Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1899-03-02
SCIENCE.
Water boils a. diferenttemperatur,

f6LCk vi IA "A ' ' e ~ ! SSp
according to the elevation above the
sea level. In, London water boils
practically at 2l2 degrees F.; at
Munich, in Germany, at 209t degrees;
at the City Of Mexico, in Mexico. at
900 degrees; and in the Himalayas, at
an elevation Of IS, 900 feet above the
level Of .le sea, at 150 degrees. These
differences are caused by the varying
pressure Of the atmosphere at these
points.
Authorities differ as to the rate Of
growth Of the human hair. and it is
sail u be very dissimilar in different
Individuals. The most usually ac-
copied calculation gives SIX ana one
half inches per annum. man hair,
allowed to grow to its extreme length,
rarely exceeds twelve or fourteen
i1c1es, while that of a ON will
gov, Ii rare instances, to seventy
inches or seyentv-ive inches, though
the average does not exceed twenty
tive TO thirty inches.
The plague bacillus. discovered in
1891 by the Japanese professor kitatsu.
IS discussed IN a German medical
paper, which declares that the chief
dilicultv IN etudving it is that it has
DO pecul!aritt-s Of appearance dis
tinLulshin2 II from other baciili. When
dried, it retains lis vitality four days,
watch shows that dust may be one
mote OF spreading infection. BY in
colatin9 a horse Dir. lersin obtained a
serum with which lie succeeded in
saving twenty-five ont Of twentv-eight
patients. Hyenas, lackals, ichneu-
nous, 4 lInaian apes aave been found
susceptible 10 the plague. But the
animals which it favors naturally are
the wild rats and nice in the iiiInala-
,yas. High water, earthquakes, Or
drought drive them il human habita-
tions, whereby epidellics are started.
Ants and other insects that eat the
carcasses of rats often convey the
poison to human beings. Nultuyes
are absolutely immune.
Miners are well aware that in deep
mining beat generated by oxidation is
often a factor N determining action,
though not always permanently de-
terring one. 1t appears that at Saudi
hurst, Victoria. the fact was noticed
several years ago IIat while, as ordin-
arity, the Temperature increased as
depth was attained ~the.depth was really
rot q regular factor IL the increase.
BY suitable Investigation it was ascer-
talned that a fall temperature of five
degrees occurred after the ground had
been opened up for one wear, aud it
was assumed tnat tbs was due to the
natural loss Of heat in consequence Of
the decrease in oxidation. Then it
was found, as an interesting and sug-
gestlve fact, that after tho ground had
been opened up for four years the tenn
perature became nearly permanent.
The reefs and sandstones Of thai. region
are, however, specially free from sui
phureta.
An interesting quadruped has re-
Gently been discovered which has the
peculiar property Of a bullet-proof
skin. It was first seen and SHOT at
several years ago in the interior Of
Santa Cruz, by the late Ramon Lista,
wno heard of the animal frequently
from the Indians. 1t was described
by that naturalist as Il pangolin with
ouf scales and covered viii. reddish
hair, but it was fourJi,nnossible either
70 XIII Or capture a specimen, ana Nv
many it was believed tnatthe observer
had been deceived. Now, however,
d.. Fiorentine Ameghino mas received
from South Patagonia some bony os-
sicles aud u parity destroyed ska
winch bear out completely Lista's OBJ
servations. The ossicies IN question
Were Embedded in the skin like pay
Ing stones. the skin being slightly less
than IA inch II thickness and SO
tough rs only TO be broken with a
hatcnet. Its surface WAS covered With
coarse hair, about tHolnches in length
mud OF a reddish gray shade. Lista,
Who wa the only civilized man to ever
See this animal alive, Unfortunately
lost rs life Willie exploring Piicomayu,
bit on account Of lis discovery tha
animal has been named Neomyl,aoa
l.stal after him. II IL a survivor O;
the old ground slatns. ana as j. va..-
drrs about in the niglt ard en- very
r.re occasions i viii doubtless ne :.
long time before q perfect specimen is
captured.
EJECT of I,..i. on Plants.
Remarkable effects Of light or diff
terent colors upon growing vegetables