Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 47.djvu/581

Rh expeditions, and has established a station at Sodankyla, in Lapland. Other societies are the Natural History Society (Societus pro faunâ et florâ fennicû), founded 1821; the Society of Finnish Literature, the Finno-Ugrian Society, the Finland Historical Society, the Finnish Archæological Society, two geographical societies, a medical society, and a legal society. Among Finlanders distinguished in science and letters have been Lönnrot, grammarian and collector of the national literature; Ahlqvet, another able grammarian; Hallstrom, physicist; the illustrious astronomer Argeländer; the mathematicians Lindelof, Schulten, and Mittag-Löffler, the last editor of the international journal Acta Mathematica; the explorer Nordenskiöld, who removed to Sweden in 1857 to escape trouble on account of an address he had made at a students' festival; the botanist Nylander; the zoölogist Nordmann; and the surgeon Estlander. Swedish literature is also distinguished by several Finnish names of great writers; Finnish literature is very ancient, although it has only recently begun to receive special attention. The later poets and romancers have discussed in the fresh and spontaneous old poetry of the ancient folklore a nearly inexhaustible mine of rich images and striking epics. Finland has further produced eminent artists in various lines. The full story of the achievements of this too little known country of the far north is told in the book La Finlande au XIX siècle, which the writers and artists of the country have combined to make up, published at Helsingfors, in French, in 1894.

Report on Opium.—The opium commission appointed many months ago by the British Government was charged with the investigation of three questions whether opium, when taken in moderation, is injurious; whether Indian opinion is opposed to its use; and whether prohibition is a practicable policy. The commission has published its report, and declares that by a vote of eight to one it answers all the three questions in the negative. The commission finds that an immense number of doctors in India believe opium to be less injurious than alcohol. Witnesses drawn from every grade and class testified that it is an excellent remedy against malarial fever; that it can be and is consumed in moderation all through life; and that its effect upon the constitution in health is practically nil. Among natives the belief in the value of the drug is nearly universal. The practice of opium-eating pervades every class, is considered allowable by every class, and the people are opposed to prohibition. The commission, therefore, though they believe some improvement in the restrictive laws may be possible, refuse to suggest any, and advise substantially that the present system be left alone.

Steel Buildings.—A steel building, as the words are now used by builders, is a structure supported by a steel frame, which frame should carry all the other materials used in the construction. If the frame is so arranged that it will always hold the building securely in the position and condition in which it was first erected, the other materials used in construction will be required chiefly to perform some other office than that of giving strength and support. As considered by Mr. C. T. Purdy, in his paper on the subject, the most important difference between the old brick and stone buildings and the new steel ones is in the construction of their exterior walls. Brick and stone in the older forms of construction were used first of all to make the building strong. In steel buildings this use of masonry has nearly disappeared. It is used instead only to inclose the structure from the outside air and elements, to protect the frame from fire, and to afford opportunity for architectural effects. Thick walls are useless with these frames, and no matter how high the building is, the exterior walls do not need to be heavier at the bottom than at the top. Openings may be made in them in almost any way or of any size. In some respects the larger they are the better, and the wall in any story may be removed without injury to that above or below. This is a great change. The steel frame has worked a great difference in the concentration of loads. Walls tend to diffuse and spread the loads which they carry. They act as beam and column at the same time, and it is not always easy to tell what part of the foundation supports a given load in the upper part of the building. With the column construction this indefinite feature