Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-04-25
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

Two theories OF taste and smell appear
10 be In favor The vibration theory Of
Sir w. Ramsay proposed about ~ years
age, IL similar to the popular theory OF
light and sound and assumes that sub
stances Of medium molecular weight VI
brate at q rate that affects the neryo
cells, while the vibrations Of substances
having molecular weights below 80 are too
rapid to give any impression and very
heavy molecules move too slowly The
chemical theory Is based on the old OBJ
servatlon that odOrous bodies are usually
oXdized readily IL Is confirmed by the
late discovery that the new gases krypton
and Nenon, with molecular weights near
that Of yanllln, are odoress. tasteess,
and inert, and further by the curious fact
that the publication that makes certain
substances more stable also lessons their
taste and odor, An English chemist points
out that both theories may be mainly cor
rect, the nerves responding only TO the
agitatons accompanying chemical change
Instead Of being directly stimulated 10y
the ordinary vibrations OF the molecules.
Reptiles and amphibians are attracted
90 water from such distances that DR., +.
Werner Of Vienna supposes they must be
endowed with special sense. Sight Is
found 10 be the most acute OF their ordin-
AIRY senses, but alligators and crOcOdlles
see a man not more than 10 times their
own length frogs see about IL or 20 times
their own length fishes not more than
half their own length, and snakes only
one-fourth or one-eghth Of their own
length. Most reptiles and amphiblans are
totally deaf. None are entirely without
taste. and the snakes tongue, rapidly vi
brating the air seems 10 feel objects
without actually touching them.
Peat fuel IN freight locomotives in Swe-
den has hauled the maximum load the
cost being about the same as Win Eng
lish coal To avoid the expense OF an eX-
ira fireman, however, the peat Is now
mixed with an equal weight Of coal, and
the mixture has proven so satisfactory
that II is 10 be tried on passenger trains
The island Of Krakatoa, on which all
plant life was destroyed by the great
eruption Of 1885, is Isolated from Java and
sumgtra by ~ miles Of water, and has
given botanists a much priced opportunity
for studying the birth Of new Vegeta-
ton The frst observations were made
by Or. Treub after about three years.
Microscopic algoe, which had covered inc
surface with a Shiny layer, were decom-
posing the pumice stone, lava and ash In
to a suitable substratum tor other plants,
and about n dozen species Of ferns were
already abundant while there were few
individuals Of 10 Towering plants. The re-
port Of other German botanists who visit
"a the island In 1871 has Just been pub
llshed Very strangely, no more species
Of ferns were noted, but IN all b2 species
OF vascular plants were observed, lnclud-
ing 80 flow eTing plants representing Il
natural orders. There were eight COM
positae six grasses, and four orchids,
telt near the water was richest In species,
while beyond were dense thickets OF
reeds and sugar-cane, and the more thinly
covered interior contained chiefly ferns.
IL Is almost certain that 81 per cent OF the
Towering plants were introduced by the
sea, while % per cent were probably borne
by the wind the others having been pos
sibly carried by birds.
Records are now being searched for no.
tees OF the rare white water, or phos-
phorescent fog, OF the Indian ocean ar
other seas. aus appears as Welrd maze,
but proves 90 Dc Il luminosity without
mist and Il has been encountered as an
ocean river a mile wide and as broad
area through which vessel sailed 70
miles without touching the limits one
observer found the sea TO the depth Of a
foot 10 be- densely packed with luminous
fishes an inch long, while at another time
microscopic animals were obtained In
chains three inches long. The phenome-
non has been seen before violent storms,
aud Il has been suggested that some un.
usual atmospheric conditions may drive
the luminous ocean animals in shoals 10
the surface.
To eye.sIain usually unsupported, Dr.
George VI Gould attributes much Of hu.
man ndsery. lie finds evidence that u
was indIrectl Mesponsible for the opium
habit uf De quincy, caused the morbid
condition and breakdowns Of Carlyle, and
gave Browning his headaches and vertigo.
/ Printing books In white Ink on black pa
| Ter Is "a suggested means for lessenlng
| eye-strain.
| Fluoriue. the most active element known,
| has been Isolated by NJ Moissan In a
/ state Of absolute purity. and when free
/ from moisture % Is found TO lose entirely
| It's extraordinary power Of attacking
| glass Pure huorne, therefore, may be
sealed In glass tube. In collaboration
| with Prof Dewar the tube OF gas was
| immersed 10 liquid hydrogen. when the
| liQuefactiOn and solidihcatlon Of the iiu0r-
| inc were observed and the fusing point
| was found 90 be- al GJ degrees Cenilgrade
| below zero. As most substances arc
| known DO become inert al such cold the
! question has arisen whether all chemical
| action ceases near absolute zero. To test
| this the tube OF tiuorinc was broken In
| the LIQUID hydrogen, and the result was n
| violent explosion. with much flame and a
| shaitcriug of the apparatus employed, II
has been thus proven that some chemical
action Is possible az about minus 20 de.
grees Ccntigrado. or only p degrees above
the absolute zero
The alrshlp now being built by Dir. + A.
Barton Is 20 be q combination OF the bal.
loon with the aeroplane machine. II this
| ls successful The purpose is 10 continue
| building similar apparatus. gradually In
crVasing the size Of the aeroplanes and