The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1870-06-01
[From the Scientific American ]
The Value of Science.

Ihe NoAue OF science
Many persons have been deferred from
pursuing scientific studies on account OF
the cry of utihtarianism and the reproach
/ that attends upon anything practical.
There Is something quite unworthy of the
age IN which we live, in any such notion,
as the progress of society and the advance
OF civilization IN modern times depend
chiefly upon the application of the dis
| coverles of scientific men. We never
know what use may ultimately be made
OF discovery. What appears to us at
the time as a trivial and insignificant fact
may become one of the links in great
chain Of practical application.
When Oersted observed the detection
OF the needle produced by the galvanic
current, he could not have anticipated
that telegraph would grow out Of so
slight circumstance. Faraday's discoy-
cry of induction gave us the present form
of the telegraph, and also electro-plating
and electro-chemistry The black powder
in the alkai manufacturers vats in Paris
to which the name of iodine was given
was OF no consequence when first discov-
cred, but now we know that the grand
application of photography depends upon
it.
a few years ago German chemist an
nounced the discovery of sugar in the beet.
The account was received like a vast num-
Der OF other announcements, as useless
TACT, and rather disgraceful to the man
who wasted his time in such insignificant
labors Now we know that the beet su-
| gar industry is one of the most important
on the continent of Europe, involving
millions of capital, and giving occupation
to thousands of men,
The illustrious philosopher, Faraday,
succeeded IN condensing a number OF
gases. 1t was an interesting experiment,
but certainly no one could have predicted
that some day the question of furnishing
cheap food to large cities would depend
upon the application of this discovery, but
such appears likely to be the fact. The
best retrlgerating machines, and the most
practical methods of producing artificial
cold, are founded upon the condensation Of
gases, especially of ammonia, by means ot
| which We shall be enabled to transport
frozen meat any distance.
But not only in the production of cold
Is taraday's discovery available; we have
IN 1t the germ of valuable motive power
that is capable of extensive application
Faraday also discovered benzof. and fol
many years no use could be devised for it
we now know that the whole aniline in
dustry, with its magnificent array of col
ors, rests upon what appeared to be use
less discovery; and yet Faraday, who gave
US our present form of telegraph, who en-
abled us to produce the richest colors, who
put cheap food within our reach, and gave
us motive power available at all times
himself worked IN poverty, and died pool
man.
Professor Tyndan has Just aroused The
attention of the world To- the great cues
ton Of haze and dust, and out of the agi.
tatlon of this subject will eventually grow
true methods Of ventilation, the suppress
ION of cholera and fevers, the proper care
OF the poor in tenement houses, and many
] improvements in the sanitary condition O
mankind.
DE la Rive, of Geneva, while expert
mentlng in electricity, found that bit O
zinc would prevent the oxidation of iron
and he at once suggested its employment
tor this purpose Out of this simple fac
has grown the immense industry of gal
vanlzlng iron; but that is not all, for il
the same battery De la Rive observed tina
the minute scratchings on one of the cup
was accurately copied on the copper de
posted upon it. He mentioned the cir
cumst,ance; JaeCbi took it up, and w
now have electro plating and galvano
plasty carried to complete success.
Pasteur has been devoting years to tn
} | study of fermentation n, and rs a result c
| hrs experiments, we are taught to l1nos
) the true causes of disease and decay, an
to invent the proper remedy
The workers IN copper were found TO b
| exempt from cholera, and on investiga
ton 1t was found that they breathed con
} siderable sulphurous acid, and it was a
once seen that this gas, which prevent
fermentation and destroys the choler
} germs, was what had afforded protection
to The coppersmiths and the ssme remed,
was applied with success in cholera dis
} tricts and in hospitals
Sir Isaac Newton discovered the sdla
spectrum. 1t was an insignificant thin
to throw beam Of light on a screen thro
hole IN the shutter, and his neighbor
: thought he ought to have been better EN-
: ployed; but what a wealth of inventio
has grown out of this one tact. We noY
;: dissect oW light, and apply each part a
t we want it, We can shut out the ligh
| and admit the heat. We can coRcentrat
| the chemical rays and take picture w
can examine the spectrum and determin
the composition of the sun, moon, an
5 stars, and we shall, before long, separat
= the light and chemical rays from the hea'
and shall store up the heat of the sun q
our great motive power, after our coal an
fuel have been exhauste}. We can no
tell to what vast uses this discovery
, destined to be applied,
: Professor Schrotter, of Vienna, fonn
that he could convert phosphorus into
red powder, which had many peculif
, properties 1t was not so poisonous to I'll
workmen in the match factory: it did NJ
r ignite by friction, and could be easil
: transported from one place to another;
. was not soluble in the same Reagents
y the ordinary phosphorus; and it had pow
: erful reducing. properties 1t was trihin
/ matter at first, but has since saved IL
lives OF many a poor person in match ia,
>. tories, and served an important use in IL
determination of vermin.
> The catalogue of trifing discoveries
J almost endless, and we have mentiont
. enough to show the Importance of appr,
= clatipg the labors of those whose who
8 life is devoted to the good of their fellow
men.
:, In ancient times it was said, "The proI
: er study of mankind is man" and actin
upon that, the world stood still for cent?
: ries. The study of mankind led to met,
! physical mysteries and superstitions, an
> it is only since science has dispelled the,
: clouds and let in the light of observation
perception, and judgment, that man hs
begun to enjoy freedom from such thral
dom as our early philosophers impose
, upon him. One superstition after anoth,
passes away before the clear light of SC
$ entifc inquiry, and it is not the man
= science, but the metaphysician and indu
= tive philosopher, who throw doubt ar
e distrust and unbeIief into our ranks. tt
{. value of scientific study is therefore tw,
u fold; it gives us the comforts of civilize
y life, and overturns all doubt and superst
ton; 'it proves all things and holds fai
: that which is good