The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1890-12-13
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.
11Nrs or pRoaREss or rHIRrY YEARS.


LINES OF PROGRESS OF THIRTY YEARS
In his address to the sixtieth annual meeting
of the British Association for the advancement
of Science, the President, Sir +. A. Abel, re-
viewed the progress of science since the last
meeting of the Association at the same place
Leeds in 1858. The subjects to which refer.
ence was made included the transmission OF
electric energy, the application of voltaic en-
ergy to the fusion and welding of metals, the
discovery of the use of aluminium in the pro-
duction of iron and steel castings, the measure
ment and control ofthe explosive force of gun
powder, the composition and value OF the
smokeless powders, recent inventions OF ex'
plosives for mining purposes, and the develop
ment of the petroleum and natural gas fields OF
the United States.
ONYX FROM NEW MEXICO.
The ricolite and green onyx quarries now
operated in Grant County, New Mexico, marx
most remarkable discovery. The stone forms
a true fissure vein so feet wide and more than
mile long, and it is taken out in huge blocks
and carried to Chicago-where the quarrles are
owned-for use in inside and outside decora-
ton of houses. The material is of variety Of
colors-dark green and cream, striped and mot
tied, also pink and salmon,-is susceptible OF a
high polish. very tough. and the only stone OF
the kind in the world that can be carved.
IMPURE ICE.
The Massachusetts Board of Health has ex-
amined 76 samples of water and 1856 samples OF
ing that-contrary to general belief-ice may
be nearly as impure as the water from which
it forms. The Capitalization of the water
forces out the color, salt, and most of the
matter in solution and clear ice from polluted
sources may be comparatively free from i'm
purities and the probability of hiding disease
germs. But in snow ice, and ice formed by
flooding, the impurities become entangled, sc
that freezing gives no publication. The public
is warned by the board, therefore, that ice i
unsafe for domestic purposes when obtained
from a source polluted by sewage beyond thai
which would be allowable in drinking water
and that in general it is much safer to use fol
drinking water, and for placing in contac
with food, that portion OF the ice that is clear.
INSECT ELECTRICITY.
Renewed attention has been directed to some
curious experiments made 25 years ago by M
Nicolas Wagner. 1t was then demonstrated
that fixed electric currents exist in the wing
of butterflies. and that the color of the wing
is determined by these currents. Artificial
currents changed the reds into orange anc
blacks into red and constant battery pro
duced spots varying in shape with the strength
of the current. By means of electricity, it wa:
also possible to produce kind of atrophy, anC
to change the shape of the wings.
AFRICAN PYGMIEs PAINTED AT PoMPEII.
1t is calculated that not a third of the artistic
treasures of Pompeii have yet been brought tC
light, and that at the present rate of explora
ton, by no means slow, some 20 years mus
elapse before the whole of the buried city is
again revealed. Recent discoveries include
some fine mural paintings i'll a building evil
IDENTIFY designed as bath-house. One picture
represents Nile scenery with dwarfs or pygmies
in combat with various animals; and another
shows dwarf trying to draw another out OF
the water but, being seized by crocodile, he
is himself the subject of vain attempt al
rescue by third pygmy.
CITY's HANDMADE.
GOOnnrQScpd introduced
for distributing uniform time to clocks, seems
to be giving great satisfaction in many indus
tries of Paris, and new uses for it are con
stantly being found. Elevators are now run
by it, at a saving, it is said, of fifty per cent
The compressed air is supplied also for refriger
ating purposes, its expansion in properly con-
structed cooling-r0Oms causing the tempera-
ture to fall to point far below zero.
MISCELLANEOUS.
A reprint of an address before the Franklin
Institute by Thos. Pray Jr., shows an aston
lshlng difference in the cost of Steam-power in
different establishments. the range being from
S7.98 to S564.32 per horse power for year OF
$3.50 working hours. A great waste of power
from various causes is believed to be very COM
mon in locomotives, steamships, electric gen.
orators, etc.
NJ. Crocq has argued strongly to the Belgian
Academy CT Medicine in favor of bleeding. By
it he arrests all cases of pneumonia-from
which 5to 35per cent. of deaths result by usual
treatment-and cures rheumatic fever.
A Belgian chemist has found that the green
tar left after extracting the oil from the white
bark of the birch will effectually preserve even
the most delicate textures from decay. 1t
yields neither acid nor alkaloid. is remarkably
fluid in alcoholic solution. and when once
dried resists even the action of alcohol.
By electrolysis of a fluoride in molten state,
NJ. Minet extracts q. IS grammes of aluminium
for an expenditure of one horsepower hour.
An Italian method of protecting iron articles
from rust consists in sinking them near the
negative pole ofan electric bath composed of 10
litres of water, so grammes of chloride of man.
ganese, and 200 grammes of nitrate of ammo
MIA. The current causes film of metallic
manganese to be deposited, which prevents the
iron from rusting.
Two Belgian Investigators have found that
widowers, at all ages, are very much more
subject to consumption than either bachelors
or married men; and that widows are more
liable to die of the disease than single women.
Direct contagion from wife to husband or hus-
band to wife is the only explanation suggested.
1t is estimated that one horse power of electric
energy will furnish ample heat for street car,
without smoke or dust, or reduction of seating
capacity.
MOTHERS Remember that Castoria does not
contain Morphine, Opium, or any other narcotic
substance, in any quantity, shape or form. tits
entirely vegetable. DleaSant TO take OOsifivalv