SCIENTIFIC.

Otago Witness, Issue 1751, 13 June 1885, Page 28

SCIENTIFIC.

— Everyone haa boticed that the sun and moon, in rising or setting, appear unusually large, Paul Stroobanfc points out the absurdity of tha vu'gw explanation that intervening objects enable us battar to estimate the reai siza of the heavenly bodies, in that the same eltact is visible at sea, and indicates the fallacy of several other theories. He believes that there are two real causos of the phemonenon in question, both purely physiological — one, the greater sensitiveness of the eye to angular magnitudes near the horizon ; the othar, a direct offeot of the feebler light iv the enlargement of the pupil, which it would appear tends to magnify objects, even when artificially produced. His theories are supported with numerous illustrations and experiments, the most interesting ' of which are to show that the distance between two luminous points within a room suffers the sama apparent change as in the constellations, when, without altering the distance from the eye, the altitude is gradually increased, and tho maximum augmentation is estimated in either case as about one part in four.

— Sir John Liwes, so well known to all scientific agriculturists for his elaborate and lifelong investigations into the nutrition of plants and the scientific theory of manures, will rather astonish his admirers by tha opinion to which he has given expression — that it will be more profitable to throw sewage into the sea than to apply it to the land. He holds that fish deserve to be looked to as much as p ants, that phosphate of lime, potash, and nitrogen are necessary to the lives of fishes, but are to ba found only in small quantities in the sea. As tons of these substances are taken from the ocean every year iv the fishing industries, ifc is ouly wise, if you wish to keep up ths prosperity of the fisheries, to return a proper amount of them to the sea. But the question arises as to whother the cea doas not get quite its fair sharo of these materials from the land amongst the immense amount of various contributions borne down to it by all the river Byatems of the world. Th 9 fisheries peeai rather an uncertain speculation in which to invest our sewage ; as far as we can see at present Nature makes ample provision for tho finny tribes, and it will pay man better to look after his crops.

— A curious instance of the power of nitroglycerine and its wouderful vitality — if such a fceirn can bo applied to it — has lately occurred r<£ Lame. An old ship, rotten and unseaworthy, had been abandoned in tha harbour thero many years ago, and had in proces3 of time been carried away piecemeal by the neighbouring inhabitants for firewood. In February last two mea wore engaged in removing some of tho old iron from the tube which had formed part of tho pump of the vessel. They used a heavy hammer in this work, and at tho second blow an explosion occurred which killed them both instantly. Inquiry showed that the vessel had long ago been used for the carriage of dynamite. Immersion in water has the property of separating this dread explosive into its two constituents — namely, vitro glyoariao and infusorial earth, Ib is assumed that eomo of tha former had settled in a recess in the it on work, and had lain thero until aroused into activity by the fatal blow.

— Tho latest invention for covering walls and ceilings is called " soapstone iinish," and is mainly composed of pulverised stealite. It fcakoa a high polish, it iis pearl-grey in tint, presents the beat posaibb surface for painting either iv oil or water-colour, and ifc will nßi her crack nor chip. Ifc ia claimed to be a nou conductor and non-ab?orbent, and can be washed without injury. Nails can be driven into it without damage. When subject to Heat, moisture, and chemical fumes, it ia said to give no smell ; it also doas not turn yellow with age. It is recommended for hospitals, factories, cellars, matkets, closets, pantries, and kitchens, and is pleasantor to the eye than ordinary whitewash or cheap paper.

—According to Engineering, a United States chemist has discovered a method of preserving wood from decay, which although at present only applied to ouinglea — split logs used for roofing in Hsu of slates or tiles— will have many other applications, By the process the wood is also rendered incombustible. ' Here is the method of treatment. Two hundred and fifty gallons of water are mingled with twenty pounds of lime and leu pounds of ealfc. Ia thi3 mixture tho wood is boiled until quite saturated. Shingles so prepared will last for rooting purposes for many ysars, although unprotected with paint. With regard to the fire-resisting powers of wood so prepared, experiments showed that when soaked in naptha and set alight the shingles would not catch fire, although of course tho liquid burned itself out. A cvi iou3 point in thia method of preparing tincber 5a that it is best applied to green wood, as then the aap calls are open, and will batter absorb the solution.

— The anli aciontifio party in the University of Oxford have received a third and thia time a crushing defeat on the question of the endowment of a physiological laboratory, Tho pretext on which the endowment was opposed was that the University in endowing a physiological laboratory was tacitly giving its high sanction to the immoral practice of vivisection, but in reality the fundamental cauee of opposition was tho same dislike and contempt for science which used to give it the elegant name of " stinks " amongst Oxford undergraduates. It is easy to understand bow offensivo it will bo to the Bense of propriety of quondam undergraduates now grown hoary in tho study of dead languages and literature that tho despised "stinks" of former years should ba raising its head more boldly and more boldly every year, and afc last be demanding a local habitation in which to carry on tile diabolical orgies known aa practical physiology. The opposition to the grant on the ground of the horriblenep" of vivisection, and of the dis^racs to the University if it sanctioned it, was very unfair considering the stringency of the laws in England regarding vivisection. When the law so thoroughly protected the University from vivisection pollution there was no excuse for the fear which many of the members of Convocation pretondod to feel, and moreover the promise of Professor Burden Sanderson that no painful experiments would be carried out on living animals wna especially emphasised for their baaefit. Tho laboratory was absolutely neceasury for tho teaching of practical physiology, but vivisection was not absolutely necessary for tho teaching of physiology. It is a groat st.rido when io Oxford a vote for endowing a physiological laboratory ia carried by 412 vofcos to 244, and the ro»ult received wirh proat enthusiaHra fay tho undergraduates. Perhaps in another ten yoars when more new blood has b3en introduced into Convocation, the qneßtion of vivisection may be approached iv a moro enlightened spirit.

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