The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-07-31
SCIENTIFIC
MISCELLANY.

| OF an unframed swamp TWO IIllleS lTOIl
Ostia, at the side of canal filled with
water plants, and within a stones throw
of pine forest. The investigators ex-
pect to pass the daytime in experiments
and among the few fever-stricken peo.
pie inhabiting the district. Just before
sunset they seal themselves UP in their
hut until sunrise and hope thus to avoid
mosquito bites and pass the season in
health.
Phototherapy, or treatment of lupus
and other skin diseases by the chemical
rays Of sunlight or the electric arc. is
now given a special department at the
London hospital. Expensive apparatus
has been presented by the Princess Of
Wales, and nurses have been specially
trained.
The latest bit Of newspaper enterprise
in scientific line is the London Jour
nails expedition to Patagonia in search
of the Mylodon, the giant sloth suppos-
ed to be extinct. z
| 'ypSihC 10 u hcW hiC piool hlatCiidl,
made of plastic hydraulis lime mixed
with coke, sand and asbestos, the mix
ture being compressed into bricks. In
a recent test by British fire commits
sioners a partition about s by 10 feet IN
size was built of the bricks laid in hy-
draulic mortar, the exposed side being
coated with a thin layer of hydraulic
clay. The fire was kept UP for an h ,ur.
The temperature rose to 2050 degrees
Fahrenheit, yet the material was unaf-
fected, and the surface of the partition
opposite the fire remained so cool that
matches held against it would not ig-
mite, even when the temperature was
highest.
Antiethyline, the serum used by Drs.
Sapelier, Thebault and Broca, for treat
ing drunkenness, Is taken from a horse
that has had alcohol mixed with its food
for a certain time. 1t Is contended that
| injections Of this serum awaken reflex
acts that restore mans natural distaste
for alcohol. 1t Is claimed that in the
treatment Of fifty-seven drunkards, 32
were cured, and were improved, the
failures being attributed to irregulari-
ties Of treatment or unfavorable condi-
tions. AS evidence that the successes
were not due to imagination, 1t is stated
that the impressionabie patients gave
the least favorable results.
The aurora australis, as seen by Arc
towski on the recent trip to the Belgi-
ca, was strikingly similar to the aurora
borealis as witnessed by Nordenskjoid
about twenty years ago. The phenon-
enon was observed 62 times, generally
between p. m. and 2 a. m, with max
imum intensity between 0 and 10 p. m.
Its greatest frequency was not dur
ing the months Of polar night, and the
most brilliant displays were near the
equinoxes.
A novel idea for sportsmen seems to
be of Portuguese origin. An electric lamp
il placed on the collar of the hunting
dog, and this frightens foxes and bad
gers from their burrows when the dog
enters.
An electric rack railway, with q
gauge OF 40 inches, part Of the track be-
ing raised 9k feet above the towing
path, is being tested with satisfactory
results on the Finow canal between
Berlin and Stettin. The boats can be
made heavier than those drawn by
horses.
Certain Psychologists are being attrac-
ted by the idea that growth depends
largely upon diet and exercise. A
French writer. M. A. Peres. calls atten-
tion to the experiments Of DR.. Springer,
who with a simple decoction Of cereals.
has SO Influenced the rate Of growth of
animals and children that he believes
that he can make giants Of them when
their organization is favorable. 1t is
recorded that the celebrated Bishop Ber-
kelley probably through suitable food.
deliberately caused an orphan boy to
grow to a height Of eight feet two
inches at sixteen. Moist foods and such
drinks as tea and milk tend to increase
Iees~seASt VAAAS Wy ohu opACcu lOOuS, dnO
especially alcohol, tend to retard the
growth. This explains why the people
Of northern Europe are 80 much taller
than those Of the south. Too great
size, however, does not appear t. be de-
sirable, as this IL likely to bring dimin-
shed activity, increased liability to dis
ease, and early death.
The ordinary full life-term of the
mosquito is placed by Mr.. w. r. Col
ledge at three months. specimens having
been kept in captivity for eighty or
ninety days. When kerosene cannot be
conveniently applied to their breeding
pools, the introduction of a few min
nows will lead to speedy destruction OF
larvae and pupae.
tuberculosis cause 1884 Of the 46,4Ss
deaths in Paris in 1899. or more than