SCIENTIFIC GOSSIP.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LIII, Issue 5892, 14 January 1880, Page 3

SCIENTIFIC GOSSIP.

(Bx Saivia.) « What cannot art and industry perform When science plans.” _ —Beattie.

Ihe sinking of the deepest artesian well in the world, near Buda Pesth, Hungary, is now completed. The works were commenced as far back as 1868, and during their progress many interesting facts relating to geology and underground temperature have been brought to light. The total depth is 3200 feet, and the temperature of the water it yields is nearly 165 deg. Fahr. The temperature of the mud brought up by the borer was taken every day, and was found to increase rapidly, in spite of the loss of heat during its ascent, down to a depth of 2300 to 2700 feet. Beyond this point the increase was not so marked. At a depth of 3000 feet the temperature was 177 deg. Fahr., giving an average increase of 1 for every 23 feet bored. Water first commenced to well up at a depth of 3070 feet; here its temperature was HOdeg. Fahr., and from this point onward it rapidly increased both in quantity and temperature. Thus, at 3093 feet, its temperature had already risen to 150 deg. Fahr., and the yield in 24 hours from 9500 to 44,000 gallons. Finally, when the boring had reached 3200 feet, at which point it was stopped, the temperature of the water, as it burst from the orifice of the tube, was 165 deg. Fahr., and the volumatrio yield 272,000 gallons in the 24 hoars. This yield was afterwards reduced to 167,200 gallons,_ in consequence of the bore being lined with wooden tubes, which reduced its diameter. The water obtained disengages carbonic acid iu abundance, and also contains nitrogen and a little sulphurated hydrogen, and 80 grains per gallon of fixed matters, sulphates and carbonates of potash, soda, lime and magnesia, . It is a somewhat startling fact that there are still nearly 5000 women and girls employed about the coal mines of Great Britain. In the official summary of persons employed in about the mines, under the Coal Mines Act, it is stated that 21 females under the age of 13 years are employed. Of girls between the ages of 1$; and 16 there are 433 employed} of young women above the age of 16 there '

are no less than 4502 employed. In th mines registered under the Metalliferous Mines Act there is a larger proportionate employment of females. At the tender age of between 8 and 13 years, there are 96 girls employed, chiefly in the Cornwall district; between the ages of IS and 18, there are 981 girls employed above these mines, Cornwall and the North Wales district employing the bulk; and there are also 1741 females above the age of 18 employed, Cornwall, North Wales, and Ireland employing all these except 20, and of this score, somewhat singularly, the chief part are employed in the North of England, which has been remarkably free from women’s work in the unfit employment of mining. The proportion of women employed is said to he decreasing ; but the fact that girls of such tender ages are put to mining operations, or u» work “ above ground ” at the mines, is a sign that the unsatisfactory symptom is not likely to entirely die out. A singular discovery was marie during last year’s dredging operations of the Coast Survey Steamer Blake, in the Caribbean Sea ; a discovery which should furnish a lesson of caution to geological observers and theorizers. While dredging to the leeward of the Caribbean Islands largo accumulations of vegetable matter and of land debris were brought up from deep water, many miles from shore. It was not an uncommon thing to find, at a depth of over 1000 fathoms, and some ten or fifteen miles from land, masses of leaves, pieces of bamboo and of sugar cane, dead land shells, and other land debris, which were undoubtedly all blown out to sea by the prevailing easterly trade winds, and frequently masses of vegetation, more of less wat'rlogged and ready to sink, were found floating on the surface of the sea. The contents of some of the trawls would, indeed have sorely puzzled apalseontologist if he had met them in a fossil state ; amid deep water forms of fishes, crabs, echinoderms, sponges, etc., would be found orange and mango leaves mingled with branches of bamboo and nutmegs, so that it would have been difficult to decide whether the marine or the land fauna predominated. Such a find in a fossil deposit would probably be explained as having occurred in a shallow estuary surrounded by forests. It is not without interest to observe that this large amount of vegetable matter thus carried out to sea seems, to have increased in certain localities the number of marine forms of life.

Among the recent finds in the exploration of the relics of the ancient late dwellers of Switzerland is a pair of forks, apparently invented for table use. They were fashioned from the metatarsal bone of a stag. This gives a higher antiquity to table forks (if they were really intended as such) than has hitherto been suspected. Other bone implements and ornaments are frequently found. Animal remains are also common. Among them are the bones of the dog, the badger, and the common otter. The latter were doubtless met with in the immediate neighbourhood of the lake, but the presence of the bones of the wild ox and of the bear indicate that the lake dwellers were bold and skilful hunters, as well as ingenious tool makers. They were also keepers of cattle, for the most numerous animal remains brought to light were those of the common cow and the moor cow. These exist in every stage of growth, showing that their owners had a taste for both veal and beef, while their fondness for venison is proved by the many bones of the stag and roe discovered by the explorers. Evidence of a like character shows that they were hunters of the wild boar and eaters of the domesticated pig, and the existence of the beaver in Switzerland in prehistoric times is attested by the presence, among other bones, of several which comparative anatomists declare to have belonged to that rodent. One omission on the list is striking. No mention is made of the bones of horses having been found, from which it may be inferred with tolerable certainty that the horse was either altogether unknown to the ancient lake dwellers, or that they had not succeeded in taming and capturing him.

Reference was made last week to investigations on the subject of consumptive diseases. It may now be added that these investigations lead to the following conclusions; —(1). No zone enjoys entire immunity from pulmonary consumption. (2). The popular belief that phthisis is common in cold climates is fallacious ; and the idea, now so prevalent, that phthisis is rare in warm climates is as untrue as it is dangerous. (3). The disease causes a larger proportion of deaths on the seashore —the mortality diminishing with elevation up to a certain point. (4). Altitude is inimical to the development of consumption, owing chiefly to the greater purity of the atmosphere in elevated situations, its freedom from organic matter, and its richness in ozone. (5). Moisture arising from a clay soil or due to evaporation is one of the most influential factors in its production. (6). Dampness of the atmosphere, from whatever cause or in any altitude, predisposes to the development of the disease, and is hurtful to those already attacked. (7). Dryness is a quality of the atmosphere of decided value. (8). The most unfavourable climate possible for a consumptive is one of uniform high temperature and of high dew point (warm and moist. (9). The effects due to change in the atmosphere are by no means so pernicious as are generally supposed, and upon this subject present views require modification.

Dr Crichton Browne’s paper, “ The Influence of Domestication on Brain Growth,” read in the Anatomy and Physiology Section of the British Association, is an important contribution to the science and literature of development. By a series of observations made with extreme care, the author shows that the duck has suffered in brain development by being domesticated. While other animals have been domesticated for special qualities inherent in their nature as animals, the duck represents a class of creatures in which the instincts and uses of the organism have been suspended by the change in condition. The duck has been, so to say, taken wholly out of its place in nature, and reduced to the level of foed by a process and under circumstances which supersede all its natural propensities. " Food has been copiously supplied, and of a kind richer and more nutritious than could have been accessible in a feral state. Shelter has been provided, and the bird has been compelled to live in a temperature higher than that to which it was accustomed in a state of nature. Competition has'been made unnecessary, and protection has been afforded against a host of enemies. Flight has been prevented, and locomotion circumscribed as much as possible. In short, the life of the duck lias been rendered tranquil, luxurious, and indolent. Its whole duty has been to live and grow fat, and to multiply and replenish the pond. Few calls have been made en its intelligence. It has not had its senses and instincts whetted by the necessity to -range afar in quest of food, to eschew ever recurring dangers. It has been dragged down by domestication to a lower physical level.” "The author might have added that it has been wholly demoralised and debased to the lowest depths of filth as a feeder. The brain has lapsed in process of time as a result of the absence of stimuli. Dr Crichton Browne, starting from this striking illustration of the effects of the “ surroundings ” on development, and noting the cumulative force of heredity, applies some of the obvious inferences from the facts he has detailed to the development of retrogression of the brain in different races or groups and families of man. “To fare sumptuously every day, to bask in luxury and idleness, is to court decay of the noblest of the tissues, for moth and rust doth corrupt even the greatest of man’s treasures—his intellect—when it is laid by in uselessness and lavender, and thieves will _ surely break through and steal away his brains unless they are zealously guarded and diligently exercised.” This is a practical point of the highest value and moment, and one that cannot be too strongly or constantly expounded. The brain grows by use individually and racially. If it is not habitually employed, m a class or family, it will sink into subordinate importance. The moral of the consideration expressed is self-evident.