The shipments in June, out of the producing regions, were 174,225
barrels larger than in the preceding month. The total shipments of
crude, and refined reduced to crude equivalent, by railroad, river and
pipes to the following points, were 1,135,119 barrels:
New York took 555,794 bbls.
Pittsburg " 153,182 "
Cleveland " 239,389 "
Philadelphia " 73,426 "
Boston " 29,266 "
Baltimore " 26,623 "
Richmond " 7,000 "
Ohio River refiners took 5,200 "
Other local points took 45,239 "
---------
Total shipments 1,135,119 "
Included in the above shipments there were 140,299 barrels of refined
from Titusville and Oil City, which is equal to 187,065 barrels of
crude.--_Stowell's Petroleum Reporter._
* * * * *
=Remarkable Poisoning of a Lake.=
A contributor to _Nature_ describes the remarkable poisoning of Lake
Alexandrina--one of the bodies of water which form the estuary of the
Murray river, Australia. This year the water of the river has been
unusually warm and low, and the inflow to the lakes very slight. The
consequence has been an excessive growth of a conferva which is
indigenous to these lakes and confined to them. This alga, _Nodularia
spumigera_, is very light and floats on the water, except during
breezes, when it becomes diffused, and being driven to the lee shores,
forms a thick scum like green oil paint.
This scum, which is from two to six inches thick, and of a pasty
consistency, being swallowed by cattle when drinking, acts poisonously
and rapidly causes death. The symptoms of the poisoning are stupor and
unconsciousness, falling and remaining quiet (as if asleep), unless
touched, when convulsions are induced, the head and neck being drawn
back by a rigid spasm, subsiding before death. The poison causes the
death of sheep in from one to six or eight hours; of horses, in from
eight to twenty-four hours; of dogs, in from four to five hours; and of
pigs in three or four hours. A _post mortem_ shows the plant is rapidly
absorbed into the circulation, where it must act as a ferment, and
causes disorganization. As the cattle will not touch the puddle where
the plant scum has collected and become putrid, all they take is quite
fresh, and the poisoning is therefore not due to drinking a putrescent
fluid full of bacteria, as was suggested.
When the scum collects and dries on the banks it forms a green crust.
When, however, it is left in wet pools it rapidly decomposes, emitting a
most horrible stench, like putrid urine; but previous to reaching this
stage it gives out a smell like that of very rancid butter.
A blue pigment exudes from this decomposing matter, having some
remarkable properties. It is remarkably fluorescent, being red by
reflected and blue by transmitted light; it appears to be a product of
the decomposition, and allied to the coloring matter found in some
lichens.
* * * * *
=ASTRONOMICAL NOTES.=