The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-01
SCIENTIFIC.

A new catalogue of the higher plants of
North America north of Mexico has II, 534
entries, including fifteen palms and 20
orchids.
Authorities differ as to the physiological
effect producing death from electricity.
From wide experience, a recent investigator
concludes that one of the chief causes of
death is dynamic apoplexy, but that this is
one of a variety of effects from which cleo
trocuted criminals die.
The sights and sounds Of maritime life,
as experienced by a French company's
fleets, are to be represented on a full scale
at the Paris exhibition of 1900 by a combina-
ton of the cinematograph and the Dussand
photograph. A similar reproduction of q
modern naval engagement would be an even
more striking and sensational novelty.
A natural bridge near Moab, in south
western Utah, is estimated to be about
five hundred feet in span and $50 feet in
height. DR.. Arthur Winslow believes this
to be a monstrous product of wind erosion.
as it is in an arid region where the wind
blown sands cut holes very rapidly in the
friable sandstones. 1t is a new-found mar
vel of the great West.
A French psychologist has noted striking
similarities between the healing of a wound
and the growth of a crystal in a solution. A
Russian investigator has found what he
considers more than a chance resemblance
between the arrangements of cells in sec
ions OF WOOQ and those or iron nl1ngS under
magnetic influence, and he concludes that
they are produced by actions that are anal
ogous If not identical.
The West Indies are threatened with a
physical. as we'll as a political, CONFUSION.
Professor Milne has been advised that since
the food Of November. 1896, earthquakes
nave been Of daily occurrence in the Island
Of Montserrat. near Porto Rico, as many as
thirty shocks often being felt in a single
day. Cracks have appeared in the stone
buildings. 1t is feared that the disturbances
will eliminate in a volcanic eruption, and
scientific Investigation is urged.
Several successful cases of amputation by
the natural method of allowing the injured
or dead part to slough away from the liv-
ing. saving through bone being the only
cutting done, have been reported by M.
Reclus. The wound is first injected with
water at 40 degrees, Fahrenheit, which ar
rests bleeding and warns the collapsed
patient, Their disinfected with a per
embalmed in a dressing of several an
tiseptics. The dead part is stated to be-
come entirely separated from the living in
three weeks.
"Promethee," devised by M. Theodore
Jewler, is a new safety explosive, consist
ing Of two portions, a solid and a liquid,
both of which are stable and nonexplosive
and may be transported without danger.
The solid, which is filed into permeable
cartridge papers, is made up of chlorate of
potash, manganese dioXide and ferric oxide.
When the cartridges are to be used they are
STEPPED for ten or fifteen minutes in a mix
ture of petroleum, turpeptine and bitter al
mond oils. and they may then be exploded
by an ordinary detonator. On drying the
unusued cartridges become again nonex-
plosive. 1t is claimed that the descriptive
effect in mines is at least equal to that of
dynamite, and that the new explosive may
be used without risk of setting fire to in
flammable gases. The sole active agents
are the oxygen of the solids and the hydro
na rhnnC nf the oils
While powders are made more or less
smokeless, it seems incredible that guns
may be made noiseless as well as fashless,
but this is what Colonel Humbert seeks to
accomplish. He expects further a very
material reduction in recoil. His plan con-
sists in growing to the muzzle a block con-
tanning a shutter that ordinarily falls in
ward to a horizontal position. but which.
as the projectile is about to make its exit
at full velocity, is forced upward against
the opening by the passage Of some of the
gases under it. This prompt closing of the
gun behind the projectile confines the gases
still at high pressure-and prevents the
sudden entrance of air that is one of the
chief causes OF defamation. Small holes
in the rear of the block permit the gases to
leak out slowly. Experiments, through the
aid of a French factory, have shown the
anticipated great reduction of flash and
noise without much effect on recoil
Three kinds of electric biography across
space are recognized by Prof. Silvanus p.
Thompson-those depending respectively on
conduction. induction and wave methods.
The last kind has been employed by Pro-
fessor Slaby. of Cha~rlottenburg. in sending
ineligible Morse signals thirteen and three
quarters miles. balloons being used TO raise
the end conductors 1000 feet in the air.
The signals were thus transmitted about
seventy times the base line, but Marconi. in
experiments at Spezia, has sent them 500
times the length OF the base line. Prof.
Oliver j. Lodge has taken the first steps
toward synchronizing the transmitting and
receiving instruments. causing them TO re-
spond only to waves of the period to which
they are tuned. Processes Thompson be-
heves we may develop the conductlOu or in
uuction methods 80 IS to communicates be-
tween England and India or Cape Cclony