77^ The West American Scicmist. 



Prof. Oliver Davie, of Columbus, Ohio, has promised to con- 

 tribute to the West American Scientist. 



Several new names appear as contributors this month. All are 

 cordially invited to contribute. 



Note the chances to swap books and specimens and send on 

 your notices. 



The American Forestry Congress will hold its annual meeting 

 at Springfield, Illinois, by invitation of the legislature of that state, 

 on September 14, 15, 16, 1887. 



Proceedings of scientific societies are crowded out of this issue. 



By investigation throughout Italy, Signor P. Bonizzi has found 

 that atmospheric dust collected in exposed localities almost invari- 

 ably contains spherical magnetic particles, which are rare or alto- 

 gether wanting in the dust of closed localities. 



A German w iter remarks that the compound known as 'Zeio- 

 delite,' discovered by Simon, has not been used so much as its 

 peculiar advantages would seem to suggest. It is prepared by 

 mixing twenty-five to thirty parts of powdered glass with twenty 

 parts of melted sulphur. This may be shaped into any design; 

 and it cools into a stony hardness, resisting boiling water and the 

 strongest acids. It can be united at a heat of 400 degrees. 



The physical condition of steel is known to be unsettled for 

 many hours after being rolled. Finally it comes to a state of rest, 

 but any test of its quality before that period arrives is misleading. 

 The manufacturers were aware of this peculiarity before they knew 

 the cause. 



Gold was discovered in California in 1848. 



The largest crystal of alum ever produced, weighing over eight 

 tons, has been sent to the Edinburgh International Exhibition, 

 from the Manchester and Goole Alum Works. 



Germany claims that zinc is found in American dried apples. 



A curious phenomenon has just been brought to light by the 

 removal of a lightning rod. To the end of the rod, which had 

 been imbeded in ferruginous earth for about fifteen years, was 

 found attached a lump of iron ore, weighing ninety-six pounds, 

 supposed to have been aggregated by the action of electricity from 

 the surrounding earth. 



A petrified log ten feet long and fourteen inches thick was 

 lound in Meca, Kansas, recently. 



A dictionary giving scientific and technical terms in all lan- 

 guages is projected by Prof. Vilanova, and is endorsed by the 

 International Geological Congress. 



Hydrophobia is unknown in Lapland, but Pasteur has just 

 shown that the dogs may be inoculated with the disease. 



