Entries Tagged 'Science & Natural History' ↓

A New England scientist says there’s going to be dickens to pay if the rest of the United States continues to cart away granite and marble from the land of the Pilgrims and Puritans. “It is not unlikely,” says he, “that the equilibrium of the earth is already considerably disturbed, and that we shall shortly feel a pronounced wobble. Of course, if there is to be a wobble anywhere we would prefer it in New England, but perhaps the outlook is not so desperate as at first glimpse. The summer rush of people to the White mountains, Bar Harbor, Newport, and a thousand other New England summer resorts must in a very great degree restore the weight which existed before there were quarries in New England. And there is another thing. It is computed that there were in the Western hemisphere, when Columbus set foot on it, not more than 1,000,000 human beings. There are now, at a very low estimate, 101,000,000. These 100,000,000 of additional persons have increased the weight of the western hemisphere some 5,000,000 of tons, in the roundest of round numbers. Surely there is an opportunity for a wobble in this state of affairs, and we ought to be conscious of it by this time. If there has been no wobble an explanation should be demanded. Some men of science should rise to tell us why we don’t wobble.” Nothing is more dreadful, says the Buffalo Courier, than the uncertainty when and where the commotion will begin. Probably only those who are holding to the car straps at the time will keep their feet.

[tags]Ann Arbor Register, May, 1895[/tags]

“Bathing and the use of soap,” says Prof. Checkly, “is 40 per cent more injurious to the human race than any other form of stimulation to which people are addicted. If I should bathe a man, in proportion, as much as he drank, I’d kill him in one-half the time. This is called the age of hurry and feverish excitement; critics complain that people are unwilling to take time for anything. As a matter of fact, hours of precious time are worse than wasted daily in the bathroom. If men would preserve their health, there are three things they must do: First, leave soap alone; second, get the skin loose from the tissues of the body; third, get rid of the idea that regularity in the matter of sleep and meals is necessary to physical well-being.”

“What are the objections to the use of soap?” asked a reporter to whom the professor’s original views were a revelation.

“There are vital objections,” was the reply. “The skin, it is acknowledged, bears a most important relation to the body. First, it acts as a protective agent, covering the sensitive tissues of the flesh. Second, it acts as the agent of the mind, conveying all sensations of heat, cold, friction, and the like. Third, it directly aids all the other organs of the body, taking up the work of each in turn, when for any reason they become unable to perform their functions. The skin assists all the organs of secretion and excretion in the entire system, and for that reason great attention should be paid to keeping it in a healthy condition. Although realizing its important functions people instead of protecting this wonderful covering of theirs, try by every means in their power to destroy it. Soap does not cleanse the skin. When the skin is dirty it is unhealthy, and the organs within the body can never be cleansed by all the soaps in the world. The only stains, blots, etc., on the skin that people need to get rid of cannot be removed by soap. Some other chemical ointment or fluid has to be resorted to to obliterate them. As far as regards the dust and dirt which naturally adheres to the body, dust and dirt, being earthy and material, are much better brushed off than washed off, and soap does not aid in the process.”

Some discoveries have lately been made in New Mexico which will, doubtless, be the subject of protracted and highly interesting archaeological research. Governor Arny, the Special Indian Agent for that Territory, is the authority for the existence of these curiosities his knowledge of which has been gained by personal inspection. It became necessary, in the discharge of his official duties for Governor Arny to visit the Utah Indians, at the west of the San Juan River. To do this, he had to traverse a part of the great range known as the Sierra Madre Mountains, and here particularly in what is called the Canon de Chelly, the discoveries referred to have been made. We have, of late, been so overwhelmed with accounts of astonishing natural wonders newly found in the heart of the continent, that Governor Arny’s description of strange ravines, whose walls tower perpendicularly to an altitude of from 1,000 to 2,000 feet, “the rock strata being as perfect as if laid by the skilled hands of masons, and entirely symmetrical,” may excite only a passing comment. But the ruins found among these lonely canons will attract more eager and substantial attention.

These consist, we are assured, of the deserted remains of ancient Aztec cities “many of which bear the evidence of having been populous to the extent of many thousands of inhabitants.” The term Aztec is here used in its common and inaccurate sense, being applicable, in strictness, to only one of the seven Mexican tribes which collectively bore the name of Nahuatlecas. These tribes are supposed to have come from the North, from a region known as Aztlan. Their traditions say that they emerged from seven caverns in that region, which most investigators have placed north of the River Gila.

The interesting question now arises whether these vast canons or mountain gorges, described by Governor Arny, are affirmed by him to be filled, in some instances, with ruins, may not have been the original Aztlan. It is at least evident, by reading his descriptions, and comparing them with such traditionary chronicles as we already possess, that this supposition is extremely plausible. The period of the departure of the seven tribes, and of their arrival in the valley of Mexico, is commonly reckoned to have been between 1064 and 1164. Perhaps a close examination of newly-discovered ruins will have the effect either of affirming or rectifying this estimate. In any case it will doubtless furnish us with important revelations of the past history of the continent.

The accounts already received from Governor Arny and his party are substantially to the following purport: The ruins discovered are of stone and of great extent. In each town or collection of buildings, one edifice has been found hewn out of the solid rock, about twenty feet square, containing one room, and in this room a single human skeleton. In the centre of these apartments there are traces of fire, and the theory of the observers is that these solitary rooms were altar places, and the skeletons those of the officiating priests. It will be remembered that fire was always kept burning, as a religious rite, on the altars of the Aztecs; the Indian tradition being ultimately it would light Montezuma back again to his people–he being not an earthly ruler only, but their Messiah or Eternal King. It is asserted by our informants that the structures contain handsome arches and other architectural devices and ornaments; and that the builders must have been skilled in the manufacture and use of edged tools, in masonry and other mechanical arts. Some of the buildings, unlike most of the ruins further south in Central America and elsewhere are reported to be seven or eight stories in height. There are no stair-cases in these lofty piles so that it is inferred the upper stories were reached by ladders planted against the walls. Others of the edifices are perfectly round, built very substantially of cut stone, and plastered inside. Tokens abound of the occupation of these places by dense and well instructed populations, and it seems reasonable to anticipate that to the wonder of natural scenery and mineral treasure abounding in that neighborhood there is about to be added such records of the men who once dwelt therein as will be, at least, as interesting.

The only doubt likely to be raised relative to the importance or probable significance of Governor Arny’s discoveries, is whether his buildings may not belong to the class of “Cassas Grandes” once held to mark the successive steps of the Aztec migration (which is supposed to have taken over 150 years from the starting point before reaching Chanuliepec) but since attributed to the Moquis or to the Pueblo Indians. If the accounts that have come to us are precisely accurate, we should say this hypothesis was out of the question; since the buildings would necessarily have been the work of a far higher civilization than any of the class last mentioned.–N. Y. Times

Sponges of the common sorts are so well known that people long since ceased to admire their curious and interesting structure. There are some rare species of sponges, however, such as the “glass,” “lace” and “tapestry” sponges, that are so exceedingly beautiful that the presence of such a specimen never fails to excite expressions of admiration. The delicate “Venus flower basket” belongs to the family of glass sponges, and is rightly regarded as a wonder by all who have had the privilege of owning or viewing it. This curious “flower basket” is found in the deep sea near the Philippine islands and in no other place in the world in numbers sufficient to make fishing for them a profitable industry. This species of sponge looks like delicate threads of glass woven into a curious, beautiful and intricate pattern, some specimens being of such exquisite loveliness that one can scarcely believe that it is simply the skeleton of a variety of sponge. This sponge is composed of an immense aggregation of minute “spicules,” running lengthwise from end to end, with numerous cross bands at right angles. These bands an cross bands are set with numerous five, six, nine and twelve pointed spicules, some of them filled with dozens of holes, which can only be seen with a microscope, because they are so exceedingly fine.

Uncle Sam acquired some new territory in the Pacific a few weeks ago in a novel manner. It was not acquired by conquest, annexation or purchase, but was a gift from nature herself who pushed it up from the depths of the Pacific ocean and gave it unasked. Geologists say that nature is constantly giving and taking land after this fashion; that some portions of the earth are steadily subsiding and others rising; some coast lines are advancing and others receding. New Jersey is gradually losing territory along the coast, while in other regions new land is being added to the area of the United States. But the usual progress is slow. Once in a while a new island is lifted suddenly out of the sea by volcanic action, and this practically, is what occurred off the coast of California several weeks ago when about 35,000 square yards of rock was added to one of the Santa Barbara islands with a suddenness that surprised the people living on the island. Not only was new land added to the island, but that already existing was moved around in an embarrassing manner. Buildings erected in the shelter of the cliffs, with a seaward exposure, were lifted up forty or fifty feet to the level of the plateau and twisted around so as to face directly inland.

The Santa Barbara group of islands lies about sixty miles off the coast of California, in about the latitude of Los Angles. The island of San Miguel, to which the new land has been added, is one of the smaller islands, and is owned by Capt. W. G. Waters, who has a big sheep ranch on it. The only living people on the island are Capt. Waters and his sheep herders and laborers. Some of the islands of the groups are noted for their scenic beauties, but San Miguel is bleak and comparatively uninteresting. It is plainly of volcanic origin, and it is said that at various times within the last half century stretches of the cliffs along the southern shore of the island have fallen away and been swallowed up in the sea. But no one knows of any land having been given back by the ocean before the event of the second week in March. Capt. Waters was [on?] the island when the earthquake eruption, or whatever it was, occurred. He took the information to the mainland, and the San Francisco Examiner sent a correspondent to San Miguel to get all the facts and some pictures of the new territory of the United States. The picture and information here given are from the Examiner articles.

Capt. Waters lives in his ranch house on the southwest side of the island, a considerable distance from the point where the new land was added. On the night when the disturbance occurred he was sitting in his house reading. He felt the earth shiver, but as earthquakes are not uncommon thereabout he took little notice of the occurrence. The next morning he started out around the beach toward his boathouse to look for his sloop, which was due from the mainland. When he neared the harbor and the place where his boathouse had been he had to rub his eyes because of the remarkable appearance of the surroundings. The beach had disappeared, and where a bay of placid water had been rose a huge mass of broken cliffs. He climbed up on the high ground overlooking the bay, and there on the plateau, forty feet or more above the water line and three hundred feet inland, were the boathouse and sheep corral which the previous evening had been right on the water’s edge. On reaching the boathouse he found another surprise. The building stood as firm as ever, but whereas it had recently faced seaward it was now turned almost completely around and faced almost directly away from the bay. The tracks of the sheep were still plainly visible on the ground, but instead of being on the left side of the boat house, where the path had always been, they were now on the right.

He walked out on the top of the newly formed cliffs toward the water, and found the great mass of rock still trembling and swaying. There was a sound of grinding and churning, and every now and then a chuck of rock would settle a little. The mass was evidently still adjusting itself in its new position. The buoy to which his sloop was moored when in harbor was formerly 400 feet from the sandy beach. Now it was about 100 feet from the abrupt face of the new cliffs. He set up some posts to serve as marks by which to observe any further changes and withdrew to more solid ground. The next morning he found that in its readjustment the land had moved seaward twelve or fifteen feet, and the mass of new land seems quiet and permanently settled. Then Capt. Waters went to the mainland and told of the happenings on San Miguel, and a day or two later some scientific men with surveyors’ instruments and camera went over and verified his story.

For a week a reign of terror has existed here, owing to the invasion of the town by an army of rattlesnakes, says a Tavarez (Fla.) dispatch to the St. Louis Globe Democrat. The reptiles are of all ages and sizes and have practically taken possession of the town. No woman or child dares venture out of doors, and when the men go out their legs are incased in stout leather leggings which reach to the thighs and are armed with clubs with which to dispatch the serpents. The advance guard of this army of rattlers appeared just a week ago, and since then the snakes have come in such numbers that it is estimated that there are now 1,000 within the corporate limits of the town. Last Sunday as Mayor Yorke and his family were going to church they met the advance guard. It consisted of two old rattlers about five feet long, each with twelve rattles and a button, and a dozen smaller reptiles. The mayor an his family beat a retreat, and the city’s magistrate called for neighbors to assist him in dispatching the reptiles. This brood was killed, but before it was done shouts from different quarters of the town announced the approach of more snakes. Since then the men have been busy killing the reptiles. It is said that 400 snakes have been killed and still the town is full of them. Their warning rattle is heard at all hours and on all sides. The dogs made a gallant fight against the reptilian army, but nearly all have been bitten and are dead. Several horses have also died of snake bites. So far no person has been bitten, though there have been several narrow escapes. Mrs. Sallie Jacobs had the most remarkable escape. While washing linen in the yard she put her 2-year-old baby in a dry-goods box near by. Soon Mrs. Jacobs heard the baby laughing and looking around was horrified to see an immense rattler coiled behind the box. The mother rushed for the baby and the snake struck at her, fastening its fangs in her clothing. Her screams brought her husband, who killed the rattler. The snakes came from a hammock at the foot of St. Clair Abrams avenue. The council has voted an appropriation, and the hammock will be cleared and the home of the snakes destroyed.

A new phase of criminal hypnotism has come to the surface in a most sensational manner, and in a way to startle society in general. A Brockport (N. Y.) State Normal School girl is reported to have suddenly cried out in agony in church, that a certain young man had hypnotized her. The fact that the young woman who thus gave rise to a strange sensation and scandal is also reported to be a cousin of Miss Frances E. Willard¹ will also direct added public attention to her eccentric deed. Her remarkable accusation against a youth of good repute may be set down as a freak of simple hysteria, especially, as the young man enjoys the reputation of having dabbled in this modern black art of hypnotism. A knowledge of this amateur propensity of his may have easily wrought upon the perfervid imagination of an excitable miss.

Nevertheless, the serious question remains as to what this queer outburst may lead. The public imagination has itself been decidedly agitated recently by the many romantic and weird tales of hypnotic mystery and crime. There can be no doubt in the mind of the more than casual observer that the theory of crime through the agency of hypnotic suggestion is gaining ground in public sentiment, if not in the courts. Clark Bell’s paper on “Hypnotism and the Law,” read before a recent session of the Medico-Legal Society of America, reveals the fact that this belief of criminal hypnotism is entertained by a number of eminent physicians. It is but a step from the accusation after a crime to this Brockport phase of accusation before a crime. Is it possible that the close of the nineteenth century is to witness a hypnotism superstition It is the fashion to sneer at the old Puritans for their witchcraft delusion; but what record as regards superstitious beliefs is this generation to leave for the scrutiny of posterity?–Philadelphia Record.

1. I’m not sure what this has to with anything — perhaps the association with “an army of 250,000″?[back]

The weazel is a dainty and luxurious liver, in his way, says the Houston Post. He steals the freshest eggs, selects the tenderest chickens of the brood, and will sometimes kill several for a single meal, sucking the warm blood and eating only a small portion of the flesh. He is not only sly and cunning, but remarkably courageous. He will often attack an enemy much larger and stronger than himself, and he does not lose his wits even in imminent peril. This heroic quality is sometimes strikingly evinced. Two farmers in Titus County, Texas, were eating their midday meal, when they noticed a large hawk circling in the sky overhead. He was gradually narrowing his circles while approaching the ground, and it was apparent that he would soon drop upon his victim. The men looked about cautiously, without movement or noise, and presently discovered a weasel stretched out upon the warm side of a log, not far away, probably sunning himself after a long morning’s sleep, for the weasel does his sleeping in the daytime and his work at night. But the weasel quietly blinked at the sun, either unconscious of the danger or indifferent to it. The farmers had just made this discovery when the hawk came gliding down, swift as an arrow, seized the weazel in his powerful talons and rose again almost perpendicularly. All seemed at an end for that weasel. Soon, however, the movements of the great bird became strange and unnatural. His wings worked rapidly and convulsively, as if making a great effort to sustain flight, then he began to sink, slowly till finally he fell straight like a plummet to the ground–dead! From under the outstretched wings crept the weasel, apparently unharmed. What had happened? The weasel had quickly stretched his long supple neck under the hawk’s wing, stuck his teeth into a vital part and sucked out the life blood. The muscles of the hawk relaxed as the blood was rapidly drained. There was a last desperate effort at flight; the wings flapped uselessly in the air, and the heaviness of death brought him swiftly to the ground, very near the spot where the weasel had been basking in the sun.