The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1890-12-06
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.



The Mannesmann process of twisting heated
metallic bars into tubes by means OF rollers
imparting an unequal rotation along the length
of the metal, is pronounced an "epoch-maklng
invention by one of the greatest OF German
mechanical engineers. The great strength OF
these tubes as shown by various tests, is proba-
bly due to the fact that in addition to being
much more worked than by other processes,
the metal has its fibres disposed spirally. In
tests at the Mannesmann works, at komotau,
Hungary, more than 900 tons of 3-inch and 4
inch tubes, with an average thickness Oft inch.
have successfully resisted a pressure OF 1000
pounds per square inch. Welded tubes are not
safe above 1000 pounds per square inch, and
cast iron ones of this size will hardly stand 2OO
pounds That the Mannesmann tubes may be
made in considerable lengths is shown by the
recent production of a 3-inch tube 10 feet long.
CHEAP POWER.
The machinery of the Treadwell mill, Alas
ka,-the largest quartz-mill in the world, with
240 stamps, 96 concentrators, IL ore crushers,
etc.,-requires about 500 horsepower, and IS
driven by a single wheel 7 feet in diameter.
This operates under head of 400 feet. making
235 revolutions, and using $50 cubic feet OF
water per minute. The water is discharged
through a nozzle 3.31 inches in diameter,
the wheel being capable OF workng up ITO 70
735 horsepower with nozzle OF 4lnches. Inc
wheel weighs but 800 pounds, and the whole
eduipment-embracing shafts, boxes, driving
pulley etc,-only about 1000 pounds; where
as a steam machinery plant for the same pur-
pose would weigh not less than 200 tons, and
the expense of running would be enormously
greater.
HONEY IN MEDICINE.
The honey produced by small wild bees IN
the eucalyptus trees of Tasmania seems to be
proving a valuable agent in English medical
practice. Experiments indicate that It IS an
important food, an agreeable substitute for cod
liver oil, an anti-catarrhal, superior substl-
tute for digitalis in action on the heart, febrl-
fuge, and an anti-parasitic in tubercular and
scrofulous affections. The eucalyptus honey
is very pleasant to the taste, and 200 parts OF
it contain III parts of active principles, IN
Guiding eucalyptol, eucalyptene, terpine,
eymal and odorous, resinOus and coloring
matters.
AN UNTRUsTwoRTHY RESERVOIR.
The Marjelen Lake, at height of 5000 feet
in Upper Valais, Switzerland, enjoys the unique
distinction of being formed by the damming OF
the valley by a glacier. The surplus water
from this lake usually escapes through under
ground channels, but sometimes accumulates
to such an extent that the ice barrier is burst,
and the lake temporarily disappears. One of
these periodical emptyings lately occurred, and
was witnessed by peasant who CHANGED to be
yery near. As the ice dam broke, the vast
mass of water swept out, carrying away huge
fragments of ice and rock, tumbllng into the
crevasses, bursting them up in turn, and rising
up over the glacier in gigantic waves. At the
lower end of the glacier the valley was very
narrow. and here the water again pushed
through the obstructing ice-though several
hundred feet thick-with deafening crash,
and finally plunged down into the Rhone. A
canal is being constructed in the hope that it
may put an end to these outbursts.
AFRICAN BUTTER.
An interesting bush, resembling Spanish
broom, has been discovered on the west coast OF
Africa by two German naturalists. Thay have
named the POlygGlG batyrdeeG, but it is known
IL Toll
The seeds yield us per cent. of yellowish.
nutty-havored fat, which softens at about IS
degrees F. but does not become fluid below l25
degrees, and which would serve as an excellent
substitute for butter. The fat does not easily
become rancid.
MISCELLANEOUS.
In the limits of the United States are found
4l3 species of trees, of which 16, when thor
ough1y dried, will sink in water. The black
ironwood (Condelia .ferra) is the heaviest ofall,
being more than 80 per cent. heavier than
water. 1t grows only in southern Florida, and
all other species heavier than water are confined
to the hot and dry regions of the country.
Exposed parts of the Scottish coast are some
times hammered with force of ton and
a-half to the square foot by waves of the Ger
man Ocean; and with force of 3 tons on the
Atlantic side. At Skerryvole lighthouse, on
March Sd of this year, block of limestone,
weighing Is TONS was moved more than $50
feet from place in the surf to which it was
lifted in similar gale in 1897
About $50 species of birds are now known to
make North America their home. and repre-
sentatives of 80 additional species find their
way to this continent from other countries.
The chances of resuscitation in a case of
drowning according to DR.. Clark, depend
greatly on whether the plunge into the water
was suicidal or accidental. A suicide cannot
be saved after minutes of submergence, but
the accidentally drowned may be submerged 20
and possibly 80 minutes, and yet be resusci-
tated.
A prize offered by the French Minister of
the quickest pigeon fight from Peri
gueux to Paris, 80 miles, was won in hours
and "a minutes. There were 2746 entries i'll
the race.
The luminous buoy of NJ. Dibos has been
tried in France, and seen at distance of 81
miles.
A curious farinaceous substance is reported
by NJ. Rene de Champagne to have fallen in
Asiatic Turkey during a hailstorm, and to
have been sold by the kurds under the name of
celestial grain" 1t is described as resembling
the mulberry in shape and size.
A rare and curious animal-a lizard known
to science as PhrynoSorne planiceps-has been re-
ceived in Paris from South America. 1t is COM
pletely covered with wart-like points, and
when frightened it fiattens itself out on the
ground bristling with points.