154 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 



sense, it may be, yes ; in another, it must be, no. In the first place, while the 

 proportion of the oxidizing agent, as determined by the iodide-of potassium-starch- 

 papers, is of no value whatever, and we do not know that ozone is ever found in 

 the mass of the atmosphere, the existence of some oxidizing agent is not, and 

 cannot be, questioned. And, whether the action upon the thallium or other test 

 papers be due to one or several of these agents, from a practical standpoint would 

 not seem to be so important as the fact that the oxidizers exist, and do purify the 

 air by consuming the effluvia and other noxious substances that find their way 

 into it. Nor are we to lose faith in the conclusions and theories of scientists be- 

 cause occasionally these conclusions are based upon inadequate knowledge. 



The scientific mind of the world is the embodiment of the known facts of 

 nature. When a series of facts, learned by observation or experiment, show the 

 same thing, this scientific opinion is in accordance with them. When it is 

 learned that other principles are involved than those previously known, without a 

 protest, this opinion is founded upon the new facts. While a few scientific men, 

 from association, find it difficult to give up long cherished views, no class of men 

 are so little dogmatic as they. Even the same individuals may hold tenaciously 

 to other faiths, whether political, religious, or socialistic, while in natural science 

 he adjusts his behef in accordance with the hght he has. 



We claim it as the chief reason for trusting scientific opinion, that a vast 

 corps of trained workers are constantly testing from every point of view the vari- 

 ous principles upon which all theories and rules of action are based; and so soon 

 as a single fact inconsistent with an accepted principle is found, the principle and 

 all views and practices due to it, are discarded. 



The question of the existence or non existence of ozone in the atmosphere^ 

 which just now is in doubt because of the lack of proper tests, was previously an- 

 swered in the affirmative; and the answer was a purely chemical one, involving 

 chemical reactions. And yet no one will doubt that pure chemistry gives to man 

 the most trustworthy evidence in his possession. — The Industrialist. 



ASTRONOMY. 



ASTRONOMICAL NOTES FOR JULY, 1881. 



BY W. W. ALEXANDER, KANSAS CITY. 



Mercury, from the ist to the 17th, will be among the stars in Cancer, and 

 the remainder of the month in Gemini. There will be no favorable time this 

 month for observing it. On the 17th it is in inferior conjunction with the sun. 



Venus will be in a favorable position during the entire month for observa- 

 tion. On the 1 2th it reaches its greatest elongation west from the sun, 45° 44'. 



