The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-02-07
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.
WORK IN Hot PLACES.


The limit of temperature at which men can work
depends upon the length of their exposure, the
amount of exertion they put FORTH their condition,
and the nature of the atmosphere, particularly as
to its degree of moisture. Men have been en-
poyed on railways at l04 degrees, in mines under
very favorable conditions-at J25 degrees, and
said to work occasionally in the stoke
holes of tropical steamers at 156 degrees. Prof.
Du Bots Raymond has estimated that tempera-
ture of l22 degrees can be endured when the air
is as dry possible, but that eveR 104 degrees is
likely to be fatal in an atmosphere saturated with
moisture. 1t is considered certain that men can
not become accustomed to stand, for any consid-
cradle time, higher temperature than from 40
to l65 degrees, even when they keep perfectly
still and are in quite pure air.
THE BALTIC'S LEVEL. .s
In 1850 a series of water-marks was established
along the entire length of the coasts of Sweden
and these marks or guages were renewed in 1851,
and again in 1884. They have been inspected ct
short intervals, systematic record of the obser-
vations being preserved. The results have shown
that in the 1874 years the northern part of Sweden
has risen feet, the elevation gradually grow
ing less to the southwark until, at Bornholm, a,
point is reached which remains at the same level
as in the middle of the last century. The average
elevation of the Swedish coast has been about fifty
six inches. During the same period the coast
limiting the Baltic on the south has been steadily
sinking.
ANOTHER CHOLERA MICRoBE.
Believing DIR. Koch's comma bacillus, which
has been found only in the contents of the intes-
tines to be insufficient to account for cholera, Dr.
Rudolf Emmerich, Bavarian pathologist, has
sought for more potent germs in the tissues and
organs of the body. As result of his investiga-
lions, he has reported the discovery of bacteria,
resembling in form and size those found in diph-
liberia, in the blood of cholera patients: and,
furthermore, he has described experiments in
which he appears to have produced the disease in
guinea pigs by incubation with these bacteria.
THE VITALITY OF SEEDS.
The seeds of the willow will not germinate after
having been once dry. The seeds of coffee and
various other plants do not terminate after hav-
ing been kept for any considerable time. Wheat
over two centuries old has been found quite fit for
food, but the grains usually lose their power OF
growth after lapse of seven years. Specimens
Of rye and wheat known to be lS5 years old could
not be induced to terminate. 1.-The stories OF
mummy wheat sprouting after having lain DOR
mant in Egyptian tombs for thousands of years.
are, to say the least of them, very dubious" de-
clares Dr. Robert Brown f. l.. S. "No we'll
authenticated instances of such finds are extant
while among other articles sold by the Arabs to
credulous travellers, as coming out of the same
tomb as the ancient wheat, have been dahlia bulbs
and maize, the deposition of which in the recep-
tacle from which they were said to be extracted
necessitates the belief that 1000 years ago the
subjects of the pharaohs were engaged IN COM
neree with America" When kept dry and pro-
tected from light and air, however, seeds have
been known to retain their vitality for somewhat
heightened periods Seeds of the bean and pea
order have sprouted after 100 years storage in an
herbarium, and many similar instances-most of
them somewhat doubtful have been recorded.
MISCELLANEOUS.
A factory is said to have been established In
Sweden for making into paper the half decom-
posed moss which has accumulated in many places
in Norway and Sweden to thickness of a foot or
more. The substance may be pressed into boards,
which have the desirable qualities of wood without
such defects as warping and splitting.
The Juice of the curious ink plant OF New
Granada requires no preparation before being
used for writing. The color is reddish when first
applied to paper, but soon becomes deep black,
which is very durable. This ink is now used for
public records and documents.
French investigate has found that the sugar
beet gradually loses its sugar when grown a
second year, the quantity being very small when
the seeds are fully ripened. ~e
A member of the Royal Meteorological Society
urges a more uniform system of measuring wind
force.
project has been brought before the French
Academy of Sciences for the construction OF a
sewer about 100 miles long, to convey the sewage
of Paris to the sea, pumping stations being estab-
lished at two places. 1t is estimated that during
two-thirds of the year almost the whole quantity
of sewage would be absorbed by irrigation with
out its reaching the sea at all.
4 new metal has been discovered by Prof.
Websky as one of the components of native van
adate oflead. He proposes calling it cadmium.
By method of spectroscopic observation, Mr..
W. n. Hartley has reached the conclusion that
ozone is a constant constituent of the upper
atmosphere that it is present there in larger
quantity than nearer the earths surface, and that
it is the cause of the blue color of the sky. Eth
or in its gaseous form or condensed into liquid,
ozone appears of a deep blue.
At late meeting of Berlin society it was
stated that four Polar expeditions are now in
preparation, one of them to go to the Antarctic
regions.