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