dark blue glasses are provided for those
who operate the rsearchlights, etc, but
these do not seem to give complete protec-
ton in all cases.
The interesting example of cold light and
low temperature combustion made known
by M. Marius Otto, through a report to
the French Academy by M. Friedel. opens
new field for research. A peculiar
luminescence was first observed during the
aspiration of ozonized air by means of a
water aspirator. AS the water issued from
the aspirator it became luminous. and con-
tinued so for five or six seconds, a flask
filled with it being distinctly luminous in
the dark. The experiments were made with
ozonized oxygen, containing about half a
grain to the quart. The luminosity thus
produced by the contact of ozone and
water appears to be due to the presence in
the latter of organic matter Of animal or
Vegetable or'~'n. which is consumed with
the effect stated.
Fumigation with corrosive sublimate was
once suggested to Professor KONG, Of Cot
tingen, as a means of freeing his room from
bugs. Finding the remedy most effective.
all kinds of insects being killed, he inferred
that the same process would destroy the
microbes of scarlet fever measles and other
contagious diseases. He now states that,
since adopting this method, he has never
seen a second case of conta gious disease
that could be attributed to infection left in
the room in which the patient had been
confined. The fumigation is a simple mat
ter, from an ounce and half to two ounces
Of corrosive sublimate being put on a plate
over a chatting dish and the doors and win
dows being closed for three or four hours.
The person entering the room takes the
precaution of holding a sponge over the
mouth and nose to prevent inhaling the
poisonous vapor. The apartment is thor
oughly aired, and the next day sulphur is
burned to neutralize airy mercurial fumes
that may still linger. After another airing
the room is then ready for occupancy.
1t Is probably unknown to most persons
in the West. says DR.. K. Mitsukuri of the
Imperial University of Tokyo, that early
in the eighth century OF the Christian era
there was already established in Japan an
imperial university, with four departments
ethics, history Jurisprudence and mathe-
matics-and with the prescribed number of
four hundred students. There were also
at the same time bureau devoted to as
tronomy, astrology, calendar compilation
and meteorology, and a medical college,
with professors of medicine, surgery,
acupuncture, necromancy (the art of heal
ing by charms), and pharmacology. The
last-named branch of study included the
collection, cultivation and investigation of
medicinal plants. Towards the end of the
ninth century, when catalogue of books
peror, the Imperial Library was found to
contain l6, $50 Volumes in forty departments
and this in spite of disastrous fire some
years before. In more modern times, the
long peace of go years witnessed great
progress in natural history, as well as in
literature, the arts and all peaceful indus
tries. The present botanical garden of the
Imperial University was established in 1851,
and the mastery of the Dutch language in
the middle of the eighteenth century gave
a great impetus to botanical science as
well as to Japanese civilization generally
Zoology was more backward seeming to
have been comparable to that of Europe in
the middle ages But one of the results of
the restoration of the Emperor to his full
power in 1868, which is being followed by
such social revolution as has been sell
dom witnessed. has been the establishment
of the modern school of zoology, which
y s Morse of Salem Mass Ia The char
of zoology at the University of Tokyo.
&-o-N--
ABOUT PEOPLE AND THINGS.