42 
POPULAR SCIENCE NEWS. 
[March, 1891. 
dom ; its organs cease to exercise their functions, 
and, if left to itself, the chemical compounds of 
which it is composed are soon changed into sim- 
pler and permanent forms. While the mineral 
kingdom is thus a very broad one, we maj"^ con- 
sider as a more characteristic type a crystalline 
body, — a lump of salt, for instance, — for there are 
few' inorganic solids that are not crystalline in 
structure to a greater or less degree. Iodine, for 
instance, always occurs in well-defined crystals ; 
while in the best qualities of glass it is not at all 
apparent, although a tendency to crystallization 
is always present. 
If we allow a saturated solution of a chemical 
compound to slowly evaporate, it returns to the 
solid condition in regular geometrical shapes. In 
the case of common salt, the form is that of a 
simple cube ; other substances — tartaric acid, for 
instance — take very complicated forms, which re- 
quire considerable mathematical knowledge to 
understand. By proper precautious we can cause 
our salt crystals to increase in size from the 
minute points which first appear, to cubes of sev- 
eral inches. In this sense the crystal grows like 
a plant or animal ; but how diflferent is the result I 
The salt crystal is nothing but a crystal from its 
very beginning. The largest and smallest are 
identical in everything but size; it possesses no 
function but that of simple accretion, and, of 
course, has no specialized organs, either for per- 
petuation or reproduction. If left undisturbed it 
will continue in existence forever, neither increas- 
ing nor dimishing in size, nor reproducing other 
similar forms. In this sense the crystal may be 
said to be immortal. 
And yet there are some curious analogies be- 
tween the crystal and the animal. Both have a 
definite and — within certain limits — an unvarying 
shape. It is not an entirely absurd supposition 
that the same forces which determine the unvary- 
ing shape of the salt crystal may also cause each 
living organism to resemble its predecessor. Al- 
though crystals have no distinct organs, they have 
a difterentiated structure — as is shown by the phe- 
nomena of dichroism, double refraction, and the 
thermo-electric properties of tourmaline and other 
minerals. A curious imitation of the plienomena 
of reproduction may even be observed in super- 
saturated solutions of certain salts, like sulphate 
of soda, which remain perfectly clear until the 
magic touch of a minute crystal of the same sub- 
stance causes them to be converted into an almost 
solid mass of similar crystals. Of course these 
analogies are merely fanciful. The gap between 
living and dead matter is, as far as we know, an 
impassable one, and beyond our comprehension. 
But the forces of Nature are always in existence, 
and act upon all forms of matter alike; and it is 
not entirely irrational to surmise that in time to 
come we may discover a closer connection between 
the three kingdoms than is now evident. If we 
admit that the same force which determines the 
form and structui-e of an amoeba determines also 
that of a man, it is not beyond the bounds of pos- 
sibility that the wonderful structural phenomena 
of inorganic crystals may be conditioned by the 
same natural law, of which at present we can 
hardly do more than perceive its existence. 
<♦» 
THE METEORITE OF OSCHANSK. 
On the 30th of August, 1887, a large meteorite 
passed over the province of Perm, in Russia, and, 
bursting into a large number of pisses, was widely 
scattered over the country. Six pieces were after- 
wards found, the greater numVier being lost. 
At Oschansk, a town near Perm, the fragment 
illustrated in Fiir. 1 fell about mid-day, the sky 
being clear. According to the testimony of an 
eye-witness, the first indication of the approach 
of the meteorite was a loud rattling noise in the 
sky, and about half a minute later a blackish 
stone passed by him, whistling through the air 
like a cannon-ball, and buried itself in the earth 
to a depth of nearly two feet. Wlien found it 
was still hot, was about the size of an infanfs 
head, and weighed over tliree pounds. 
Fig. 1. 
The passage of the meteorite over the country 
was marked by the usual phenomena, including 
the fiery train left by it in the air, which persisted 
for several minutes, and the loud noise, resembling 
the firing of artillery. It appeared to pass from 
the east to the west, and when seen in the air was 
incandescent like a mass of red-hot iron. 
Much the largest piece of the meteorite was 
found at the village of Tabor, where its fall was 
witnessed by several peasants working in the 
fields. According to their account, the atmos- 
pheric disturbance caused by its passage was so 
great as to throw down men and liorses. It buried 
itself in the earth to a depth of twelve feet, (Fig. 
2), and was broken by the violence of the shock 
into numerous pieces, varying in weight from a 
few ounces to 200 pounds. The total weight of 
the Tabor fragment was estimated at 650 pounds. 
The pieces of the meteorite were covered with the 
usual blackish crust, but the unusual occurrence 
of blisters or bubbles on the surface, as large as a 
pea, was also observed. 
The most remarkable fact in connection with 
this meteorite, however, was the discovery by 
Professor Meunier, that it was of the nature of a 
breccia, or composed of fragments of previously 
formed rocks, like some others that he has ex- 
amined. He finds in the Oschansk meteorite two 
, Fig. 2. 
different mineral species, known as himerickite 
and Montrejite, and concludes that it must have 
been originally formed under geological condi- 
tions similar to those which have led to the for- 
mation of similar breccias and conglomerates on 
the earth. We may also add that rocks of this 
description strongly, though- not positively, indi- 
cate the presence and action of water, and lend 
weight to the theory that meteorites are the frag- 
ments or debris of larger bodies, which have 
passed through a geological history similar to 
that of tlie earth, and have afterwards by some 
means been broken up. The true origin and for- 
mation of meteorites still remains a mystery, and 
we must wait patiently for the results of future 
investigations to solve the problem of the historj' 
of these mysterious celestial visitants. 
The accompanying illustrations are reproduced 
from La Nature. 
AN IMPROVED LAMP-SHADE. 
The ordinary lamp-shades of ground or trans- 
lucent glass are exceedingly wasteful appliances, 
a large proportion of the light _rays being ab- 
sorbed by them and practically extinguished. 
This is equally the case whether the lamp is 
used for general illununatiou of a room or for 
reading or working. 
The shade represented in the illustration is par- 
ticularly intended for throwing a bright light 
into a limited space — such as upon a book or 
piece of work. It is composed of metal, silvered 
on the inside, and bent into such curves that the 
light rays diverging from the lamp-flame are re- 
flected nearly vertically downwards, according to 
the law of conjugate foci. The principle is some- 
what similar to that of the locomotive headlight, 
which rendei-s the diverging rays parallel and 
throws them forward upon the track. With a 
lamp-shade constructed on this principle, none of 
the light is wasted, but all is concentrated upon 
the point where it is most needed, much to the 
relief of the eyes and brain. Such shades would, 
doubtless, meet with a ready sale if placed upon 
the market. 
[Specially Observed for Populak Science News.] 
METEOROLOGY FOR JANUARY, 1891. 
TEMPERATUKE. 
Average Thermometer. 
At 7 A.M. . . 
At 2 P.M. . . 
At 9 P.M. . . 
Whole month . 
Second average 
Last 21 Januarys . 
Second average . 
28.00° 
33.84° 
29.48° 
29.7r 
29.70° 
24.74° 
24.72° 
Lowest. 
21° 
16° 
8° 
8° 
( 17.50° 
( In 1875. 
. 17.32° 
Highest. 
39° 
50° 
50° 
50° 
60° 
34.00° ( 
In 1889. ) 
33.91° 
Range. 
31° 
29° 
34° 
42° 
42° 
16.60° 
16.59° 
This is the third mild .January in succession. 
Only two other Janiiarys have been more ndld iu 
twenty-one years. The five average .33.15^\ The 
lowest point of the present month, at the hom-s of 
observation, was 8° above zero, on the 4th, and 
