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An interesting archaeological discovery was recently made at Leagrave, near Luton (England) by the un earthing of two skeletons, estimated to be quite 2,000 years old. Beside the bones were also found a quan tity of bronze ornaments. The skeletons are believed to be the remains of two females, dating back to late Celtic times, since the mode of burial was typical of that period. Both bodies were in a doubled-up position with heads to the west. Some of the" bones were in a remarkably good state of preservation, especially the skull and teeth, although much discolored by contact with the earth. The bodies were found fifteen feet apart. News has been received from Major Powell Cotton, who set out last year on an African expedition from the Nile to the Zambesi. During his travels he has gathered interesting information concerning the meth ods adopted by the natives of the innermost regions of the Congo Free State for the disposal of their aged members when they become a burden. The infirm and aged people are rendered unconscious by means of a narcotic, and in this comatose condition are wrapped in a fresh antelope skin. In this garb they are then hurried by the members of the family to a point remote from the village, and abandoned in the grass near a native track. The first native that passes the spot dis covers what he imagines to be an antelope, and prompt ly dispatches it with a spear. The members of the deceased aged one's family then emerge from biding near by, and express open horror and surprise at the unfortunate incident, though inwardly congratulating themselves upon the successful manner in which they have been relieved of their burden. When last heard of, Major Powell Cotton had left for the Stanley forest. Dr. H. Mache, a prominent physicist of Vienna, has recently made some determinations upon the radio active properties of mineral springs. Experimenting upon the gases, water, and solid deposits of the Gas-tein springs, he finds that they show the active effect which is characteristic of radium. In this case the water has a greater active power than the solid por tions. It is observed that the quantity of emanation varies from one spring to another and also that there is no direct relation between the quantity and (.he temperature. He considers, however, that the cold springs have a tendency to be radio-active in a greater degree. To explain the differences of activity which are found in these cases, he advances the idea that the water of different springs has taken a greater or less amount of time to come from below to the surface of the ground, and this would have an effect upon the amount of emanation which they carried. He also ad mits the possibility that the north-and-south direct ion of the fissures from which the water flows would favor its richness in emanation. Dr. Much6 also ob served the radio-activity of the rinid deposits of the Gastein springs, and found in it a mineral containing manganese which is known in Germany as Reissaeher-ite, and is characteristic of the Gastein region. The mineral is somewhat active, being from 0.05 to IJ.9 times as active as uranium nitrate, without containing any uranium salt. It is the second example of a radio-active mineral which does not contain uranium. A new method of detecting the presence of rhodium has been brought out in a paper which P. Alvarez pre sented to the Academie des Sciences. He finds that the blue liquid which is obtained along with the green precipitate of ortho-rhodic hydrate, Rh (OH),, in oxidizing directly an alkaline solution of a rhodium salt by chlorine or a hypochlorile can be of considerable value in finding whether rhodium exists in a given compound. The reaction can be easily carried out as follows: An aqueous solution of a rhodium salt such as chloro-rhodate of sodium, Rh Cl.,, 3 Cl Na= Rh Cl,, Na3, is added to an excess of soda Na OH in order to obtain an alkaline solution of sesquihydrate of rhodium, Rh (OH),, H3O. Then we act upon the liquid by a gas. The latter comes from the action of concentrated hy drochloric acid upon potassium chlorate and is brought into the test solution by a narrow tube. In this case the alkaline solution, which is very di'.'te and almost, colorless, takes a yellowish-red color which changes at once to red. Then the red color becomes more and more intense, and -he moment arrives when the gas continues to act, when the liquid begins to cloud and forms a slight green precipitate. The latter dissolves finally in the liquid to a fine blue color, which resembles that of an ammoniaeal copper solution. In sulphurous liquid or gas the solution loses iis blue color and be comes yellow owing to the formation of rhodic sulphate. This reaction will be of use in distinguishing rhodium from the other metals of the same group.
