Progress in Sanitary Science in Massachusetts. George W. Fuller..

S. Ashmead, M. D...

The "Gopher Frog." F. C. Test..

Warren Upham......

71

72

72

73

Asepsis Prevention Better Than Cure. Albert

74

75

Altitude as the Cause of the Glacial Period.

Notes on the Distribution of Some of the Conifers of North-Western Canada. J. B. Tyrrell.

75

The Affinities of Basque and Berger. C. I. Taylor

Letters to the Editor.

The So-called Sand of Great Salt Lake. H. Montgomery,

76

SINGLE COPIES, TEN CENTS. $3.50 PER YEAR, IN ADVANCE.

USEFUL HAND-BOOKS.

The Ornamental Penman's Pocketbook of Alphabets, for sign-writers, engravers, stone-cutters and draftsmen, 20 cts. A System of Easy Lettering, by Howard Cromwell, 50 cts. Practical Electrics: Å Universal Handybook on Every-day Electrical Matters, 135 pp., fully illustrated, 12mo, cloth, 75 cts. Notes on Design of Small Dynamo, by G. Halliday, 79 pp. with a number of plates to scale, 12mo, cloth,

A Space-relation of Numbers. D. S. Martin..

Nature's Rotation of Crops. M. W. V. Worms on the Brain of a Bird. S. H. Scudder........

77

78

78

Preliminary Note on the Cottony Scale of the Osage Orange. T. D. A. Cockerell. Explosive Gas in Hot Water Apparatus. A. H. MacKay..

78

78

79

79

Mineral Wax. H. Montgomery..
Animal Vocabularies. C. B. Palmer.

A Maya Month-name-Khmers. D. G. Brin

ton..

New Store. New Stock.

New Departments. Send for our "Winter Bulletin," recently issued. Minerals, Gems, Microscopical Sections, Fine Lapidary Work.

GEO. L. ENGLISH & CO., Mineralogists,

80

Theory of Color Sensation. C. L. Franklin. 80 Current Notes on Anthropology.-NoXXXII. D. G. Brinton, Editor... Note on Crotalus Adamanteus. Book Reviews...

81

P. H. Rolfs..... 82 82

NEW METHOD OF PROTECTING BUILDINGS FROM LIGHTNING. SPARE THE ROD AND SPOIL THE HOUSE! Lightning Destroys. Shall it be Your House or a Pound of Copper?

PROTECTION FROM LIGHTNING.

What is the Problem?

IN seeking a means of protection from lightning-discharges, we have in view two objects,- the one the prevention of damage to buildings, and the other the prevention of injury to life. In order to destroy a building in whole or in part, It is necessary that work should be done; that is, as physicists express it, energy is required. Just before the lightning-discharge takes place, the energy capable of doing the damage which we seek to prevent exists in the column of air extending from the cloud to the earth in some form that makes it capable of appearing as what we call electricity. We will therefore call it electrical energy. What this electrical energy is, it is not necessary for us to consider in this place; but that it exists there can be no doubt, as it manifests itself in the destruction of buildings. The problem that we have to deal with, therefore, is the conversion of this energy into some other form, and the accomplishment of this in such a way as shall result in the least injury to property and life.

Why Have the Old Rods Failed?

When lightning-rods were first proposed, the science of energetics was entirely undeveloped; that is to say, in the middle of the last century scientific men had not come to recognize the fact that the different forms of energyheat, electricity, mechanical power, etc.- were convertible one into the other, and that each could produce just so much of each of the other forms, and no more. The doctrine of the conservation and correlation of energy was first clearly worked out in the early part of this century. There were, however, some facts known in regard to electricity a hundred and forty years ago; and among these were the attracting power of points for an electric spark, and the conducting power of metals. Lightning-rods were therefore introduced with the idea that the electricity existing in the lightning-discharge could be conveyed around the building which it was proposed to protect, and that the building would thus be saved.

The question as to dissipation of the energy involved was entirely ignored. naturally; and from that time to this, in spite of the best endeavors of those Interested, lightning-rods constructed in accordance with Franklin's principle have not furnished satisfactory protection. The reason for this i appar nt when it is considered that the electrical energy existing in the atmosphere before the discharge, or, more exactly, in the column of dielectric from the cloud to the earth, above referred to, reaches its maximum value on the surface of the conductors that chance to be within the column of dielectric; so that the greatest display of energy will be on the surface of the very lightningrods that were meant to protect, and damage results, as so often proves to be the case.

It will be understood, of course, that this display of energy on the surface of the old lightning-rods is aided by their being more or less insulated from the earth, but in any event the very existence of such a mass of metal a 80 old lightning-rod can only tend to produce a disastrous dissipation of electrical energy upon its surface," to draw the lightning," as it is so commonly put.

Is there a Better Means of Protection?

Having cleared our minds, therefore, of any idea of conducting electricity, and keeping clearly in view the fact that in providing protection against lightning we must furnish some mesus by which the electrical energy may be harmlessly dissipated, the question arises, "Can an Improved form be given to the rod so that it shall aid in this dissipation?"

year a complete and interesting course in German grammar. $2 a year. Single copies 20 cents. P. O. Box 151, Manchester, N. H.

As the electrical energy involved manifests itself on the surface of conductors, the improved rod should be metallic; but, instead of making a large rod, suppose that we make it comparatively small in size, so that the tal amount of metal running from the top of the house to some point a little below the foundations shall not exceed one pound. Suppose, again, that we introduce numerous insulating joints in this rod. We shall then have a rod that experience shows will be readily destroyed-will be readily dissipated - when a discharge takes place; an 1 it will be evident, that, so far as the electrical energy is consumed in doing this, there will be the less to do other damage.

The only point that remains to be proved as to the utility of such a rod is to show that the dissipation of such a conductor does not tend to injure other bodies in its immediate vicinity. On this point I can only say that I have found no case where such a conductor (for instance, a bell wire) has been dissipated, even if resting against a plastered wall, where there has been any material damage done to surrounding objects.

Of course, it is readily understood that such an explosion cannot take place in a confined space without the rupture of the walls (the wire cannot be boarded over); but in every case that I have found recorded this dissipation takes place just as gunpowder burns when spread on a board. The objects against which the conductor rests may be stained, but they are not shattered, I would therefore make clear this distinction between the action of electrical energy when dissipated on the surface of a large conductor and when dissipated on the surface of a comparatively small or easily dissipated conductor. When dissipated on the surface of a large conductor, a conductor so strong as to resist the explosive effect, - damage results to objects around. When dissipated on the surface of a small conductor, the conductor goes, but the other objects around are saved

A Typical Case of the Action of a Small Conductor. Franklin, in a letter to Collinson read before the London Royal Society, Dec. 18, 1755, describing the partial destruction by lightning of a church-tower at Newbury, Mass., wrote, "Near the bell was fixed an iron hammer to strike the hours; and from the tail of the hammer a wire went down through a small gimlet-hole in the floor that the bell stood upon, and through a second floor in like manner; then horizontally under and near the plastered ceiling of that second floor, till it came near a plastered wall; then down by the side of that wall to a clock, which stood about twenty feet below the bell. The wire was not bigger than a common knitting needle. The spire was split all to pieces by the lightning, and the parts flung in all directions over the square in which the church stood, so that nothing remained above the bell. The lightring passed between the hammer and the clock in the above-mentioned wire without hurting either of the floors, or having any effect upon them (except making the gimlet-holes, through which the wire passed, a little bigger), and without hurting the plastered wall, or any part of the building, so far as the aforesaid wire and the pendulum-wire of the clock extended; which latter wire was about the thickness of a goose-quill. From the end of the pendulum, down quite to the ground, the building was exceedingly rent and damngei.... No part of the aforementioned long, small wire, between the clock and the hammer, could be found, except about two inches that hung to the tail of the hammer, and about as much that was fastened to the clock; the rest being exploded, and its particles dissipated in smoke and alr, as gunpowder is by common fire, and had only left a black smutty track on the plastering, three or four inches broad, darkest in the middle, and fainter towards the edges, all along the ceiling, under which it passed, and down the wall. One hundred feet of the Hodges Patent Lightning Dispeller (made under patents of N. D. C. Hodges, Editor of Science) will be mailed, postpaid, to any address, on receipt of five dollars ($5).

Correspondence solicited. Agents wanted. AMERICAN LIGHTNING PROTECTION CO.. 874 Broadway, New York City.

Littell's Living Age.

THE ONLY WEEKLY ECLECTIC. 1844. 1893.

"The Oldest and the Best." It selects from the whole wide field of EUROPEAN PERIODICAL LITERATURE the best articles by THE ABLEST LIVING WRITERS In every department of Literature, Science, Politics and Art. OPINIONS.

"Only the best has ever filled its pages; the best thought rendered in the purest English. Nothing poor or unworthy has ever appeared in the columns of THE LIVING AGE."-The Presbyterian, Phila.

"Considering its size, it is the cheapest of literary periodicals, and no collection of magazine literature is complete without this foremost of eclectics."-Educational Courant, Louisville, Ky

"It is one of the few periodicals which seem indispensable. It contains nearly all the good literature of the time."-The Churchman, New York.

The fields of fiction, biography, travel, science, poetry, criticism, and social and religious discussion all come within its domain."-Boston Journal.

"To read it is itself an education in the course of modern thought and literature."- Buffalo Commercial Advertiser.

Published WEEKLY at $8.00 a year, free of postage.

Club Rates. For $10.15 THE LIVING

AGE and SCIENCE will be sent for a year, postpaid.

Rates for clubbing THE LIVING AGE with other periodicals will be sent on application.

Sample copies of THE LIVING AGE, 15 cents each. Address,

Interesting articles on architecture, Sani- Littell & Co., 31 Bedford St., Boston,

tation, Archæology, Decoration, etc., by the

Richly illustrated.

Issued

weekly. Send stamp for specimen copy to

ablest writers.

the publishers,

BRENTANO'S,

Mass.

1869.

THE

1893.

RACES AND PEOPLES.

By DANIEL G, BRINTON, M.D.

"The book is good, thoroughly good, and will long remain the best accessible elementary ethnography in our language."-The Christian Union.

"We strongly recommend Dr. Brinton's Races and Peoples' to both beginners and scholars. We are not aware of any other recent work on the science of which it treats in the English language." -Asiatic Quarterly.

"His book is an excellent one, and we can heartily recommend it as an introductory manual of ethnology."-The Monist.

"A useful and really interesting work, which deserves to be widely read and studied both in Europe and America."-Brighton (Eng.) Herald.

"This volume is most stimulating. It is written with great clearness, so that anybody can understand, and while in some ways, perforce, superficial, grasps very well the complete field of humanity.”— The New York Times.

"Dr. Brinton invests his scientific illustrations and measurements with an indescribable charm of narration, so that 'Races and Peoples,' avowedly a record of discovered facts, is in reality a strong stimulant to the imagination."-Philadelphia Public Ledger.

"The work is indispensable to the student who requires an intelligent guide to a course of ethnographic reading."-Philadelphia Times.

Price, postpaid, $1.75.

THE AMERICAN RACE.

By DANIEL G. BRINTON, M.D. "The book is one of unusual interest and value."

Published Monthly. A handsomely illustrated mechanical journal, edited by DR. WILLIAM H. WAHL Every number consists of 48 large quarto pages and from us. cover, filled with useful information on all subjects| of a practical nature. Specimen copy free. sale by all newsdealers. Agents wanted everywhere. Address

141

AGENTS $50 to $100,
WEEK.

Ladies or Gents. Best seller known. Need.
ed atevery house, place of business or farm
the year round. "Home" Electric Motor
runs all kindsoflight machinery. Cheap-
est power on earth. Connected instantly to
wash or sewing machine, corn sheller,
pumps, fans, lathes, jewelers' or dentists'
machinery, &c. Clean, noiseless, lasts

a life-time. No experience needed. To show in operation means a sale. Guar anteed. Profits immense. Circulars free. W.P. HARRISON & CO., X-7, Columbus, O.

"Dr. Daniel G. Brinton writes as the acknowledged authority of the subject."—Philadelphia Press.

"The work will be of genuine value to all who wish to know the substance of what has been found out about the indigenous Americans."-Nature. "A masterly discussion, and an example of the -Philadelphia Ledger.

Subscription, $3.00 per year.

RESTORE YOUR EYESIGHT

Cataracts, scars or films can be absorbed and paralyzed nerves restored, without the knife or risk. Diseased eyes or lids can be cured by our home treatment. "We prove it." Hundreds convinced. Our illustrated pamphlet, Home Treatment for Eyes," free. Don't miss it. Everybody wants it. "THE EYE," Glens Falls, N.Y.

Medical and

Surgical Journal.

Price, postpaid, $2.`

N. D. C. HODGES,

874 BROADWAY, NEW YORK.

Pennsylvania Bedford Springs Mineral Water

For Liver, Kidney and B dder Troubles.
For Gravel, Gall Stones, Jaundice.
For Dyspepsia, Rheumatism and Gout.
For Dropsy, Bright's Disease, Diabetes.
For Hemorrhoids, Etc.

It has been used medicinally and prescribed by physicians for nearly one hundred years.

DIRECTIONS:-Take one or two glasses about a half-hour before each meal.

Case One Dozen Half-Gallon Bottles, $4.50.
Case Fifty Quarts (Aerated), $7.50.

Philadelphia Office, 1004 Walnut St.

BUILDING BOOKS.

DRAWING

1893 Catalogue

of Books on Building, Painting, and Decorating, also Catalogue of Drawing Instruments and Ma. terials, sent free on application to

Wm. T. Comstock, 23 Warren St., New York.

NEW YORK, AUGUST 11, 1893.

BOTANY AT THE FAIR.

BY H. L. BOLLEY, FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA.

Aside from the extensive opportunities for notes and observations upon miscellaneous herbaria and growing plants, collected from all parts of the earth, which are open to visitors of the Fair, it may not be inappropriate to note some of the special attractions for such persons as are botanically inclined.

While the name Horticulture has the place of honor upon the great plant house in the west portion of the Park, the place is none the less of botanical interest. Indeed, if adverse criticism is at all deserved in this department, it would be along the line that it is more a huge botanic garden than a horticultural show.

The amateur botanist, who, at his place of training, has complained that he has not been afforded sufficient opportunity for observation upon varied plant life, may in this building introduce himself to almost all known varieties of cultivated flowering and ornamental plants, which are representative of all lands. It is useless to attempt citations. None shown, however, are of more interest than the specimens representative of dwarfing methods, as conducted by the Japanese gardeners.

Grasses: Each exhibitor, fully understanding the importance of grasses and forage plants in an agricultural exhibit, has made careful effort to have his State or region fully represented as to its capabilities of producing these lines of plants. The great agricultural hall and the different State and national buildings thus present, in the aggregate, a list of native and cultivated grasses, more extensive as to numbers and more properly prepared for educational effect as to their qualities, form, growth, characteristics, etc., than it has ever previously been possible for any one to examine. Many of the States have full displays in bunch form, showing all characters, roots, leaves and seeds; while, again, ordinary herbarium specimens are to be noted almost anywhere one may go in the agricultural exhibits.

College and Experiment Station Exhibit: Located in the southeast corner of the agricultural building is the collective exhibit of agricultural colleges and experiment stations. Here again in the botanical alcove the varied nature of the exhibits makes it probable that few may pass through without noticing something individually interesting. Necessarily, the above is arranged more for show purposes than as a working laboratory, yet very much of the best work that has been done at the different stations is here represented, either by work in actual operation, apparatus, or by results graphically displayed. There are numerous photographs and drawings representing results gained in accurate experimental tests, as, for example, graphic results in crossing, by L. H. Bailey; results obtained in spraying for potato rot, by L. R.

Jones, and many others. Photographs are shown of European and other foreign botanists, together with nearly a full list of our experimental botanists.

All the more common plant diseases are represented by pathological specimens, drawings, microphotographs and maps of distribution. This exhibit is a most varied and interesting one, containing, aside from the numerous specimens representing rusts, smuts, mildews, bacterial diseases, etc., many illustrations of results gained in prevention of plant diseases, such, for example, as grape rot, apple scab; potato rot and potato scab.

Different methods of seed-testing are in operation, displaying, among others, the following pieces: Nobbe's apparatus, Kiel-Zurich-Geneva germinator, the North Carolina seedpan, and E. S. Goff's various improved appliances. There are also illustrations of water and sand cultures, and various appliances and specimens too numerous to be listed at this time, among which may be noted B. D. Halsted's weeds and weed seeds, an exhibit of root tubercules upon native legumes, good microscopic exhibits, and T. L. Scribner's complete micro-photographic outfit.

Plant Physiology: A case full of apparatus for the study of special questions in plant physiology, prepared by Prof. J. C. Arthur, is worthy of special notice by any one who may pass through the laboratory. With the exception of a few standard pieces, all the different appliances had their origin and construction in the Purdue laboratories, and in finish are elegant examples of student work. Only mention may be made of a few of the more interesting pieces. Suffice it to say that probably no laboratory in the country has at this time an equally interesting collection of original or modified pieces for this sort of work. Noticeable among these are the following: Respiration appliances, a modification of Sach's method for determination of amount of carbon dioxide exhaled by plants; an apparatus for the comparison of normal and intramolecular breathing of seedlings, and one to illustrate intramolecular breathing of yeast in an atmosphere of carbon dioxide gas; auxanometers of three types of construction; chuostats of common type and one of intermittent action. This last piece is new and original, of elegant construction, and is especially applicable to the study of the force of habit as evidenced in plant life. There are dynamometers of various types for measuring various plant forces; transpiration pieces, including a potetometer for the quantitative determination of the amount of water given off by a given leaf surface in a given length of time; a poroscope; root-pressure appliances, and many smaller pieces, which are quantitative in their results. With all these contents, this case is worthy of the close consideration of any person interested in plant physiology. If all the pieces are not as suited to their work as might be wished, they are at least much to be preferred to those with which most of us have worked, and indicate future possibilities of more accurate results in this field of botany. Finally, there is a chance for most interesting study in two bacteriological laboratories, each fitted with all the latest and more essential appliances.

BIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIANA.

Ar the last meeting of the Indiana Academy of Science, at Terre Haute, a Biological Survey was established for the State of Indiana, and Prof. Lucien M. Underwood, Greencastle, Ind., Division of Botany; Prof. Carl H. Eigenmann, Bloomington, Ind., Division of Zoology; Prof. Vernon F. Marsters, Bloomington, Ind., Division of Palæontology, were appointed Directors to organize the survey and outline the preliminary work ordered by the Academy.

It is the purpose of the survey: (1) To ascertain what has already been accomplished in the direction of making known the character and extent of the life of the State, and to this end to prepare a complete bibliography of materials bearing on the botany, zoology and palæontology of Indiana, to be published by the Academy. (2) To associate the various workers throughout the State, and so correlate their labors that all will work together towards a definite end, and ultimately accomplish the main purpose of the survey, namely, the making known of the entire fauna and flora of Indiana, its extent, its distribution, its biological relations, and its economic importance. (3) To stimulate the teachers of biology throughout the State to encourage in their pupils the accumulation of material, which shall make known the local extent and distribution of life-forms, and thus contribute facts that will be useful in the survey and at the same time develop acute observers for continuing the study of the natural resources of the State. It is thus intended that the colleges and secondary schools will form with the survey a mutually helpful relation. (4) Ultimately to secure for the Academy a collection that will illustrate the biology of the State. Until such collection can be otherwise provided for, the Academy will designate certain public or private collections where accumulated material may be deposited temporarily. Material sent to the directors will be thus held for the future disposition of the Academy.

It is earnestly requested that all persons interested in any department of biological work will place themselves in relations with the Directors of the survey at once in order that their work may be made to contribute the most effectively to the public good, and in order that the Directors may know on whom they may depend for gaining information from various portions of the State. All contributions from persons interested will be properly credited in the reports of the survey. Correspondence is solicited with the director of the particular branch in which any one is interested, and such directions in regard to collecting and sending material will be given on application. By the assistance of the Smithsonian Institution, the directors are able to send printed directions for collecting to such as apply for them. In ordering these it will be necessary to specify in what particular branch information is desired.

It is the purpose of the Division of Botany during the present year to make such additions and corrections to the published "Catalogue of the Plants of Indiana" as are possible, and to secure definite information regarding the distribution of such rare forms as are there published. Specimens illustrating the distribution or occurrence of any plant within the limits of the State must be deposited with the survey before any notice of their belonging to the state flora can be published. This will insure the ability to verify in future any fact published by the sur

vey.

In sending such material it is desirable that notes on the station, habitat, range and abundance of the plant be noted, together with any other information that will be of value. In addition to the flowering plants and ferns covered in the above, it is the intention of the Division to commence the study of the distribution of the lower cryptogams, concerning which almost nothing has been published from Indiana. While collections will be made of

all forms, special attention will be given at present to the study of (1) Mosses, (2) Hepatica, and (3) Parasitic Fungi. Specimens are earnestly desired of all species, even those that are most common, from all portions of the State. It is desirable to state with each species the data indicated above, with particular reference to the habitat. In the case of parasitic fungi, it is necessary to indicate the host and to include sufficient quantity of the host plant, that doubtful determinations may be verified. The Director has been promised the assistance of specialists in the study of material accumulated.

The leading aim of the Division of Zoology during the season will be the compilation of a complete bibliography of the vertebrates of Indiana and of as many invertebrates as can be provided for.

showing

At the same time any material the distribution of animals in the State is especially desirable. To determine the distribution, complete collections of the vertebrates of as many localities as possible should be made. Collections should always accompany notes, so that the observations may be verified by some specialist.

No opportunity should be neglected to observe and the breeding habits and seasons, the animal with young should, whenever possible, be preserved and forwarded to the Director, who will transmit it to the proper authority for record.

Another subject which should receive attention is the migration, or seasonal appearance and disappearance of mammals, birds, reptiles and fishes.

The next meeting of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science will be held in Adelaide, South Australia, commencing on September 25. The Association has now been in existence since 1888. Four meetings have been held, viz.: In September, 1888, at Sydney-President, H. C. Russell, C. M. G., B. A., F. R. S., Government Astronomer, N. S. W.; in January, 1890, at Melbourne-President, Baron F. von Mueller, K. C. M. G., Ph. D., F. R. S.; in January, 1891, at ChristchurchPresident, Sir James Hector, K. C. M. G., M. D., F. R. S.; in January, 1892, Hobart-President, His Excellency Sir Robert Hamilton, K. C. B. The meeting in Adelaide will be presided over by Ralph Tate, F. L. S., F. G. S., Professor of Natural Science at the University of Adelaide. Since its commencement the Association has grown steadily and now numbers about 900 members. The work is divided into sections as in the British Association, whose rules on most points have been closely followed. The Presidents of sections for the Adelaide session are: Section A. -Astronomy, Mathematics and Physics: H. C. Russell, C. M. G., B. A., F. R. S., Government Astronomer of New South Wales; Section B.-Chemistry: C. N. Hake, Chief Inspector of Explosives, Victoria; Section C.-Geology and Mineralogy: Sir James Hector, K. C. M. G., M. D., F. R. S., Director of the Geological Survey of New Zealand; Section D.-Biology: C. W. De Vis, Curator of the Brisbane Museum; Section E.-Geography: A. C. Macdonald, F. R. G. S., Hon. Secretary of the Victorian Branch of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia; Section F.-Ethnology and Anthropology: Rev. S. Ella, New South Wales; Section G.-Economic Science and Agriculture: H. C. L. Anderson, M. A., Director of Agriculture, New South Wales; Section H.-Engineering and Architecture: J. R. Scott, Lecturer-in-Charge of the School of Engineering, Canterbury College, Christchurch, New Zealand; Section I.-Sanitary Science and Hygiene: A. Mault, Secretary to the Central Board of Health, Tasmania; Section J.-Mental Science and Education: Henry Laurie, LL. D., Professor of Mental and Moral Philosophy at the University of Melbourne.