76 



POPULAR SOIEInTOE NEWS. 



[May, 1889. 



The Constellations. — The positions given hold 

 good for latitudes differing not many degrees from 

 40° north, and for 10 P. M. on May i, 9 P. M. on 

 May 16, and 8 P. M. on May 31. Canes Venatici is 

 in the zenith. To the south, on the meridian, are 

 Coma Berenices, Virgo, and Corvus. A few of the 

 most northerly stars of Centaurus are on the south 

 horizon. In the southeast is Libra ; and below 

 it. just rising, is Scorpius. Bootes is high up, 

 east of the zenith, and below it are Hercules 

 and Ophiuchus. Lyra and Cygnus are low 

 down in the northeast. The principal stars of 

 Draco are above, at about the same altitude as the 

 pole star. Cassiopeia is on the north horizon. 

 Perseus and Auriga are setting in the northwest. 

 Ursa Major is high up, near the zenith, most of the 

 stars being west of the meridian. Gemini is near 

 the western horizon. Cancer and Leo follow, 

 above, to the left. Canis Minor is below Cancer, 

 near the southwest horizon. M. 



Lake Forest, III. 



Correspoi^deiice. 



lirief communications upon subjects of scientific interest 

 will be welcomed f rem any quarter. TIte editors do not neces- 

 sarihi indorse all vieios and statements presented by their 

 correspondents. 



THE "ANESTHETIC REVELATION." 

 Editor of The Popular Science News: 



Until I saw the article by Mr. J. H. Seymour in 

 the March number of your journal, I had never 

 heard of such an experience as "An Ansesthetic 

 Revelation," yet I was strangely moved on reading 

 the above article, for, a few years ago, I myself had 

 an experience which in its general features was very 

 similar to the one detailed. Having previously 

 tried gas, or what is advertised as "vegetable va- 

 por," with very unsatisfactory results, and having 

 eight badly decayed teeth to be extracted, I con- 

 cluded, with the advice of my dentist, to try ether. 

 My sensations in entering the state of complete in- 

 sensibility were somewhat like those of your corre- 

 spondents. I remember that long after all volun- 

 tary muscular power was gone, my sense of hearing 

 seemed painfully acute. After several unsuccessful 

 attempts with a rubber appliance over my face, I 

 finally succumbed and remained insensible for about 

 twenty minutes. My first remembrance of this in- 

 terval is, that all seemed plunged in total darkness, 

 my disembodied spirit seemed hung in the midst of 

 primeval nothingness; mystery and despair filled 

 my being. The main thought seemed to be that of 

 dense ignorance as to the existence ofGod or of any 

 plan concerning man's creation. From this feeling 

 I began to reason that if there was a God I would 

 not be left in such a fearful condition as I was then 

 in. At this point it seemed clear to me that if I 

 could bring myself honestly and unreservedly to 

 agree to certain conditions, all would be made plain. 

 Then came a struggle, the conditions seemed hard, 

 but I felt that if they were requisite to the knowl- 

 edge which I craved, they must be fulfilled. I 

 agreed fully to the requirements, and the demon- 

 stration came. Words cannot express the sensa- 

 tions that filled my whole being. It would seem 

 extravagant if I should undertake to tell the rapture 

 which overflowed my soul ; hopes which I had re- 

 nounced as the conditions of enlightment seemed to 

 blossom into realities. Otherconditions, which be- 

 fore were irksome, now seemed crowned with joy. 

 One of the latter conditions was that I should make 

 it my life work to proclaim this "Revelation," and 

 prove to mankind by indisputable evidence and 

 logic the existence and care of an All Wise God. I 

 was eager to commence at once to proclaim my 

 message. I realized that many would not receive 



the truth, but was not deterred by the thought. 

 Just at this juncture I regained sensibility and felt 

 the forceps upon the last of the eight teeth. So 

 anxious was I to tell what had been revealed to me 

 that I partially freed myself from the hold of the 

 assistant. The operator urged me to remain quiet 

 for a moment, which I did. and the tooth was re- 

 moved. I then stepped from the chair, and turning 

 to the dentist and my brother, who was assisting 

 him, said solemnly, Mudge, I have had a revelation. 

 There is a God and I am prepared to prove it. I 

 felt that I could do so beyond any dispute and as 

 clearly as any mathematical problem could be dem- 

 onstrated, but as I came more and more to my self 

 the clearness of the proof faded away, though the 

 feeling that it had been possessed remained and still 

 remains. 



E. II. Blood. 

 Lynn, Mass., April, 18S9. 



LONG BEARDS. 



Editor of The Popular Science Neirs: 



In the March number of the Popular Science 

 News you have a sketch of Coulon, whose 

 beard is long. Mr. E. Johnson, photographer in 

 this place, has a very long full beard — four feet, 

 eight inches — and has photographs of several per- 

 sons of that sort. Among them is that of Mr. 

 Edwin Smith, of Adrian, Mich., whose beard is 

 eight feet long. Respectfully, 



A. M. Wilbur. 



West Unity, O., April 2. 



qUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 



Letters of inquiry should enclose a two-cent 

 stamp, as well as the name and address of the wri- 

 ter, which will not be published. 



QliESTiONs regarding the treatment of diseases 

 cannot be answered in this column. 



iNqiiiRER. — Will an electric door-bell ring Avith 

 two Leclanche cells through a circuit of eight or ten 

 feet.'' If not, why not.' 



Answer. — The two cells ought to give ample 

 power for such a purpose. The failure may be due 

 to numerous causes. The connections should be 

 carefully looked to, to see that they are clean and 

 bright; or, possibly, the electric contact point, 

 which you will find inside the bell, may need adjust- 

 ing by means of the small screw usually provided 

 for that purpose. 



B. S. C, Boston. — What is the difference between 

 vegetable and animal charcoal.' 



Answer. — Vegetable, or wood charcoal, is made 

 by burning wood, with only a limited supply of air. 

 It is principally carbon, with a small amount of 

 mineral substances, which form the ash when it is 

 burned. Animal charcoal, or bone black, is formed 

 by heating bones in a closed vessel. It also consists 

 of carbon, but contains in addition a large propor- 

 tion of phosphate and carbonate of lime, and other 

 mineral constituents of the bones. 



II. J. E., Cincinnati. — What is marsh-gas, and has 

 it a definite chemical composition .' 



Answer. — Marsh-gas is a very comprehensive 

 term, and is practically applied to a great many dif- 

 ferent substances. Strictly speaking, it should only 

 be applied to the h^dro-carbon ClU. This is often 

 formed in marshes and stagnant pools of water, in 

 the presence of decaying vegetation, but is always 

 more or less impure. It also forms the principal 

 constituent of the dreaded fire damp of coal mines. 

 Chemically pure marsh-gas can only be prepared in 

 the laboratory by a long and difficult process. 



LITERARY NOTES. 



Psychology as a Natural Science, applied to the Solu- 

 tion of Occult Psychic Phenomena, by C. G. Raue, 

 M. D. Published by Porter & Coates, Philadel- 

 phia. 



This interesting work of Dr. Raue is an attempt 

 to apply the known laws of psychological science to 

 the solution of such occult psychical phenomena as 



hypnotism, mesmerism, thought-transferrence, and 

 the like. It is a valuable contribution to the litera- 

 ture of a subject which is at present attracting much 

 attention, and the author's lines of reasoning, which 

 connect the known natural laws with the less under- 

 stood occult phenomena, are well worthy of consid- 

 eration. 



A Laboratory Guide to Chemical Analysis, by David 

 O'Brine, M. D., D. Sc. Published by John Wilo\ 

 & Sons, New York. Price, $2.00. 

 This volume is especially adapted for the use o( 

 medical students while studying chemistry. Special 

 attention has been given to the chemistry of alka- 

 loids, ptomaines, poisons, organic acids, etc. The 

 importance of a knowledge of chemistry to a physi- 

 cian has only lately been recognized, and this work 

 will be of great service in directing the laboratory 

 work which it is so necessary for the student to be- 

 come familiar with. 



Introduction a L' Etude de la Chimie des Auciens. ct 

 du Moyen Age, b_v M. Berthelot. Published by 

 Georges Steinheil, Paris. Price, iS francs. 

 The writings and studies of the old alchemists are 

 always a subject of the greatest interest, and this 

 latest work of the distinguished French chemist 

 gives an immense amount of valuable information 

 concerning them. It is illustrated bv photo-engrav- 

 ings from ancient papyri and manuscripts, and is a 

 complete encyclopa'dia of ancient chemical know- 

 ledge. We hope soon to be able to announce an 

 English translation. 



The Satchel Guide for the Vacation Tourist in 

 Europe. A compact itinerary of the British Islo>i. 

 Belgium and Holland, Germany and the Rhine. 

 Switzerland, France, and Italy. Houghton, Mif- 

 flin & Co., Boston. $1.50. 



This favorite companion for the European tourist. 

 now in its eighteenth year, has been entirely re- 

 written for the present season. Every page bears 

 marks of careful revision, but the original plan, 

 which has been so generally approved by those who 

 have used the book, is changed in no essential par- 

 ticular. In its fresh typographical dress, the Guide 

 renews its youth, and is likely to be more popular 

 than ever. 



Outlines of Lessons in Botany, by Jane H. Newell, 

 (Ginn & Co,, Boston), is a most excellent and in- 

 structive little manual, for beginners in the study of 

 botany. It is very practical, and its illustrations 

 are taken from the most familiar plants and flowers. 

 which are always at hand. We can cordialU' recom- 

 mend it to those desirous of commencing this fasci- 

 nating study. 



A Man's Will, published by Funk & Wagnalls. 

 New York, at $1.50, is one of the best temperance 

 novels ever written. The author, Mr. Edgar Faw- 

 cett, says: "I have lost three intimate friends 

 through intemperance. I have at one time and 

 another seen much of the darker sort of New York 

 social life, and I write from my own experience aiui 

 knowledge." The story follows the career of a 

 young man whose father had himself been a periodic 

 drinker, and who fears that his own taste is inher- 

 ited ; he shatters the family fortunes and sinks very 

 low, but saves himself by a heroic eflort of will. 



The series of Nature Readers published by D. C. 

 Heath & Co., of Boston, fulfil the double purpose' 

 of interesting the young pupil in the natural otijcct^ 

 about him, at the same time that he is learning Ici 

 read. The selections are a great' improvement cm 

 the time-worn themes that have so long done service 

 for this purpose. The same firm publish Hints fir 

 Teachers of Physiology, which will be found \ei \ 

 useful. 



Pamphlets, etc., received : On the Relation of tin- 

 Nasal and Neurotic Factors in ..Etiology of Astliitin. 

 reprinted from the New i'ork Medical .Joiirnul : 

 Compulsory Vaccination, by E. B. Foote, Jr., M. I). ; 

 An Eskimo Strike-a-Light, by Walter Hough, of flic 

 U. S. National Museum; Bulletin of the Natvrnl 

 History Laboratories of the State University if 

 Iowa; Proceedings of the Michigan Pharniaceulicul 

 Association, and the Sijth Annual Report of tin- 

 Massachusetts State Agricultural Experiment Station. 



