Scientific.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2110, 16 January 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

Scientific.

Tifk Lowest Known Temperature — In a former memoir (Comptes Reudus, xcviii., p 36.5), the author describes the apparatus which enabled him to eliminate the influence of cthylcne upon liqurfied gases, anfl to obtain very low temperatures by means of oxygen and of air evaporating in a vacuum. In a subsequent series of experiments the author has further intioduced into his apparatus a second tube of very thin glass, and thus isolates the liquified gases by a double gaseous stratum. The pressure and temperature being then considered lowered, he has been able to solidify nitrogen, carbon monoxide, formene, and nitrogen dioxide, and to determine at the same time the temperatures of solidification. Byiedncing the piessuic of solid nitiogen down to 0*0(H metre of Mercury, he has succeeded in obtaining tlio lowest temperature known. — 225 deg. — K. Ols/cwsUi. i

Gm.atim-:- Dwamite. — Mr Alfred Nobel, the well known inventor of dynamite and blasting gelatine, has improved on those cxplosncsby introducing what he terms gelatine-dynamite, which combines and gives effect to the powers and qualities of the two great cvplosives that go to form its name. It has gone little farther than the test stage as yet; but accounts of its use in mines, lime stone and granite quarries, tunnels and collieries, show that it has advantages that the intelligent woikman appreciates; that it does the work of dynamite in places that cannot be well ventilated ; and that it leaves so little of an offensive smell, that miners can go in almost immediately, feel no bad effects, and get on with their work.—Engineering and Mining Journal.

A Hairless Cali\— A curiosity, in the shape of a perfectly hairleos calf, was born at Pawnee City, Nebraska, last spring. The animal, now about seven months old, is well formed and apparently in perfect health, but its skin is quite destitute of hair. It is a male, weighs over two hundred pound*, and shows iiu appearance of horns So fur as can be learned there is nothing in its pedigiee to account for this departure from the normnl type. Both of its progenitors were pure-bred 6horthorns. Should this unique animal survive it would be a matter of considerable scientific interest to keep track of its descendant, in order to determine whethor this apparently accidental variation ia capable of transmission, or whether it disappears < m with its first possessor.

How Fish Sleep.—An experiment has recently been tried by Mr W. August Carter, with a view to discovering how far fish are prone to sleep. After close examination he found that, among fresh water fishes, the roach, dace, gudgeon, carp, tench, minnow and cat-fish sleep periodically in common M'ith land animals. The same instincts were found to actuate marine fHi, of which the following were observed to be equally influenced by somnolence—namely, the wrasse, conger eel, dory, dog-fish, wrasse bass and all species of flat fish. Mr Carter states that, so far as lie can discover, the goldfish, pike and angler fish never sleep, but rest periodically. Desire for sleep among fish varies according to meteorological conditions. Fish do not necessarily selectjiight-time for repose.

ArOMORFHINE IN CROUP AND Eronchiti.s.—Dr. Stutz, of Neuminster, is loud in his praises of apomorphinc, subcutaueously injected in diptlieria complicated with croup, and in primary croup itself. Of ten of these latter cases he lost only one, and this he attributes to his not having been called quickly enough. Similar treatment is also very valuable in dys>pncea due to bronchitis. He has also been successful in cases of arsenical poisoning in children ; and in one where a woman had such severe pharyngitis that she was quite unable either to swallow or speak. An apomorphine injection quickly emptied the stomach of pus and mucus, and enabled her both to speak and swallow.

The Bottom of the Sea.—Tho bod of the ocean, says a recent writer, is to an enormous extent covered with lava and pumice stone. Stik more remarkable is it to find the floor of the ocean coveied in many parts with the dust of meteorites. Between Honolulu and Tahiti, a depth of 2,350 fathoms —over two miles and a half —a vast layer of this material exists. Falling upon land this impalpable dust is indistinguishable, but accumulating for cc ituries in the sea depths it forms a wondrous story of continuous bombardment of this planet by comctary bodies.