Scientific and Useful.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1586, 22 April 1887, Page 4

Scientific and Useful.

FORECASTING EARTHQUAKES. One of the practical results to bo looked for from the greater attention now paid to earthquake phenomera, and especially from tbe erection of (elf-registering instruments in the trore disturb) d regions of the globe, is the forecasting of earthpuakes. ... We shall never be able to lessen the suddenness and violence of earthquakes. But if wo were enabled to get a few moments' warning of their approach, if the surface of the globe were so carefully examined that all the regions mostjlikely to be visited by earthquakes were well known, and if in such regions tcrupulous care were taken to build in such a style as would bo least affected by disturbance of the ground, then the dangers of the earthquake would probably bo reduced as far as the skill and foresight of man could deTiie.—Good Words. UNDERGROUND WIRKS. Mr R. S. Culley, the author of " A Practical Handbook of Telegraphysays that more than thirty years ago underground wirrs were tried in this country —ore system running along the London and North-Western Railway from London to Manchester, Liverpool, and 1 oeds; another along the higbrrad from London to Carlisle. Neither worked more than Gvc years, although constructed with the greatest care, and at much expenfo. The method adopted in Germany is to form a complete cable, just as for submarino work, with a sheath ot gulvanifed steel wire, and to coat it with bitumen while laying it in a deep trench. The cost is great, but so is that of the annually recurring break-down of overhead lines, not only on Bcccunt of repa rs, but also becauie of the loss of business.

FBE3ERVATIOK OF THt DEAD. In speaking of the preservation of dead bodies, Gail lard's Medical Monthly says that Edward 1., who died in 1037, was found not decayed 463 Jyears subsequently. The flesh on the face was a little wasted, but not putrid. The body of Canute, who died in 1017, was found frtsh in 17(56. Tho.«e of William the Corqneror and his wife were perfect in 1522 In 1501) three Ramnn soldiers, in tbo dress of their country, fully equipped with arms, were dug out of a peat moss near Aberdeen They were quite fresh and p'ump after a lapse of 1500 years. In 1717 the bodies of Lady Kibylh and her infant were embalmed. In 1706 they wrre found as perfect as in the h >ur they were embalmed. Every feature and limb was full. The infant's features were as composed as if they had only been asleep for SO years; his colour was as fresh and his fle»has plump and full as in the perfect glow of health ; the smile of infancy and innocency was on his lips. At a little di?tance it was d iFicult to distinguish whether Lady Kilsyth was alive or dead. The question is, What preservative was used, and how applied ? A FOCKET CAMEBA. Councillor W. J. Lancaster, of Colmore Row, London, is Faid to have invented a very remarkable photographic apparatus, to bo used for detcctivo purposes or ordinary portrait photography. The apparatus is enclosed in a watch case, which opens in the ordinary manner by means of a spring. As the case opens, a miniature camera shoots out for a moment, shuts up again, and the thing is done. The sensative plates to bo used for the camera are minature dry plates, ard a store of these is to be carried by the opoartor in a specially prrpved locket, to hang on the watch chain. We understand that the miniature"apparatus haa been eagerly welcomed by the detective police, and that the authorities at Scotland Yard have decided to make ex'ensivo use of it. A detective who wishes to secure the portrait of a fuspected character will only have to get close to his subject, and pretend to look at the time, and the features will bo registered. We tnny mention that fjr the fake of experiment, accurate and " speaking" likenesses were taKen of a largo number of persons who mixed in the crowd at the recent Socialists' meeting. ANOTHER 31)0 METREB* TOVTEB

Whenever the French do anything unusual, be it making a revolution or fools of themselves, their Belgian neighbours are sure to follow suit. Pans intends to hare a big pole at its exhibition, therefore, Brusi-el*, the minor Parts, must hare a similar pole at its exhibition. Such at least is the opinion of two Belgian engineer?, who have staried the project of adding a tower 300 metres in height to the buildiugs erected for tho International Exhibition, to be held in Brussels in But it is not to be built of iron, as Mr Eiffel's tower, but of wood, in order to cost less and exhibit the greatest skill in construction. The proposed edifice is a reg*lar pyramid, f>o metres square at the base and 300 metres high. The centre is formed by a square stack of 4'KJm. sectional area, supported by| eight butresses projecting 15 metre?, and five metres thick. The gigantic st«ck is to jbo intersected by three galleries, placed at the heights of 60,200 and 275 metres. Each gallery forms a ring round the tower, and besides relieving the monotony of the structure, furnishes room for a large restaurant and concert room, having more than lOOsq m. of area at the lowest level; the second contains a belvedere or stand, with terraces more than 4<>om. in area, and the third is destined for an observatory.— Mechanical World. THE FISHING iUOG. The fishing frog, or sea devil, as it is sometimes called, owing doubtless to its repulsive appearance, is conspicuous principally for its peculiar method of alluring its prey. Its bead is of enormous sire, and the feature that is not least pronounced is its prodigious mouth, which extends, not from ear to ear, but half way round the front part of ito head, and is fortified with rows of toelh which may be raised or depressed at will, according as the prey is entering or striving to escape from its place of captivity. Along the top of the head are found three long filaments, ihe first of whirh terminate* in a bait-like appendage, and which may be waved in any direction. Fishes are attracted by the motion of this object, and, when sufficiently near the mouth is opened, and the prey is sucked in to its own destruction. The stomach is distensible to an extraordinary degree, and frequently fishes are got therein which are nearly equal in weight and size to the fishing frog itself. The head is provided with a moss-like fringe, which extends arouncHts entire circumference, and which enables it to conceal itself easily among the seaweeds and moses at the bottom of the sea, where it is its custom to extend and bury itself in wait for its victim. A specimen captured near Flushing, Long Island, was 5 feet long and weighed 1251b. —Scientific American.

SULPHUR A VIBE BXTIXGUISHBB. A well-known French savant auggeits that sulphur should be carried on board every ship for uso in esse of fire. Half a hundred, weight of sulphur will bo sufficient to extract the whole of the oxygen from 3500 cubic feet of air, thus unfitting it to support combustion ; and the writer remarks that in a closed space like a ship's hold the burning of sulphur will prevent lire from rising and spreading if pains be taken to properly close the hatches.