Science.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2023, 28 January 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

Science.

Sir Isaac Newton Ihouelit the heat ot sun was a least 2,000 times greater than the temperature of red hut iron. Pouillct calculated that the solar heat which falls on a square centimeter (nearly a seventh part of a square inch") of the terrestrial surface is sufficient to raise 17.633 grains (nearly a trey penny weight) of water I degr e ef centigrade every minute and, having adopted this as what he termed a ll calorie," or constant unit of solar heat, he estimating backward, inferred that the heat issuing from a similar measure on the surface of the sun would there serve to melt a layer of ice 11. R0 meters (36 feet 1 inch) thick every niiuute. Pouillct spoke of a temperature somewhere between 2,630 degrees and 3,170 degrees Tali, a:- the probable amount of heat, of the sun. Ericsson assumed the enormously higher quantity of LOffO.OOO degrees Fab. Professor Langley, from observations made with his recently constructed barometer, or ray measurer-—a very sensitive instrument, in which calorific vibrations are converted into electric currents—gives us a probably exact result from I,Sit! degrees to 2.b00 degrees centigrade and by a very beautiful series of experiments of an altogether independent nature, he satisfies himself that the ►tin’s hemisphere radiates eighty-seven limes as much heat and 6.300 times as much light as an equal area of incandescent steel in a a Bessemer converter, in which the air blast bar, been sustained for about twenty minutes. This may. perhaps, be fairly looked upon as the most trustworthy approximation to any definite conclusion that bs yet been found pos-ib'.e in Inis very difficult branch ot human knowledge.

Thunder Storms-—From certain meteorological statistics recently published iu Germany, wc learn that thunder storm* in that, country have, during the last thirty years, been steadily increasing both in frequency and severity. The number of deaths per annum fron lightning has increased in a fur greater ratio than that o£ the increase of population. In the present state of oar knowledge of the whole subject of atmospheric electricity, the cause of the phenomena of thunder storms is confessedly obscure. It is. however, very possible (bat some light would be thrown upon the question by a comparative study of the frequency and severity o{ storms duringflbc lengthened period and over a wide geographical area. The German swanU incline to the opinion that the increase is to bo attributed to the enormously increased production of smoke and steam which has taken place during the last three decades. But although we may admit this to ho to some extent a probable 'vra rau*a, yet. when we consider tho very local character of thunder storms, wc should nrturally expect to find that it wonld follow that the neighborhoods of large cities, and especially of manufacturing districts, would suffer tho most severely. But the statistics referred lo show distinctly that the very reverse is the case. The number of storms attended by fatal results from lightning is far larger in the agricultural districts than in tho towns. Upon the other hand, wo ought to take into consideration tho protective action of lightning conductors. with which the prominent buildings in (he towns of Germany are well provided.

Damp Bods-—The Lav'd, referring to the death ot Mr. Maas, the well-known tenor, call? attention to the peril of sleeping in n damp bod. As a matter of fact, this peril is of the greatest, and it is almost evcr-nrcsc-nt, The experienced traveller rarely hazards the risk of sleeping between sheets, which are nearly sure to be damp, until they have been aired under his personal supervision at a fire in his hod room. If this be impracticable, bo wraps his rug around him.or pulls out the sheets and sloops bstwi-.-u the blankets—a disagreeable but prudent, expedient. The direst mischief may result from the contact of an imperfectly healed body with sheets which restrain moisture. The body heat is not sufficient to raise the temperature of (be sheets !•> a safe paint, and the result must be disastrous iu the extreme if. as is sure to happen, (he skin be co-ded by contact with a surface colder than Hs-df. and steadily abstracting beat all the night through.

There is ii" exciwe for the neglect of proper precaution to insure dry beds. Servants are never (-• he trusted in tins matter, and the managers of botch. ev< u of (he best description, are singularly careless iu respect to it.

Artificial respiration.—Ml. t. A. Francis describes the following method of artificial respiration in the Jiriihh. Midival Journal. The body of the patient is iaid on the back, with clothes loosened, and the month and nose wiped; two bystander,, pass their right hands under the body at the level of the waist, and grasp each other's hands, then raise the body until the tips of the fingers and the toes of the subject alone touch the ground ; count fifteen rapidly ; then lower the body flat to tho ground, and pres? the elbows to the side hard; count fifteen again : then raise the body for the same length of time ; and so on, alternately raising and lowering, The bead, arms, and legs arc to be allowed to dangle down quite freely when the body is raised. The author allege;; that this method is most successful, and it is so simple that any one cun perform it without any teaching.

Tho singular discovery ha:; been made that the New Vmk legislature iu 1 sinj a;., propriated ?I.oou to pay a certain Ifes-iau quack doctor named t.Tous, fur an •• infallible remedy for hydrophobia." The so-called remedy consisted 4 an ounce o! flic iaw brnc of a dog, burned and pulverised, tin- faise tongue of a newly-foaled e.,lt. similarly treated, and a scruple of verdigris -craped from the surface of an old and rusty copper coin, flic winiln in lie mixed and taken internally. Perhaps eighty years from now the lutes! cxpciimeius will be considered as strange as Hr. Crrms’s prescription appears to-day.

Magnetic Clock.- \ nu-iou- application of tin' magnet is ,li .-erib -d in ;> i’remdi journal, the -übjeet of ji b-iug a el-ck recentiy pat-iited in Franc. . In aiipc.'inriec the clock coa-ists of a lainiMiiirinc. on i!nparchment head of which i- paiuled a circle of flowers, corresponding lo lb- hour sign-. of ordinary dials. On examination, l-.vo bees, one large, aud the. other small, arc, discovered crawling among tin; (lower-. Tin; small bee runs rapidly from one to the oilier, completing tbe circle in an hour ; while (be large one takes twelve hour- to finish the circuit. Tho parchment membrane is unbroken, and the bees arc simply iaid upon ii ; but two magnets, connected with the, clockwork inside the tambourin'', move just under tho membrane, and the insects, which are "f iron, follow them.

Paris Medical Journals input that Eudosic Heloniii, ;i woman of fortyseven years of age, who Ims been for many years a patient at the Salpetriere, sulTering from paralysis aud hysteria, has been now lying fur several days in a catah ptie (deep. She seems to bo in a condition «>l almost total insensibility, ami allows no sign of pain even when needles are plunged pretty deeply into any part of the body. Fluid nourishment is a lminiActed to her. wine, milk, soup, eggs. etc. The patient ic excessively stout. Some years ago she weighed 140 kilograms (22 stone) bet subse-iueully lostabout.SU kilos. (4 stone Id To.), after which she fell into a long and deep sleep. It is unnecessary to say that die is most carefully watched by tbu medical men connected with the Salpetriere,