Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 November 1886 — POPULAR SCIENCE. [ARTICLE]

POPULAR SCIENCE.

. r Db. E. Pabmly Brown declares that the excessive use of salt is one of the main factors in the destruction of hu-,, man teeth. - l ' Sib Henry Thompson holds that ar tificial teeth are an evil in those of advanced years, because they enable such persons to masticate flesh. When the teeth fail naturally, it is nature’s design that the individual should subsist on vegetable diet. The earthquakes recorded in 1885, according to Monsier 0. Detaille, numbered 246, of which only six were felt in North America. January, with fortynine earthquakes, had the greatest number for any month, and October, with eleven, the smallest. Instantaneous photographs of the hearts and intestines of various animals have enabled Dr. W. G. Thompson to determine the action of the organs more dearly and accurately than is possible by other methods. Such photographs may prove of great value in showing changes effected by drugs, as well as in their physiological teachings. The glaciers of the Alps have been found by Forel to change in size quite regularly—a period of growth of fifteen to thirty years being followed by a corresponding period of diminution. The increase seems to coincide with periods of cold and wet yeiirs, and the decrease with periods of warm and dry seasons. Since 1875 the glaciers have been growing. Prof. Dewar, of London, has succeeded in solidifying oxygen by means of the intense cold which results when liquid oxygen is allowed to expand in a partial vacuum. The frozen oxygen resembles snow, and has a. temperature of about 330 degrees below zero. These experiments are expected to throw some light on what is called the absolute zero of temperature. _ The active principle of cod liver oil, of which it forms from one and a half to six per cent., lias been Obtained by Mr. Lafarge, of Paris, and is said to have given excellent results when used in place of the crude oil. The shbstance is called morrhuol, and contains twelve times as much iodine, bromine, and phosphorus as the origirial oil, with none of the fat. The deepest boring yet made is said to be at Schladebach, near the line between Leipsic and Corbetha. It has been made by the Prussian Government for the purpose of ascertaining the presence of coal, and was bored with diamond drills. Its depths is 1390 meters, or 4,560 feet, its breadth at the bottom two inches, and at the top eleven inches. The temperature at the bottom indicates 118 degrees F. Chronic tea-poisoning, according to Dr. W. N. Bullard, is a frequent affection, the most common symptoms of which are loss of appetite, dyspepsia, palpitation, headache, vomiting and nausea, combined with nervousness and hysterical and neuralgic affections, frequently accompanied by constipation and pain about the heart. Among adult women the average amount needed to cause poisonous symptoms is a little less than five cups daily, but the young and weak are more gpsily affected.