Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-02-03
SCitNCE AND INDUSTRY.

SS6NCE AND INDUS lNI.
There is to be q rival to margarine
rs substitute for butter, according
to the British Consul General at Mar
seilles. He says it is to be called
''vegetaline," and is nothing else than
the oil extracted from coprah (dried
cocoanut); refined. and with all smell
and taste neutralized, it becomes like
sweet lard.
A London paper announces that the
sum of $500 has been placed at the
disposal of Professors Haeckel, Con-
rad and Fraas. of Jena, Halle and
Stuttgart, respectively, as a prize for
the best work on the theme What do
we learn from the principles of the
theory of heredity in reference to the
inner political development and legis-
lation of States?" Manuscripts must
be in German and are to be delivered
to Professor Haekel not later. than
Dec. l, 1902.
At the Hodbarrow Mines, at Million,
on the Cumberland coast, England.
work is being carried out to enable
mining to proceed still further under
the sea. The company's first lease
only extended to ordinary high-water
mark on the south. Through the sur
face caving in when ore was extracted,
it was necessary to leave barrier OF
$50 feet wide, to protect the mines, as
the sea would otherwise have filled
the hollows on the surface and even
tually have flooded the mine. This
barrier was ultimately found to con-
tain over 100000 tons of ore. A sec
ond sea wall going beyond the older
one has been commenced.
The wholesale slaughter OF kanga-
roos for their valuable hides has re-
suited in the practical extinction of
these remarkable animals except in
the remoter regions of Australia, and
most visitors make their only expert
ence of the continents typical quadru-
peds in the geological gardens of the
principal cities. In the back blocks"
as the interior parts of Australia are
called, they are still to be found in
considerable numbers. and afford ex-
citing sport to the hunter. The tribe
of Australian kangaroos includes, be-
sides these animals proper, constant
ly dwindling succession of related spe-
cies-wallaroos, wallabies, paddyme-
loos, and so on, ending with the dimin-
utiye and dainty kangaroo rat.
Everybody has observed the habit
that some insects have Of lowering or
dancing on the air, generally in
group, with every manifestation of
enjoyment There is O species of two
winged flies that are particularly fond
of this sport, for sport it undoubtedly
| is. They assemble in some spot shell
tered from the wind, and indulge in
their dance for hours at time. Their
motions consist of alternate rising and
falling in periods of few seconds,
and over distance varying from one
foot to four. They become 20 much
| interested in the dance that they can
| not be scattered. If disturbed for a
moment they at once reassemble, and
continue the sport as II nothing had
interfered with them. Much has been
written about this habit but the nat
uralists agree. we believe. In consider
ing 1t real play. ,J
According to a paper recently read
by DIR. Aron before the Berlin Medical
ho ;nh Of
the relief and cure of certain lung and
heart affections, in which it is CON-
monty recommended, Is of little value.
The atmosphere, he said, contained
sufficient proportion of oxygen to sat
urate the haemoglobin of the blood,
and as the haemoglobin when saturat-
ed was. Of course, unable to absorb
more oxygen inhalations Of oxy-
gen were evidently useless. He
had found that the results Of prac-
tical experience were in accordance
with these views. The few instances
in which the oxygen seemed beneficial
were cases of dyspnoae difficulty in
breathing), in cardiac and pulmonary
diseases, but the improvement was
maintained only while the inhala-
tions were actually in progress. In
the treatment of apparent death from
drowning artificial respiration was
just as efiicacious. In poisoning by
carbolic oxide and in rarefied air,
where the amount of available oxygen
was less than the normal, the admin
istration Of oxygen was desirable.
ID.