Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-02-23
Science Notes,

so justify its temporary existence.
We should not therefore, totally re-
ject one or other of two rival theories
on the ground that they seem, with
our present knowledge, mutually in
consistent. for it is likely that both
may contain important elements of
truth.
A new industry, the making of mat
tresses. pillows, etc. of sponge, has
been started in Florida The sponge
material is cleansed of all foreign mat.
ter by a scrubbing process in large
tanks of water. then run through
wringers, and the drying continued
by subjecting it to a cold air blast
1t is then shredded by machinery
sterilized and rendered odorless by
chemical treatment, and subjected
again to cold air drying. when it is
ready for use. 1t is claimed that the
sponge mattresses are only about one
third of the weight, and cost only
about two-thrds as much as those of
the same size made of hair, that they
are thoroughly springy. yet firm and
durable. and that they are especially
sanitary. the material being nOn-ab.
sorbant of moisture and emanatons
from the body. A pillow is made
measuring 10 by rs inches which
weighs only one pound. feather pill
lows of the same size weighing three
pounds. Other articles are sponge
cushion and toy sponge ball as light
as an inflated rubber ball.
The berries of different species of
coffee generally contain from 10 to Is
srammes of caffein per kilogramme
NJ Bertrand. in a recent cOmmunica.
ton to the Academic des Sciences
shows that there are exceptions to the
rule. The coffee of the Great Comaro
to which Baillon has given the name
of COffea Humblotiana. does not con-
tain the slightest trace of the aka.
loid. This exception is the more cur
lcus. as this species much resembles
the ordinary kind. the Coffea arabica.
The absence of caffein in the coffee
of the Great Comaro is not due to the
influence. either of the soil or of the
climate of the African island Analy-
sis of the Coffea arabica. cultivated in
the same island, has yielded normal
percentage of caffein. 1874 grammes
per kilogramme of the berries 9th
er coffees gathered near DiegO-Suarez
in Madagascar, and quite distinct spec
les, exhibit the same popularity, the
absence of caffein. This fact is not
accidental. but a distinct characters.
tic of certain species. previously
found in Madagascar.
Prof. MOreauX describes in paper
read at a session of the Academic DIES
Sciences, observations on water
spout which passed through the com
munes if Saint-Maur and Champigny
on the 2Sth of August The direction
wa n1Ifh to ayt-,, hoo l.t
II seems to have been formed to the
south of Saint Maurice and passed Ov
CT a space of about five kilometers in
twenty-five minutes, from ten minutes
after o'clock to 35 minutes after 8
O'Clock in the afternoon. 1t was no
tIcel at the observatory of Saint.
Maur when it had completed about
half of its course. It's passage was
accompanied with sound which is
described as resembling that of bat
terry of artillery drawn on the gallop
over a paved street. At the base of
an extended nimubs hung the reversed
cone characteristic OF phenomena of
this kind The barometer, II MILL.
meters lower than the day before
stood at 745 millimeters at an altitude
of 500 meters, at 5 minutes after
O'Clock. when the fall was increased
A strong wind was then blowing from
the thsOuthwest. The temperature
was Is degrees c. These two condi-
tons did not change. The waterspout
passed to the north of the observatory
within a distance of about one kilOme.
ter 1t was preceded by a storm. and
followed by shower.
The ordinary methods for the de-
termination of refractiOn. of which the
influence is so considerable in all as
Economical measurements, are attend
ed with great difficulties. Observations
must be accumulated during a course
OF years, and at the same time esti
mates must be made of the multiple
effects of the numerous causes thai
may intervene in measurements takeI
by means of meridian and other SINH
lar instruments. NJ Loewy, who has
studied this subject closely, pointed
out several years ago two methods
by which the inconvenience might il
great part be avoided. They were
based on the comparison of the stellar
distances by the use .Of a special com
PASS. of which the opening remain:
= constant, this consists of two mirror.
cut from the same block of glass il
prismatic form. With the aid of thi.
optical apparatus before the objective
of an equatorial, the distance between
two stars may be determined, wnatev
er the size, with much precision. The
constant of refraction may be deduce(
under certain conditions. In new
communication to the Academic des
Sciences, he has recently made known
an improved method free from tht
practical imperfections of the previOu!
theoretical solutions. BY means of {
, ingle prism the refractions can be ex
aCtly measured at all zenithal distanc
es. by taking advantage of the fac
that the apparent distance between
two stars is not diminished by tn,
effect of refraction provided the verti
: cal circle Of one of the stars is per
pendicular to the arc of the great cir
: Gle which joins them.-Scientifit
American.
e Pirating Foiey's Honey and Tar.
/ Foley & Co., Chicago, originated
e Honey and Tar as throat and lunl
+ remedy, and on account of the greA
i merit and popularity of Foley's Hone.
and Tar many limitations are offeret
f for the genuine. These worthless i'm
[ itations have similar sounding names
J, Beware of them. The genuine Foley
S Honey and Tar is in a yellow package
a Ask for it and refuse any substitute
t 1t is the best remedy for coughs an,
t colds. Wilson and Lewellin. Fo.