The record-union., 1899-08-20
Science and
Discovery.

Professor A. C. Nathorst, the Swedish
explorer and scientist, who is now
searching for Andree or the relics of
the expedition, is a. member of the
Swedish Royal Academy and Of the
leading geographical societies of the
world.
A long series of experiments has re-
Gently been made by Professor H.
Griesbach of Basic, upon the relative
acuteness of the senses of hearing,
touch, taste and smell in the case of the
blind and those who possess normal
vision. The results are contained in
Pfuger's Archiv. The observations
We're made on those who were other
wise healthy. In the differentiation of
tactile impressions no remarkable dill
ferences We're observed between the
seeing and the blind, or if small differ
ences did exist they were in favor OF
the seeing. In those born blind the tact
lie sharpness was somewhat less than
in the seeing, and in some cases the
sensorium generally was equally de-
fective The blind in particular feel
less acutely with the tip of the index
finger than do those who see, and IN
many cases the tactile acuteness of the
two index finger tips differs. In the
blind, especially in the region OF the
hand, a stronger impression is required
to produce a tactile impression than in
those possessed of sight.
In the capability of localiZing impress
sions of sound no difference exists be-
tween the blind and the seeing. In both
great individual variations occur. AS
q rule, both in the seeing and the blind
the use of the organ of both sides gives
better results than the use of one alone.
no difference in the acuteness of hear
ing exists between the blind and those
who see. No relation was observed be-
tween the acuteness of hearing and the
power Of localizing sounds in either the
seeing or the blind. No difference was
observed in the two classes in regard
to the acuteness of smell.
In the execution of manual labor the
blind become fatigued sooner than do
those of equal age who see. The blind
are more fatigued with manual than
with mental work, which is not the case
with the seeing Of the same age. If
any difference exists in regard to ex-
haustion after mental labor it is in
favor of those of the same age who see.
Both among the blind and the seeing
there are persons who have many,
others who have only few, and others
again who have no illusory or erron-
eous impressions of touch.
These results are in many respects
opposed to generally received opinions,
for it is usually supposed that depriva-
tion of sight leads to exaltation of the
acuteness of the other senses, especially
of the touch and hearing.
-
There is a creature known as the hag-
fish, which is in the habit of getting in
side cod and similar fish and devouring
the interior until only the skin and the
skeleton are left.
In certain conditions of the atmos-
phere electricity is so abundant on the
top of one of the big volcanoes, in Ha-
wall that an English geologist found
that he could trace electric letters with
his fingers on his blanket.
Lake Morat, in Switzerland, has the
curious property of turning red every
ten years, owing to the presence of GER
= tain aquatic plants, which are not
known in any other lake in the world.
A remarkable dwarf pine from Green
Mountain, near Boulder. Col, is report
ed by Professor Bessey to be only five
inches high and a fifth of an inch
through, with a single tuft of leaves,
yet to show twenty annual rings.
@*
Milan has a curiosity in a clock
which is made entirely of bread. The
maker is a native of India, and he has
devoted three years of his time to the
construction of this curiosity. The
clock is Of respectable size and goes
well.
In Japan most of the horses are
shod with straw Even the clumsiest
of cart horses wear straw shoes, which,
in their case, are tied around the ankle
with straw rope, and are made of the
ordinary rice straw, braided so as to
form sole for the foot about half an
inch thick.
A writer in the German scientific
periodical "Prometheus" declares that
overindulgence in tobacco will prove
the ruin Of South American people.
Not only do children of 2 or 3 years
smoke all day long, but mothers have
been trying to quiet their babies by
putting cigars in their mouths.
DO plants think?" asks a ST. Mary s
planter Have they powers of reason
or any way of determining what is
going on around them? The questions
seem rather fantastic. I admit, but
they are prompted by some very curl
Gus observations made at my home
only few weeks ago My daughter,
who is very fond of flowers, has a
morning glory vine growing in a box
on her window ledge.
while watering it recently she no.