The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-10-09

BITS ABOUT SCIENCE.

e.. -
Lightning melted the wire from which
a canary birds cage hung. The cage fell
TO the floor and the bird was liberated un-
injured.
Although 1t is hard to find a Chinaman
who will acknowledge that he knows
anything about opium smoking or its
effects or who can even understand the
English language when it is used in con-
nection with that subject there are some
who assert that opium smoking is a
specific against yellow fever; that one
who is addicted to the habit is immune
against yellow fever germs III stricken
with the disease, unless moribund, these
CbinamcDoclaim that person may cure
his malady by smoking himself iuto a
state OF insensibility. lie wakes from
happy dreams well man.
A woman who had for several years
suffered from necrosis of the bones of the
nose went TO the Bellevue hospital, New
York, last Nav. The disease had pro-
Grcssei until the cartilage and tissues
of the nose were destroyed and a cavity
appeared in their place. The diseased
parts were removed. Pieces of flesh were
taken from different portions of the
patients body and shaped into the form
of nose With silver tubes inserted for
nostrils. Careful antiseptic treatment
then kept the parts from s!oughing until
there was adhesion. Finally. healthy skin
was cultivated over the whole The only
defacement is q wrinkle at the junction
OF the nose graft where cheek tissue was
cut. |, is believed that this will dis.
appear. The patirfr says the new nose
feels like her old one.
Two and one half hours are required
for n mosquito TO develop from its first
sage a speck resembling cholera bacteria.
TO its active and venomous maturity.
The insect in all it's phases may be in
stantlv killed by contact with minute
quantities of permanganese of potash 1t
il claimed that one part of this su bstancc
in 1900 of solution distributed in mos
quito marshes will render the develop
ment of larvae impossible; that n hand.
full of permanganate will oxidize ten
acre swamp, kill its EN- bryo insects, and
keep it Zee from organic matter for
thirty days at "a cost of 25 cents: that
with care a whole state may be kept free
of insect pests at small cost. An
etlicaoious method is to scatter few
crystals widely apart A single pinch of
permanganate has killed all the germs in
a 1000 gallon tank.
In one of our Southern cities, on
table in store. was some candy, made OF
sugar ard glucose, brown in color and
transparent. Suddenly came lone flash
OF lightning, accompanying n clap of
thunder. Instantly photograph was
made upon the candy of wrapper of
American flags lying crumpled on the
floor. in front of the table. The inscrip-
tion, National Flags" beginning with
tbc fourth letter of the first word. just rs
much rs was visible. was transferred by
the lightning TO the candy on the table.
1t was a perfect reproduction. black. and
inserted face 'front.' rs in the original, and
not reverse. as would be the result were
some one to transfer them by applying
the wrapper TO the surface of the candy.
The fact that there was n mirror in front
of the table does not explain the printing,
The fish commission has Just issued its
rcuort OF the oyster. The "fattening"
Jrjccss j. not n fatteninR process Gt all but
is device tcl2ivc thc'oystcr an illusivc ap-
pcargnco of plumpncss. IL Injuries its
flavor and extracts certain of its nutritiye
ingredients. Pumping" consists in
changing the oyster from Gcnser To less
dense water. causing the fluids in the
tissues to pass slowly outward, and the
less saline water in which the animal is
now itDfl tfspI 10 NhsS inOIt T1HlUlV ID
ward The tissues swell by an increase
OF the fluid contents Chemical expert
ments show that the oyster luses with the
dense tluids that pass out 13 Ter cent
of its nutritious substances protein, fots.
oarbo- bydrates. and mineral salts. The
total weight. however. increases from IL
10 20 per cent. The same result may be
gained by placing oysters in fresh water
after removing the shell. Cases of
typhoid fever traced 10 oysters may have
been caused ny disease germs in the
water TO which they have tcen removed
for so called fattcning.
Any stimulus that comes to- tho nerve
cells from without exciting thought. feel
inc, or movement involves discharge OF
the energy stored in these little reservoirs.
A nerve cell uJdcr microscopes. Is
found to consist Of an outer pulpy shell
and n central nucleus. These are sup
posed To shrink to one half thcir natural
size after prolonged stimulation. This is
the state called nervous exhaustion.
After "a certain amount OF brain work
changes in kccnnCSs of perception, mental
viyUr and even in certain morBl quail
ties NAV be- observed. Irritability. lack
of self control, and certain forms of VIC
iousness sometimes result from the over
taxing of nervous energy. Professor NJ.
V. shea believes lack OF nutrition to be-
one of the agencies which promote brain n
fatigue and intcllcatural sugRishncss
In order To remain healthy the cerebral
cells must atsorb n certain amount of nu-
trimcnt from the blood daily. They re-
quirc alhumcD, also known a protein.
One half the grav matter and onc-quartcr
Of the wniie matter of the brain consists
of this substance OF bccfstcak 90 per
S.,aL salt Goldfish 21.G beans -. . chicken
tg2 rolled oats ana fresh fish, cach Ia.
graham Hour IL. wheat Hour H., pies and
buildings II. and vegetables Ton an aver
agcD about ! Drr cent Is protein. a
change i'm diet will often bring aDout
marked improvement in mental activity,
keenucss. endurance. and ainintillty
lntepsc excitement teasing or anything
which provoke nntugonism should tc