The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-03-26
written for the citizen.)

was discovered that an epide mic had
set in among them. DIR. III. Schimer
first discovered this disease in 1867,
and several years later practical use
was made of it in destroying these
pests on large scale. 1t was found
that the spores of the fungus Sporot,i
globuLgerun, could be propogated on
gelatine or other any organic matter.
1t was only necessary to transfer colo
MES of the spores to the corn fields,
and these under favorable circumstan-
ces would come in contact with the
chinch bug. cause infectious disease,
and eXtermiuate the pest in few days.
Infected bugs were supplied from an
experiment station in Kansas, and it
is estimated that in 1891 the 444 far
mers who tried the remedy were saved
$4,000. A serious drawback to the
general adoption of this plan has since
been found in the fact that certain
amount OF moisture in the air is neces-
sary to insure the spread of the dis
ease.
The use of alcohol for motor-car-
rlages Is attracting much attention i'm
France and Germany. NJ. Lucien
Levy finds that it cannot compete
with petroleum, as the same weight
OF petroleum spirit yields more than
twice the power, and the same value
of petroleum spirit will give nearly
twice the power. In Germany a sum
n ha5 4
a practical comparison of alcohol mo-
tors with engines using petroleum,
benZine or gas.
The sciara, worm-like insect of the
forests of Hungary and Norway, IS
only tenth of ali inch long, yet in
migrating in July or early in August,
the creatures are said to stick them
selves together in a serpentlike mass
often 40 to 30 feet long and several
inches thick. a French naturalist
states that if the ends of the mass be
placed together the insects will travel
for hours in the circle formed.
Two French biologists find evidence
that fasting lesseus the effects of diph-
liberia and other microbial poisons.
X
what has proven a very valuable
llfe-saving apparatus has been used in
Paris hospitals since 1880. II is DIR.
Tarnier's incubator for rearing delicate
children, which as lately improved,
consists of wooden box % by II by
Eoyinches in size. with glass shutter
covering four-flfths of the top, and a
shell inside for the infant. The reuuir-
ed temperature of SS degrees to so de.
grees Fahrenheit is maintained by
four or five twelve-ounce bottles of hot
water in the compartment under the
shelf. thermometer is placed SO as
to be seen through the glass. Air is
admitted under the shelf, warmed by
the heated bottles,S takes up moisture
from spoSSe, passes above the shelf
and escapes through a hole in the
board of the cover, a rotating helix
over this hole showing whether the
circulation of air is being properly kept
up. The child usually remains in the
Incubator from to IA days. but some
times as long as five weeks. 1t is care
fully taken out every two hours to be
fed, and if too weak to take food itself
has milk passed into the stomach
through probe gently pushed down
the throat. The usual mortality of
infants under four pounds is 66 per
cent, which the incubator reduces to
30 per cent.
The benefits expected to result from
'nitragen," or pure cultures of various
bacteria for inoculating piant-rOots and
thus enabling them to take up greatly
increased amount of nitrogen, seem
not yet to have been realized. Prof.
w. Somerville reports to tie Edin-
burgh Botanical Society that no Ger
tain influence could be observed last
season on peas, broad beans. lucerne
and broad red clover experimental
with in a garden of the Durham
Science College. Perhaps sowing broad
cast over the soil is not the best method
of application.
1t appears that Immunity from dam
ger of a second poisoning is conferred
ON. Mr.. T. A. Gerald Strickland mem
tons the case of bee-keeper, who sew
eral years ago was so badly stung by
bees as TO be laid up for several weeks.
and who has since then been indiffer-
ent to stings although formerly very
sensitive to them.
Electric light meters with penny-in-
the-slot attachments promise 10 be-
come popular in some places. "A Lon
don company supplies current for a.
eight candle-pOwer incandescent light
six hours for penny dropped into the
box, and allows the customer 70 take