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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 1877)
November. THE W EST SHORE. 45 WHAT IS A DIATOM One of the Hm beauties which are put on the microscopic etage fur the gratification of a vis itor is apt to be a group of diatoms, ami beauti ful as these minute shells are to the tyro, they possess doubled charm to the skilled micro- ecopist, and give him opportunity fur years of i aot rare. awmy. m me last meeting of the Sun Fran cisco Microscopical Society, President Ash burner read a very interesting paper, being a translation, by him, of an essay on the subject "What is a Diatom T" by Moha. Julicn Deby, taken from the "Proceedings of the Belgian Micro eopieal Society," and, were it nut for its great length, would And a place in ourcolumns. The paper was illustrated by drawings on the blackboard, by Mr. Kintie, and was a careful resume of all that is known of the life and hll tory of theao wonderful forms of vegetable life, as ascertained by the filTertiBitioai of Mr. Deny, and w-liieh coulirined the researches of such distinguished extemporaneous diatoinists as Thwuite, Wallieh, Hofmeister, McDonald, Win. Smith, Plitzer and 11. L Smith. Aside from the elaborate description of the parts of the diatom, and their method of reduplication and conjugation, which wan listened to with gre;t interest by all present, the following general remarks are published, as they may give rise to more extended thought and study of these truly wonderful organisms: "The little microscopic organisms, of which we propose to say a few words, are distinguished from non-cellular algiv, proiwrly so-called, as infusoria arc distinguished from rhi::opods, by certain well-marked characteristics. They form one of the numerous links which exist between what we are still disposed to call empiricly the animal and vegetable kingdoms. "The only connection between the surround ing and nourishing liquid in which the diatoms live, exists in the circumference, so to speak, of the connectives (between the valves of the frus tuiej; also in certain pores, somewhat problem atical, along the line of the connectives with the corresponding valvtis, and always in the form of lineal joinings, which are only visible by means of our moat powerful modern objectives. Neither porea or openings are probably ever found in the fruatulesof diatoms, notwithstand ing the assertions of certaiu microscopists. Neither does solid matter ever penetrate from the exterior into the interior of living diatoms; they drink, but tlu-y do not eat. "The curious active movements of certain diatoms always occur in an obvious manner (the principle of which is, however, obscure), by a vital action along the joinings mentioned. This is so true that if, owing to any cause, a frustule is stopped in its course bv an insur mountable object, the translating force is im mediately seen to be converted into another, which causes all the small bodies about it, which are floating in the water, to move backward and lorward with Rett raimlitv. "We believe that diatoms possess otbir means of reproduction beside that of conjuga tion, but the life history of these minute leings is too imperfect for us to venture anv hypoth esis in this direction. The modern appearance uf species where none existed before; their peri odical succession, year after year, at definite seasons, without being able to liud any in the interval in the same locality, give rise to the possibility of a mode of generation, which is as yet only suspected, by means of germs- by micro or macro oospores, and, perhaps, in the first instance, with the formation of zygozoos pores, lis occurs in the case of living .il of the lower orders and situated under the same con ditions as the diatoms. "We foreshadow here a most interesting field of study, and .one which is almost now to the naturalist provided with a good fniofotoope and jiosseasing the time and patience necessary for this kind of study; and we think we can say with contidence that whoever will follow with care the entire life-history of a singlo diatom, no matter how common the species, will render a greater service to science than by describing and drawing hundreds of the sili ceous frustules from the four quarters of the 8lobe-" diameter of new wool; it grows smaller either gradually or abruptly and grows wider In a deformed manner, in order to contract itself again or to assume a regular form for only a short distance. At some spot it is devoid of scales, at others it is torn, whereby the diam eter sinks often btlow its ordinary measure. i o.ui mill it let nr :ix im i IMPORTING FORBtQH RACES OF HKKs. I A NKW OAM K FOR HOYS. As our apiarians have done so well by the iu- ' The bttt authorities among scientific persons troiluetion of the Italian In c. they are now put ting forth inquiries to discover whether there net other foreign races of the busy insect " By the mieroscone shnddv nun Iu. mmtn-J quantitatively as follows: Some specimens are prepared with the greatest tmssihle care, wherebv the precaution ought to be taken that the single fibers cross each other as little as possible but lie parallel to one another. They are thus ex posed to a magnifying power of 90 or 80 times, so that the oiwerver DU be able to -lance at a write itonion t mim li k.. 2 many fibers char nr.. m !. k:.J. .i acquisition to the country furnish tlie aimroxims'ivn oroo-irti.,..-i ...I.;' .1 I The accounts we receive from abroad of the have long conceded the fact that it in impossi ble t kill a boy by any of the recognised ptv oees of demolition. He tumble off chestnut trees and falls down wells with impunity; ho is which it will te valuable to introduce. At perfectly nappy in lite midst of harrowing rail the late me Society was read bv Or. V. llrtkftra' .Wo. 1 desire to direct attention to the desirability of making efforts to import beta that have not as yet been tested in this country, which cither pure or iu some ot their !.... may prov meeting of the National Heck, opera i n,?d J"! &f prematurely enthusiastic v .. , .t ... 14th of Julv exploMcns atbutl huu mti use do- . New York city, Urn following paper Hghl tlil, MraUtant book agents have (niujr, nwiN iu sue uune nine more man uisoonrage imu, ami abto- the several fibers have hswi ot her." mixed with each DETECTING SHODDY WITH THE MI CROSCOPE. We find in the Manufa etnrrr and Buildtf an article by Dr. Adolph Ott, giving a summary of tno results gamed oy it. nooen oooieoingor in the detection of shoddy with the microscope. We quote as follows: " If the prepared shoddy is exposed to a munifvin DOWWof 100 or ISO. the scaly woolen hair will be seen by the sidu of the smooth silk thread, or Hie tliick-wallcd linen thread, or the spiral-formed cotton. The color of these fibers varies generally very much, so that the object gives a very variegated image. After being thus tersuaded of the presence of the various fibers, a drop of cupro ammouia may he added for the sake of con firmation. This destroys silk and cotton rapidly, attacks then the linen and produces at last a swelling of the wool. If to another aiecinieu sulphuric acid is added, the wool is dissolved and forms a red solution. "After it has thus Wen determined of what fibers the shoddy consists, the wool must le more closely examined, that is, it is to he determined whether it consists completely or only partly of used hair. To this end, it is tirst necessary to compare with each other the color, structure and the chemical deportment of the two kinds. With regard to the color the differ ence is really great In most shoddy there occurs colored and uncolored wool threads; the latter appear either perfectly white or they exhibit distinct traces of former color removed by bleaching. In the better kinds the colored hairs are only of one color; in the inferior suits several colors are genorally represented. This alone is a strong proof that the threads have not been subjected to one common dyeing opera tion, but that their peculiar color is the product of a process which they have received formerly in a tissue of their own. All this is not discerni ble to the unaided eye. Another chief point of difference between the two kinds is to be fouud in their diameter; the hair of shoddy wool is THK HYOIENi: OF Till-; HAUL Prof. Krasnius Wilson, who Is nMM Mm highest living authority on the subject, has lately given a course of lectures on the hair More the College of Surgeons in London. Thov are reported in full in some of the Knglish med ical magazines, end an 'abstract of- tho more practical portions is given in tlieVorirmif 0 Chtinixtni. Cleanliness is, of course, insisted upon as of prime importance, but wwshing the oau is uiupiiaueaiiy condemned, itritsiuiii; is to bo preferred, as it promotes circulation, removes scurf, anil is in all reaneets x mnm effective stimulant than water. Cuttin does not encourage growth as much as is commonly believed, but is advantageous in the case of the short, slender hairs generally called "young hairs." Of the countless applications recommended for the cure of Iwldness, few are ever successful, and iu the occasional instances in which, they appear to be useful it is possible that sequence is mistaken for consequence, the poM hoc tor the iroi(tr hoc. Most of these speeilics are stimu lants, not excepting protroleum, which has lately liven eulogized. Ammonia is Prof. Wilson's favorite stimulant; it is unlikely to create inflammation and Us con sequences; it is neither absorbable into tho sys torn, nor could it do harm if such were the case and its odor, refreshing at the moment of its use, speedily evaporates. In a case of ordinary nWOCWl or falling out of the hair, he prescribes a union composed 01 strong liquor amnioni c, almond oil and chloroform, of each one nart diluted with five parts of alcohol or spirits of rosemary, and made fragrant by the addition of a drachm of the essential oil of lemons. The lotion should be dabbed upon the skin of the heod after thorough friction with the hair brush. It may be diluted if necessary; it may be applied sparingly or abundantly; and it may be used daily or otherwise. There ure cases in which a less stimulating ami even a refrigerating lotion may lie desired, and where an objection may v raised to the quantity of oi! contained in the above. In such cases a lotion of borax and glycerine, two drachms of each to oiiiht ounces of distilled water, is cooling ami refreshing; this lotion allays dryness 01 the skin, removes scurf, ami subdues irritability. In coses of complete baldness, and also in ftJottflid areata, a stronger stimulant application will be required. For this he recommends fric tions with a liniment OOmpOtod of equal parts of the liniment of camphor, ammonia, chloroform, and aconite, to lw well niblted into the bare places daily, or even twice a day, so as to pro duce a moderate amount of stimulation. In oiscs of opAinefi, dne to neuralgia of theeutaue mis nerves ot the scant, tins liiinucnt h civ valuable. Iu other cases the liniment of iodine may be painted on tho bare patches daily, or they may i- mooed witn the ointment ot can tharidos or any other powerful stimulant. Tht intention of all these local remedies is to stimu late without setting up irritation; to increase the energy of circulation and innervation of the part; and in some instances to abstract the ex cess of thuds from the tissues of the skin by inducing exudation. But these results must Iki accomplished as far as possible without pain ami without seventy. The constitutional treatment of alopttkl should consist in the adjustment and regulation of the functions of digestion and assimilation; nnd, where no other sjtccial conditions are to be fullilled, the adoption of a tonic regimen and the administration of tonic remedies. Of these last arsenic k'ars the palm, and may lw advan tageously prescrilied in doses of two to four minims three times a day directly after food, and in any convenient vehicle. Ql 1111001, MMfMOJ or jHiliolhrts deemls like baldness on defective powers of the skin, and the indications for treatment are exactly the same to strengthen the part and at the same tune strengthen the paiieuL Cyprian bee are very promising, and it would scorn from Mr. Oravculutrat'sstatcuiontto be iu some respects superior to the Italian. This two can ! obtained at 110 great outlay, Mi. T. 1. Kued, Treasurer oi the New York society, has attempted a direct importation, and we hope bdou to hear of his success. Apart from the merits or demerits of the Italian as compared with the black bee, the iiti HirUtion has heeu of great bonctit to us in fa miliarizing thousands with the habits of Ikcs through study and experiments that otherwise would not have leeii undertaken and intimu lating many to seuk improved methods of cul ture. From this came our bee papers which to- lay have a large circulation and are much itloted bv the agricultural press here and abroad, ami we are now far in advance both iu the practice and science of tpleultUfe of where we w mid have Ikh-u but for this iuihirtittion; and from this knowledge we are the Itctter pre pared tor experiments with other races ol Ikh-s; having verified many of the laws of bee life which w ill occur to every practical man without enumerating them, As to Apt Dortnta of .lava, Borneo, Ceylon, an attempt is being made by an lUliau bee keeper Qniieppe I'lorini, of Meusolici - to ob tain it 1 think it desirable to get all the in formation we can about this hec, and as soon as received, send to our bee journals, and then if thought advisable endeavor to raise a fund to send lor it. There are among us voiiug men of skill and education who 110 doubt would be phtascd to make the voyage, and at small com neiisatiou. (hum: to the ditlcrence in the sea sous this would be done during our winter, ami the bees arrive here early 111 the spring, giving a full season for propagation and diHlributioii. I,et us not rest satisfied until we have a thor ough knowledge of the geographical diatribe. tlon ot honey bees, and by actual te.stkuou their merits and adaptability to di lien lit sec ions of our country. inmttsrtvv I have endeavored to obtain iDBOimeni of I MATK1JWUIU IpU Doratat but without success. 1 preaeni or examination some specimens in alcohol n bees from Mount Lebauon, which have the gwn ral features of the Italian; also u xmall bci fnta Java, which I know nothing about. bodied streaks of summer lightning have passed him bye ith dlgUlt Yesterday afternoon there was a pesistent recurrence of ominous silence and hilarious laughter among the two doteu or more carriers Of the Kaaton flfW fVeat, thai became so mo notonous that we felt called Upon to investi gate. We looked, and behold the hoyi bad invented a Hew game, luring all the elements of dangerous fun ueivssav to perfect enjoyment Ouebot rtoMWith his Wl aji iM thowalli the next bov stooped down his head in the tirst boVl stomach; the third hoy stooped with his Head on lie second ioy s nacK, and in tins way the line was continued liaek as far as desira ble. Then all the p;ue UOVi took a running bap iu success ion, putting their hands on the hindmost boy, and jumped over as many as pujuiihlo. to nome doe u at the end of the rami on a thty s neck unit (no inrce 01 an iniautili pile-driver, an t the uext,bov conies down on tit in in the same way; tho efforts ol the jump ers being dim-ted to breaktiig the line of the stoopers or their necks, either object appearing to he equally desirable and attainable. 1'he po sition ot tho loy auamst the wall is one of great Honor aim respoiHiiuitty. U requires a Imy ol strong stomach to enjoy the process of having the bead of another hoy driven into bis waist- hand by the continued ell'orts of l.i of his fel lows. Sometimes the jumors become unbeara bly enthusiastic, and the tmy against tho wall liuds it necessary to step aside to roswallow his dinner. This gives the stooping hoy a chance to dUttngnieh himeell as Ins head is Jammed against the wall so hard that he feels his ears sticking out uniler bis arms. Sometimes it hap pens that a small, consumptive 1 sty gets into the line ol itoopere. ami w hen a big Wy comos down on I111 back he breaks 111 two, ami this causes a hiatus that is immediately tilled by tho stools in the rear, who sprawl mi their nosoe ami elbows, w hilt the remaining uttpen cavort over them hke a cavalry charge. We always like to oneonragu little games of this kind, They have a toothing effect upon market bills, the noise outside, ami the under taker. The game to winch wo ruler has rcniilbcd In no mortality eo fart but is only three days , old, and we have an abiding bopa, THE nultilN OF BT0RM& At the late meeting of the National Academy of Sciences, held at Columbia College, New York. Prof. Kite! Lootnil reed a paper 011 the origin of storms, baaed ujtou data ohuiined by the United States Signal Service. He stated that our great storms begin in the neighbor1 hood of the Rooky mountains, and that 110 example is found of any considerable storm arising on the i'acitic coast, south of Oregon. At the outset there is generally an area of sev eral hundred miles diameter, through which the bsWpmoter stands at mean. On oppoeito union of tins area, generally east and w est, at a dis AMONG PKItS, KNGMflH PAU- Hon om 's ideal of the ollnfflnfi ami enduring nature ot the mm 1 iage oompuui arc shall, red by tile OlliiWIDgl I! his iteeii very ptoicilv 111- iited that to forcibly separate old married couples 111 the woikhou.se in nut-l and Uiineeoa- iary, But mst, Pauerae wnrkhoaeei aotord ing to a writer 111 the i uh 'V .r.i;.A, the old couples do not cam to live together. In the coiiisc ol a graphic account of a Vl-it recelilly paid to the work boo so heeaye, in referenoe to the rooms net apart there for old couples; In fac', tho married room ure 1111 utter and OOtapistO failure, TIM old ladies, so long as they can Iff their wood men OOOUlonill V. ap parently do not care lo Ito bortll With their per jteliial presence, iiml they Inttbltely prefer sneeioiut life in a donnilon of women, The old men ihakr hands w ith their partners at this last Itege of their career, and lake their pipes and ibelC smill boxes oil to the rnOMl where Union PAcirir Branciiks. fieneral C.eorge Cnsik has lieen asked by one of the governing directors of the tuiou Pacinc railrosul to give his opinion in regard to the construction of two branches from the mam line of that road, one from a (.mint east of Sherman, Wyoming, to Boneman, Montana, and tho other from Itaw ling, Wyoming, to the eastern branch at its ter minus iu Montana, the eastern branch to pass through the Black Hills, and the western through the Wind river country. The iieneral makes a reply, under date of October Hth, H7, of which the following paragraph contains the most uujHirtant passages: "They will have a most salutary and positive effect in settling our Indian troubles, thereby saving large expendi tures of public funds. They will invite to ami oien up fur settlement MM valuable farming anil grazing lands, aid in the discovery of new muting sections, and promote the developmeut of valuable mineral resources already Uiscov barometer. The atmosphere in these side areas , , m j, , riV!iU,,, jjy lK-kMiist. move toward the central area. Hm t, St. Paneras paupei iih a useful and not an currents thus established are ilellcclod toward (irlmillt.htll Uixtit v. Mm was all very well tho right by the earth's rotation, ami a dinim- whl.n nfl Wll, ltMl'. t 11Ilku ft .i.nnpling or boil ished pressure results over tho central area 1 (l .,. lt ,,ow that the boiling and baking, when the inllow increases ami comes from all UlB eleatimg and the bed -making, is done by sides. Tin- area of low pressure assumes an r,i,llurT Wl,rUouse roiiliue, 1 gnov nr ov al form, but .f the winds am very violent, it thsj, ariffih old gentlemen politely tsdie off their may In, more nearly circular. ith rotation a llilU ,inil hh ai1(. , lll0 iy woman" at the ceiitntugal force is developed, which increases W)irkliouse door. This is all terribly miseiiti the pressure, ami within the latter there is an Ml, lit j M, j( i A (,.) upward movement of the atmosphere which 1 i arries largo amounts of visir, which, on cool- WoM am I'i.av. Or. John Slrachan, of ing, nondeneei as rein. Tim heat lilwrated by ! Bdinburgh. has recently ttiiblished a valuable condensation increases the rarefaction of tho little treatise, physiologically inquiring into the area, and thus ram increases tne loree oi tno Hearing 01 piny usm euucaiion ami irniuing; ami storm though neverorigiuatiiig it. The upward after some preliminary remarks he proceeds to motion within the storm an a takes place chiefly state that the law of npoiitaneoiis duvnlopmeiit on the east side, no that the depression at the through play does not end with physical im- center is constantly transferred toward the east, provemeut. but that, after a time the higher and unless, however, there is a great precipitation luore dillerentiatod faculties come to lw required of vssr on the west side of the area, iu which j for the perfection of the animal, ami that the case the storm is held stationary or even moved same law presides over their evolution. Play, i-itward. I no explains, mat is apparently aimmss, or, at least, not coimeioiisly directed exercise, in the Tot- If in lei eae bIouval A n.-rf.x-tlv Imnaa. tm-ans of si-curiiii! the MUabll development of live, emotionless man or woman is a rarity; still, the brain and 1U faculties mnniory, nnagiiia inch do exist, and WO hardly kimw whether to l",IM'' "'drr, and even IpecieJ kinds of regard them as objects of envy or pity. Those Intellectual ami moral activity, according to the without emotion, thole who do not suHer at endowment", and perhaw also the accidents oi times ttom over-sensitiveness or excitement, are , -'tmn in tho individual. "Kiereise 11 like ntcks or trees; the winds of adversity may . accompanies t.y pieanore up 10 vmt inmi m blow, a deluge of aflhetiou may cover them; they laligue; mtyomi mis limit, t.y pam remain calm and happy, the sleep is sound, the aiiM-tltc unimpaired. Midi nre certainly envia ble conditions, but the law of romjteusation is not annulled for the U-neti t of these favored ones. Wherever we find them, we may lie sure that we meet those devoid of the finer and more del icate instinct uf human nature, those who are ness. il endowment or f oneani. ulties brought into pr inenee by aeeidclit slid after exi-reininl are more, others are less, devehqied. But in every case there is a limit, and the only sure way of ascertaining the limit is by givinu to the inslinet; tn other words, by allowing play ' or anpan-utly unregulated souUucous apable of enjoying the ln-autiful things in tho iinpiilar iU due place in the work of education." natural world or in art. They sutler less in the I animated statue they live, without strong ,7u1tl'ul w"r',i ' '"deed, I know not what to friendship or affection., without pity, without ,l ltw" " PMIteeetad generally; and nerveless they .lie, with scarcely eunalune, and heaven itoelf la not far off; and a pang. The world regards them with suspicion I thv, ""ddei.ly change and is dark and sor during life, and refuses U wep when they pas. I f. . n away It is for wise reasons that but few of , V'" ,Y "', t,,c ",l,,,'t ,'f"' there are bnght Like Buidiir Hoi hh and IiMmimy All ! This amounts in economy of trausiHirtation tary supplies, ot troops, sml mails, r rom my personal knowledge of the country thnmgh which the propoaed lines will pass, I regard the project as eminently practn-ahle, and more easily ftccomphshed than many of the works of simi lar character now in successful operation in the new regularly formed and lacks the constant country wt of the Mississippi ered. They will aavs the public treasury vast . 1-lPTtli,i t m.. n,-;. 1 days like this, when we feel sa if we eouM tabs the world. up the great world in our anus. Thru come the uIimjiuv hours, when the lire will neither Piooaem. An exchange says 1 The car ( bum in our heart nor on our hearths, and all manufacturers at the West appear to have without and wilhtn is dianial, cold and dark, plenty of orders in haud, and the business has IW-lievc me, every heart baa iU secret sorrows, uot looked ao promising siuce the great collaps , which the world knows not; and oftentimes we four years ago. The road shops ar also full uf call a man udd whsu be 1 only lad. -Lonftt-work. I hm. i e
