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lowing yearly fall of snow and rain, which will be of much inter

est to many: 1831.

Snow 11 feet 6 inches. Rain 1 foot 10 inches.

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Snow 161 feet 9 inches. Rain 37 feet 9 inches. The total includes the fractions of an inch which were registered, but not in our table-and the whole table shows, as far as it respects the fall of snow and rain, that there is no perceptible change created by improvements in agriculture, or other causes, during the past 18 years. We have heard many observations made in regard to the winter seasons being more mild now than they were some 20 years ago. This table throws some doubt over these opinions;-plain facts are indisputable.

MAGNETIC STONE.-A brown stone, in no respect presenting any thing by which it can be distinguished from other rude stones around it, is found, upon examination, to possess the power of drawing light particles of iron towards it. If this stone be placed upon a table, and iron filings are thrown lightly around it, we discover that these filings arrange themselves in symmetric curves, proceeding from some one point of the mass to some other; and upon examining this, we find that the iron which has once clung to one point, will be rejected by the other. If this stone be freely suspended, we shall learn also that it always comes to rest in a certain position-this position being determined by these points and some attractive force residing in the earth itself. These points we call its poles; and it is now established that this stone is but a weak representative of our planet. Both are mag

netic; both are so in virtue of the circulation of currents of electricity, or of lines of magnetic force, as are seen in the curves formed by the iron dust, and the north pole of the one attracts the south pole of the other, and the contrary. The stone is partly composed of an oxide of iron, to which it owes its color.

LONGEVITY OF THE DAMASK ROSE.-There is a rose-bush flourishing at the residence of A. Murray McIlvaine, near Bristol, Pa., known to be more than a hundred years old. In the year 1742, there was a kitchen built, which encroached on the corner of the garden, and the mason laid the corner stone with great care, saying, "it was a pity to destroy so pretty a bush." Since then it has never failed to produce a profusion of roses, shedding around it the most delicious of all perfumes. Sometimes it has climbed for years over the second story windows, and then declined by degrees to the ordinary height. The fifth generation is now regaled with its sweets. Not far from this venerable bush is a tree, of the same age, now measuring 35 feet in circumference-a buttonwood.

LIGHT. It has been demonstrated that light is about eight minutes in moving across one half of the earth's orbit; consequently it moves at the astonishing rate of 200,000 miles in a second. Therefore, if each of its particles weighed the thousandth part of a grain, its force would be greater than that of a bullet discharged from a musket. Were it even the millionth part of a grain in weight, it would destroy every thing against which it should strike. If it even weighed the millionth part of that, it would still have a very sensible force. But how much less must be a

particle of light, which makes no sensible impression upon so delicate an organ as the eye! We are certain, then, that no particle of light can weigh 1,000,000,000,000 part of a grain! It may be remarked, that light leaves the body of the sun with a velocity equalled only by the extent of its journey. It goes from planet to planet, from sun to sun, distributing colors, illuminating and enlivening all nature.

INTERESTING GEOLOGICAL FACT.-Professor Aggassiz, in a recent lecture, stated an interesting fact, in connection with his remarks upon the family of the rose, which includes among its varieties not only many of the most beautiful flowers which are known, but also the richest fruits, such as the apple, pear, peach, plum, apricot, cherry, strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, &c.— viz. that no fossils belonging to this family have ever been dis

covered by geologists. This is regarded as conclusive evidence that the introduction of this family of plants upon the earth was coeval with, or subsequent to, the creation of man.

COLLODION FOR WOUNDS.-Finely powdered nitrate of potash, 40 parts by weight; concentrated sulphuric acid, 60; carded cotton, 2. Mix the nitre with the sulphuric acid in a porcelain vessel, then add the cotton, and agitate the mass for three minutes by the aid of two glass rods. Wash the cotton, without first pressing it, in a large quantity of water; and, when all acidity is removed, (indicated by litmus paper,) press it firmly in a cloth. Pull it out into a loose mass, and dry it in a stove at a moderate heat.

The compound thus obtained is not pure fulminating cotton. It always retains a small quantity of sulphuric acid, is less inflammable than gun cotton, and it leaves a carbonaceous residue after explosion. It has, however, in a remarkable degree, the property of solubility in ether, especially when mixed with a little alcohol; and it forms therewith a very adhesive solution, to which the name of Collodion has been applied.

The collodion is prepared as follows:

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Put the cotton with the ether into a well stopped bottle, and shake the mixture for some minutes. Then add the alcohol by degrees, and continue to shake until the whole liquid acquires a syrup-like consistency. It may then be passed through a cloth, the residue strongly pressed, and the liquid kept in a well secured bottle.

Collodion thus prepared, possesses remarkably adhesive properties. A piece of linen or cotton cloth covered with it, and made to adhere by evaporation in the palm of the hand, will support after a few minutes, without giving way, a weight of from 20 to 30 pounds. Its adhesive power is so great, that the cloth will commonly tear before it gives way. The collodion cannot be regarded as a perfect solution of cotton. It contains, suspended and floating in it, a quantity of the vegetable fibre which has escaped the solvent properties of the ether. The liquid portion. may be separated from these fibres by a filter, but it is doubtful whether this is an advantage. In the evaporation of the liquid, these undissolved fibres, by felting with each other, appear to give a greater degree of tenacity and resistance to the dried mass.

In the preparation of collodion, it is indispensable to avoid the presence of water, as this renders it less adhesive; hence the

ether, as well as the alcohol, should be pure and rectified. The parts to which the collodion is applied, should be first thoroughly dried, and no water allowed to come in contact with them, until the ether is evaporated.

This is the famous substance now used for dressing wounds.

MANUFACTURING Profits at theE SOUTH.-The Augusta Manufacturing Company have declared a dividend of 3 per cent. for the last three months, which is at the rate of 12 per cent. per annum. The Augusta Chronicle says: This result is the most remarkable when it is borne in mind, that during this time only one hundred and sixty looms have been in operation. The fall complement, with the present capital, would be two hundred looms. When the additional capital of forty thousand dollars, subscribed by the original stockholders, is paid in, the number of looms will be increased to three hundred and twenty-five. Some idea may thus be formed of the future business and profits of the Company.

We will not prolong our Summary, because we have an excellent scientific article in the body of this number.

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

SANITARY SURVEYS: House Documents, No. 66.-The Report of the Joint Special Committee, in the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on a Sanitary Survey of the State. We call attention to this document, for the double purpose of appropriating some facts it embodies, and of invoking public consideration to the importance of investigating the laws of health. Human life has been greatly protected by the scientific discoveries of the past century; but vast improvements can yet be made in the condition of the mass of the people, as to that essential prerequisite of happiness, Health.

The difference in the comparative longevity of the poor and those in independent circumstances, is startling, and should induce every philanthropist to inquire into the causes of oppression, and resolve upon their removal. For instance, in Dorchester, during more than a quarter of a century, the duration of life among the poor was twenty-seven years and five months, while that of the prosperous farmers was forty-five years and eight months. In Boston, the average age of those who were buried in the Catholic cemetery, was only thirteen years, five months, and nine days; while that of all who died in the city, was twentytwo years, eight months, and nineteen days. In some towns the more favored classes enjoy a length of life 66 per cent. greater than that of the poor; and while less than 13 per cent. of the children of affluence die under two years, more than 32 per cent. of the children of the poor die within the same period of infancy. The difference is still greater in England, the facts of which we shall give in an article for a future number of the Review.

There is found to be a great difference as to various localities. For instance, the average duration of life in Franklin county is thirty-eight years, ten months, and twenty-four days, while in

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