The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-03-09
The Marvels of the SpectraScope.
BY DIR. EDWARD T.. NELSON.

scholar. The discoveries crowd upon us sc
, rapidly that we hardly have time to exam
, inc one before it is pressed from sight by
another. Here and there subject, like
Darwinism,' from its supposed material.
istic tendency. receives undue attention;
while other and fully as we'll authenticated
discoveries are wholly passed by.
1t is thus with spectrum analysis, the
latest born of our sciences-a science
whose discoveries are already so great and
so wonderful that we are almost ready
to say there can be no limit to its field of
research. 1t investigates the earth, and
explores the heavens and seems to unite
the two with new bonds. For as on earth
no particle of matter is too minute for its
detection so no space is too great for it 10
fathom. 1t has already placed the stellar
and planetary universe at our feet, and we
may study those distant orbs with the same
ease and exactness as if they were molecules
of matter in the laboratory of the chemist
Each new discovery, when properly I'M
dcrstood, must give us more exalted ideas
of nature and the author of nature. The
farther we pass into space, the nearer we
approach unto God, and only when we
examine the minute things of creation can
we appreciate the boundlessness of the
universe.
1t is not my design, at this time, to enter
into any description of the science or of its
discoveries, but to dwell on few things
which may well be called the marvels Of
the science. 1t has been proven that the
hundred millonth of a grain OF
sodium can be detected by means Of the
spectroscope even when dissolved in water.
This statement which we find recorded in
scientific papers, conveys very little mean
ing to us, from our inability to grasp so
small a quantity as the one wo-hundred
millionth of grain. Mathematicians tell
us that we can form no correct idea Of
numbers beyond the few hundreds or
thousands used in regard to the matters of
everyday life.
In order that we may have some little
conception of the power of the spectre
SCOPE anu lOiiIl al ltltd VI tLlS Silidil lldC
ton, we reduce the statement to another
form. Construct tank eight feet square
on the base, and nine feet high. Such
vessel would contain $40 cubic feet, and if
filled with water would hold about 1873 bar
rels. \ piece of common salt, the size of
pea, would contain about one grain of
the metal sodium. If this "pea" were
| dropped into the vessal of water, and al
lowed to dissolve, each drop of water
would contain about the one-two-hhndred
milionth of a grain of sodium, and would
! be sufficient to prove the presence of that
element in the whole body of water. For
| this calculation, we have the following
data. A drop of pure water weigs one
/ grain. In gallon of water there would be
460S0 drops. In barrel of 81 gallons,
! 1,451, $50 drops. Two hundred million
/ drops would therefore fill nearly 1873 bar :
rels. How wonderfully exact and how
| powerful. Though we give all praise to
I the microscope, yet it cannot compare in
power with the spectroscope.
! To illustrate this still further, we will
mention the recent discoveries in regard to
/ the hitherto rare element Lithium. Until
! within the few past years, this element has
been one of the great rarities of the chem
list. 1t was found in small quantities in
( only two or three places in this country,
/ and associated III such way with other
/ minerals as to be rather difficult of extrac-
ton. The spectroscope has shown that its
distribution is well nigh universal. Anal
| Uses of soils show its presence in small
quantities. 1t is present in very many
/ springs and streams, and is largely present
/ in the waters of the ocean. Plants grow.
! ing on soils containing this element, absorb
| it in large quantities, and this is given to
the flesh and milk of animals feeding on
such pastures. In this way it must enter
! largely into the system of man. In fact,
| il is almost as universal as common salt,
which is found everywhere. Why this
abundance unless it has some beneficial
effect on the human body? 1t is settled
law of Gods providence that those ele-
ments which are essential to man are of
world wide distribution, like air and water,
while those not so essential are more limited
| i'll extent and local in distribution.
We do not wonder that some of our best
physicians are investigating the subject
with great care. Our subject has much of
| interest for the medical fraternity, and the
science of spectrum analysis is destined
to play very important part in medical
examinations and in medico- legal trials
The spectrum of blood differs very notably
from that of any other known substance.
Increased observations, it is hoped, will
give us means of separating the spec
trum of human blood from that Of the
lower animals. Already we can detect the
one thousandth of grain of blood in So
luton, and thus separate it from all other
known liquids. The dried stain from a
single drop of blood is all that is necessary
for the examination. Arterial blood can
be told from venous, from the proportion
of carbonic acid in the latter easily deter
mined. We can easily detect poison in the
blood by this means, even when the guam
tity is SO small as to escape the chemist
Not long since a man died in Europe under
very peculiar circumstances. The jury
could find no marks Of violence on his per-
sob. no evidence of disease or traces of
poison in his system. A spectroscope was
called into requistiop, and Il drop of blood
taken from the scarcely cold heart, which
revealed the presence of prussic acid, one
of the most deadly of poisons. Thus, day
by day, science is increasing our store of
acknowledgement only of ourselves but also
OF the houndless universe of God.
The Methodist.
Cannot, Sir.
\ vu,Inr man--we will call him honest |
Frank-who loved truth. was 4 clerk in !
the Office of rich merchant. One day a
letter came recalling an order for goods,
which had been received the day before. |
The merchant handed it to honest Frank, !