Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-06-09
The Value OF Science.

The Value OF Science.
MANY persons have been deferred from
pursuing scientific studies on account OF
the cry of utilitarianism and the reproacf
that attends upon anything practical
There IL something quite unworthy of the
age in which we live, in any such notion
as the progress of society and the advance
Of; Mobilization in modern times depend
chiefly upon the application of the dis
coveries Of scientific men. We never
know what use may ultimately be made
of discovery. What appears to US at
the time as trivial and insignificant tact,
may become one of the links in great
chain of practical application.
When Oer,ted observed the detection
of the needle produced by the galvanic
current, he could not have anticipated that
a telegraph would grow out of so slight a
circumstance. Faraday's discovery OF in
duction gave us the present form OF the
telegraph, and also electro plating and
electro. chemistry. The black powder In
the alkali manufacturers vats in Paris, to
which the name Of iodine was given, was
of no consequence when first discovered,
but now we know that the grand applica.
ton 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
vast number of other announcements, as
a useless fact, and rather disgraceful to
the man who wasted his time in such in
significant labors. Now we know that
the beet sugar industry is one of the most
important on the continent of Europe, IN
volving millions Of capital, and giving
occupation to thousands of men.
The illustrious philosopher, Faraday,
succeeded in condensing number OF gas
es It 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 refrigerating machines, and the most
practical method, Of producing artificial
cold, are founded upon the condemnation
of gases, especially Of ammonia, by means
of which we shall be enabled to transport
frozen meat any distance.
But not only in the production OF cold
is Faraday's discovery available; we have
in it the germ OF a valuable motive power
that is capable of extensive application.
Faraday also discovered benZol, and for
many years no use could be devised for 1t;
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 enabled us to produce the richest
colors, who put cheap food within our
reach, aud gave us a motive power availa-
bic at all times, himself worked in power
ty and died poor man.
Professor Tyndall has just aroused the
attention of the world to the great Ques-
ton of haze and dust, and out Of the agita
ton Of this subject will eventually grow
true methods Of ventilation, the suppress
sion Of cholera and fevers, the proper
care Of the poor in tenement houses, and
many Improvements in the sanitary con-
ditiOn Of mankind.
De Ia Rive, Of Geneva, while expert
menting In electricity, found that bit OF
zinc would prevent the oxidation of iron,
and he at once suggested its employment
for this purpose. Out of this simple fact
has grown the immense industry Of gal.
vanizing iron but that 10 not all, for In
the same battery De Ia Rive observed that
the minute ecratchings on one of the cups
was accurately copied on the copper de-
posted upon 1t. He mentioned the cir
cumssance jacob took 1t up, and we now
have electro-plating and galvano- plasty
carried to complete success.
Pasteur has been devoting years to the
studyzpf fermentation, and as result oil
his "a beriments. we are taught to know
the true causes OF disease and decay, and
to INVENTIVE proper remedy.
The workers in copper were found to
be exempt from cholera, and on examine
ton it was found that they breathed con.
siderable sulphurous acid, and it was al
once seen that this gas, which prevents
fermentation and destroys the cholers
germs, was what had afforded protection
to the coppersmiths, and the same remedy
was applied with success in cholera dis
tricts and in hospitals
Sir Isaac Newton discovered the solar
spectrum. 1t was an insigniflcant thing
to throw . beam Of light onto screen
through hole in the shutter, and his
neighbors thought he ought To be better
employed; but what . wealth of inven.
ton has grown out of this one fact. We
now dissect our light and apply each part
as We want 1t. We can shut out the ligh,
and admit the heat. We can concentrate
the chemical rays and take picture. We
can examine the spectrum and determine
the composition of the sun, moon, and
stars, and We shall, before long, separate
the light and chemical rays from the heat,
and shall store up the heat of the sun as
our great motive power, after our coal
and fuel have been exhausted. We can.
not tell to what vast uses this discovery
is destined to be applied
Professor Schrotter, of Vienna, found
that he could convert phosphorus into a
red powder, which had many peculiar
properties: Il was not 20 poisonus to the
werkmen in the match factory; it did not
ignite on friction, and could be easily
transported from one place TO another; Il
was not soluble in the same reagents az
the ordinary phosphorus; and it had pow.
erful reducing properties. Il wss Q trifiine
matter 1t first, but has since saved the
lives OF many poor person In match fac.