SCIENCE GOSSIP.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 695, 11 September 1876, Page 4

SCIENCE GOSSIP.

“ (Edipus ” in the Leader supplies the following gossip ;—An Arctic expedition of a novel kind is about to be despatched from the United States. About two years ago, the officers of the Tigress, which was then cruising in search of the lost Polaris, discovered some rich veins of graphite in Cumberland Inlet. On the return of the Tigress, Lieutenant Mintzner chartered a small steamer and went back to complete his survey of the mine. He had made no provision for wintering, and had to return before he could accomplish much. More complete arrangements have now been made, A schooner of 160 tons burden has been chartered, and stored with all the requisites for an exhaustive exploration, and the means of com mencing mining operations. Among other articles shipped are the materials for a tramway, 3000 ft in length,to bring the mineral to the port of shipment. There is a probability of the establishment of a permanent settlement, and the experiment has therefore a political as well as a scientific significance.

Mr Donald Mackenzie, the bold adventurer who is determined to let the Atlantic into the desert of El Juif, was at the Canary Islands in June last, and was in readiness to embark in a schooner which he had chartered to convey him and his party to the mouth of the Belta, A great deal of wild nonsense has been talked about the probable result of his operations should they ever be completed, but the world may re-t content that whether his undertaking results in failure or success, Europe and the Sahara will retain their old characteristics. The depressed basin cannot be of great area, and as there is no cultivated country in its neighborhood, there can be little if any trade opened up by it. Beyond a mild excitement raised in the Canary Islands, the nearest civilised community, but little interest is manifested in the enterprise. The Societe Francaise de Temperance have a way of doing business different from the teetotal societies of England. They offer prizes for chemical investigations into the alcohols, some of which inquiries do not appear to have much bearing Ou the encouragement of temperance, but will be duly appreciated by topers. Among the prizes for which they invite competition is one of 1000 francs for a satisfactory answer to the question—ls it possible to distinguish, by chemical or physical properties, natural wines and brandies obtained from fermentation of grape juice or from distillation of fermented juice, from wines or brandies manufactured or mixed with alcohols from other sources. Another prize is offered for the determination of the differences in effect of natural and manufactured wines and brandies ; and yet another for an answer to the question whether the addition to alcohol of an aromatic principle other than that of absinthe, such as the essence of anise, badiane, fennel, and tansy, increases its intoxicating proper* ties. It would seem odd if an English Temperance Alliance were to offer prizes for the discovery of substitutes for hops. The transactions of the French Society will be watched with interest by vignerons, distillers, and spirit merchants, as well as by the vast army of imbibers. A good deal may be said in favor of the French system, for there would be less drinking if there was more knowledge of the nature of intoxicants and of their physiological influence. Perhaps one of the causes of the non-success of the English teetotallers is that they are by no means well-informed on the subjects on which they wax eloquent, and are too apt to indulge in ignorant vituperation where logical argument and mild remonstrance would be likely to prove more effectual. The proverbial expression, “ Even the sun has spots,” is for once at fault. For several months past the sun has been absolutely free from blemish. The announcement was made from Montmartre, where daily photographs of his physiognomy are taken, that from the end of March to the beginning of July not a single spot appeared. Here is ample scope for augury, or for the equally unphilosophic process of connecting together, as cause and effect, things which have no relation to each other.