The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1884-12-13
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.
THE THEORY OF VACCINATION.

Prof. Tyndall suggests that just as the soil may
be so eectually robbed of some essential ingredi-
ent by one abundant crop as to be incapable OF
producing another, so in the human system
parasitic disease may so completely exhaust the
blood of some ingredient necessary to the growth
and propagation of the parasite that the produc
ton of a second crop in fatal or considerable
quantity may be impossible. 1t would thus APP
pear that protective vaccination or incubation is
simply the introduction into the blood of weaken
ed and comparatively harmless disease germs to
consume the material which might become food
for similar germs in q more vigorous and danger
Gus condition.
WIND WORK.
A gale at East st. Louis in 1871, according to
Mr.. G.. Shaler Smith, overturned locomotive, ex-
ertng force of no less than SO pounds per square
foot. At St. Charles Jail was destroyed in 1917,
the pressure required being 81 pounds per square
foot. At Marshfield, in 1880, brick mansion
was leveled, the force necessary being % pounds
per square foot. Below these extraordinary pres
sures Mr.. Smith has instanced numerous cases Of
trains blown off rails, and bridges, etc., blown
down by gales of "a to 81 pounds per square foot.
GREAT WORMS.
According to Mr.. F. L. Beddard, in London
been found in the British fs4 ele e nId Various species
as large or larger are known to exist in South
America, Western Africa, Australia and New
Zealand. The largest species known, however,
inhabits South Africa. Forty years ago O speci-
men was described which measured six feet two
inches in length, but it seems to have been nearly
forgotten until the other day, when a gigantic
creature of the same species was sent to the Lon
don Geological Gardens from Cape Colony. The
longest measurement of this worm yet taken
reaches six feet five inches, its diameter being
nearly half an inch.
MONEY VEGETATION.
short time since Paul Reinsch discovered
several kinds of minute plants-including two
alg@ which had before been unknown-growng
upon coins after having been long enough in cir
culation to receive thin incrustations of organic
matter. A Hungarian botanist, Jules Schaar-
schmidt, has more recently found the microscopic
growths upon paper money, even the cleanest
specimens not being free from them. He has de-
tected seven species, including-although they are
rare-the two new alg@ described by Reinsch.
PICTURES OF SOUND.
Some remarkable photographs of pistol bullet
in its Highlander the illumination of an electric
spark-have been secured by Prof. E. Mach, of
Prague. He has also photographed the air streams
which one may see over a Bunsen burner placed
in sunshine, and has even obtained pictures of
waves of sound these last being made visible by
a method in which advantage is taken of the
irregular refraction of light by air set in vibration
by sound.
A French astronomer has found reasons for be-
lieving that circular protuberance-
avolcano-which exists in the southern hemisphere
of Venus has elevation of not less than seventy
miles. He regards such vast mountain as not
incompatible with the planets volcanic nature.
Successful experiments in distributing the cleo
trio light to great distances have been made in
connection with the Turin Electrical Exhibition.
A Siemens machine of 30-horse power generated
a current which was simultaneously used by sew
era electric light systems spread over circuit Of
about % miles.
A motor driven by small charges of gun cotton
is an English novelty. 1t is said to be applicable
wherever small powers are required.
A German botanist has given instances of the
modification of plants by insects so as to produce
new varieties.