Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1898-04-20
Ess8SSglIlslIsTe EgljslIse
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DHVRHfB0R

1t IS estimated that the nerves, with
branches and minute ramifications con-
aecting with the brain, exceed ten mill
lon.
It Is said that in the sandy deserts of
Arabia whirling winds sometimes ex-
cavate pits two hundred feet in depth,
and extending down to the harder
stratum on which the great bed Of saud
rests.
In q Communication to the Paris
Academy Of Sciences, NJ. Grehant says
that the surface Of cast iron kept at a
red heat is capable of transforming car
bonic acid into carbonic Oxide-that is,
into a poisonous gas.
1t has been demonstrated that while
there Is no especial difficulty in using
petroleum as a fuel for locomotives,
there would be trouble in obtaining a
supply Of the fuel. 1t has been esti-
mated that the entire petroleum sup
ply of the country would not furnish
fuel enough for the use OF the locomo-
lives employed on the Pennsylvania
and New York Central systems alone.
Some persons associate particular col.
ors with particular sounds. DR.. w. s
Colman, discussing this phenomenon In
the Lancet, says there are two forms
Of 1t. In one case the person has a SEN
sation as II a transparent colored film,
like a rainbow, appeared before his
eyes when certain vowel, or musical,
sounds strike his ears. In the other
ease letters or written words, represent.
Ing the sounds heard, appear In colored
tnts. The tints are very definite and
characteristic, and do not vary with
lapse of time; but two persons seldom
associate the same colors with the same
sounds.
The fanciful notion which men used
sometimes to entertain, that the earth
is. in some sense. a living thing, would
probably have derived support from the
.ecent observations Of Prof. John Milne,
and others, ON the shivers and quivers
that frequently run through its rocky
frame, but escape notice. except when
watched for with specially constructed
and exceedingly delicate apparatus.
Prof. Milne reports that apparatus of
this kind has now been mounted in
Canada, British Columbia, the United
States. South Africa, New Zealand,
lava, India and Argentina, as well as in
England and at various places on the
continent Of Europe.
q On one occasion q steel rail, after
twenty-five years continuous service
On the Great Northern Railway, actu-
ally disintegrated under the wheels of
4 passing train. So complete was the
breaking up that scientists thought II
worthy of Investigation, during which
1t was determined that the metal had
become exhausted and had broken
down, just as an Overstrained animal
might be expected to do. This has led
to further inquiry, and scientists are
satisfied that metals do become tired
out. The idea that metals be,ome
weary, while not altogether a new one,
Is to an extent plausible one, and un-
der the careful scrutiny Of scientific Sc
cieties will probably be satisfactorily
explained and settled.
At a recent meeting Of the Royal Dub
IN Society Prof. J. Jolly presented a
new theory Of sun-spots. He suggested
that there may be certain levels in the
brilliant shell Of hot vapors constituting
the visible surface of the sun, where
the temperature, although very high,
falls below the critical temperature Of
the elements there present. In that
ease those elements would be precipi-
.nted into liquids, II the pressure were
sufficiently great. Such liquefied mass
IS. floating in gaseous matter of great
.r density. would, he thinks, present
he characteristic appearance Of sun
spots. for II the liquid were Opaque. 1t
would look darker than the surround
ng photosphere. Wien the liquid re-
.vaporates, the spot disappears. This
:heory that the sun-spots are the first
visible beginnings of a change Of state
In the sun.