The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-11-21
Science, Invention
and Discovery.

lying across a deep chasm forty feet IN
width. 1t is a petrified tree about Tour
feet in diameter and about 1OO feet Ia
length. 1t is pure agate all through
and therefore is much more valuapie
as regards material than any bridge OF
marble or granite would be.
The botanical curiosities of the island
of Ceylon are replete with varied inter-
est. One of them is the forbidden
fruit or Ewes apple tree" Its native
name is Diwi Kaduru, Kaduru signify
ing forbidden" and Diwi tigers" The
flower of this extraordinary production
is said to emit a fine scent. The color
of the fruit, which hangs from the
branches in a very peculiar and striking
manner, is very beautiful. being orange
on the outside, and a deep crimson
within. The fruit presents the appear
ance of having had a piece bitten out OF
it. This circumstance together with
the fact of its being a deadly poison,
led the Mohammedans on their first dis
covery of Ceylon, which they assigned
as the site of Paradise, to represent it
as the forbidden fruit of the Garden of
Eden. for although the finest and most
tempting in appearance of any, it had
been impressed, such was their idea,
with the mark of Ewes having bitten
it, to warn men from meddling with a
substance possessing such noxious
properties.
From Science: A publication of I'M
usual interest, containing conclusions
of the greatest Importance in meteor
ology, has been issued as Bulletin No.
/ $500 of the Blue Hill meteorological
observatory ("Studies of Cyclonic and
Anti-cyclonic Phenomena With Kites, -
by H. Helm Clayton). This is a study
of the results obtained during the kite
flights of September 21-24 and of
November 24-25 last, and it will
aid materially toward once more
Strengthening belief in the older Ferrel
or conventional theory of cyclones and
anti-cyclones, as opposed to the newer
Ham, or driven theory.
The flights of September 21-24
brought down records from attitudes of
1000 to 3,400 meters, in a we'll marked
anti-cyclone, and in a succeeding cy-
clone which followed the same track
The temperature near the center of the
anti-cyclone was the same at 2, 100
meters as at 1,20O meters, and the hui
Nudity at the greater attitudes was
excessively low. These results agree
With those previously found in similar
conditions. The axis of the anti-cy-
clone was inclined backwards, the high
pressure occurring later at high than
at low levels. Up to 5000 meters the
temperature of the air was higher on
the day of the cyclone than on the day
of the anti-cyclone-a. normal condition
at Blue Hill, as previous kite ascents
have shown A further notable dis
covery is that cyclonic and anti-cy-
clonic Calculations observed at the
earth's surface in this latitude do not
seem to embrace any air movement at
greater attitudes than 1000 meters ex-
cept in front of cyclones. Above 1000
meters there seem to be other poorly
developed cyclones and anti-cyclones,
with their centers at entirely different
places from those on the earths sur
face and with different wind circula-
lions.
On November 24-25 the kite me-
teorograph was sent up near the CEN
ter of cyclone and in a succeeding
Z. anti-cyclone. From sea level to $500
grees Fahrenheit higher on the day of
the cyclone November 24th) than on
the following day Tho results of the
observations on November 1925 also
go to show that when the cold in
the rear of a surface cyclone is eX-
ceptionally severe, the axis of the cy-
clone is inclined backward so sharply
that the circulation breaks into two or
80
list a surface cyclone, midair cyclone
and an upper-air cyclone. On Novem-
bey 25th, at 1900 meters, there existed
a cold center cyclone, in which the air
had a descending component of motion,
as indicated by the low humidity.
The results of the careful study made
by Mr.. Clayton lead him to the view
that the conventional theory of cy>
clones is the true one This bulletin
again bears evidence to the admirable
work which is being done by the staff
of the Blue Hill observatory, and to the
important contributions which Mr.
Clayton and his assistants, with Mr..
Rotch's liberal support, have made to
meteorology.
Literary Digest: Among the many
suggested uses of liquefed air is its
employment as a germicide, it's ex
tremely low temperature being regarded
as almost certain to kill any form o.
organic life But DR.. Ravenel Of Phil
adelphia concludes from recent expert
ments on the subject, described before
the Pathological Society of that city
that we can not rely on cold alone tt
kill bacteria, even when it is so severe
that it will freeze an egg to stony hard
ness in a few seconds and turn mercury
to a solid almost as quickly. AS re
ported in epitome in the "Medica
News" DR.. Ravenel says that, Will;
this agent has a temperature of 81.
degrees Fahrenheit below zero, it is IA
from being proved that it is GERM
eide" Experiments were carried GU
by placing silk threads in sterile water
to which had been added cultures o
diphtheria. typhoid and other diseas'
germs To quote the report
I'm no case was any effect noted upol
the vigor or life of the organism. II
the many experiments made in this linz
it has been found that sporeless organ
isms are retarded in their growth b,
freezing for one hour, and frequentl.
destroyed when the time is EXTENDED
beyond this period. Typhoid bacili
however, have been found experiment
ally to be able to survive freezing in ic'
for more than three months, and prac
tically we know this to be true, as il
1EU