Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-26
THE ELECTRIC WORLD.
New Applications of the Mysterious Current
to Everyday Life.

New Applications of the Mysterious Current
to Everyday Life.
WRITTEN FOR THE DIsPArcH.i
A NEW adaptation of electricity has been
made by large publishing house. In the office
of the superintendent are ten electric lamps.
each having its distinctive color which are con-
nected bymeans Of wires with the automatic
counting machines On the ten large printing
presses located in an adjoining building. When
the presses are in operation the circuit is
opened and closed by the working of the count
Ing machines, causing quick flashing of light
in the lamp Thus every sheet OF pa per printed
IN the establishment telegraphs its record to
the office, where the operation of each machine
can be seen and its speed or delay noted. An
interesting point in this connection is that the
speed OF the large perfecting press Is SO great
that 1t was found necessary to record each two
sheets printed instead OF single sheets, and
even then the flashes of its lamps are almost
continuous in appearance. showing that while
tne press IS not quite as quick as lightning, u
is too fast for the eye to follow. Managers of
large esti bishments, v no wish to be able to see
the operation of their machinery while work.
ing al their desks. are likely to avail them
selves of notifications of this new departure.
ATTENTION has been drawn to the advisa-
bility of the adoption of early remedial meas
ures bv those who are suffering from the effects
of too long exposure to strong electric light
The tired" sensation in the optic nerve, which
such exposure causes, and the local iniamma-
tion which accompanies it. are both due to the
fact that that the luminous waves proceeding
from powerful electric lamp aIe not of very
great intensity. The general symptoms in
duced in the eyes of people who have been eX-
posed to the glare of unprotected lamps for too
long time are: C) Transient irritability Of
the retina; (2) local Inflammation; (3) tears and
flashing" Of light before the eye: "a incipient
paralysis of the eye. Usually people expert
ence sensations which are analogous to those
which are felt when particles OF foreign mat
ter are present beneath the evelid. In order to
prevent the sight being permanently injured,
it's necessary TO adopt hygienic shades. hough
these do not act thoroughly in reducing the in
tehsity of the luminous waves, Rest must he
sought, and the pain relieved Dy the applica-
ton OF cold water compresses. When the pain
is almost unbearable-a calamity frequently
suffered by those who b I'VE been exposed for
many hours day to the glare of powerful
lamps medical man may relieve il by the in
lection of cocaine and atropine. The French
call this peculiar malady electrical sun
stroke."~
AN interesting exhibition was given in the
central station of the electric light company in
Melbourne recently. A supper was served. all
the viands of which were cooked by electricity.
The culinary operations included the grIlling
OF beefsteaks, the making OF toast and the boil
ing of water.
CLOCKS are being made for the towers Of
churches and public buIllngs which, instead Of
having an illuminated dial with dark hands,
have dark face with enormous pointers Of
light. These pointers are made of glass, over
an hon frame, and are rendered visible for
miles by ihcandescent lights, which give them
the appearance of slender white rods of fire.
-.
A PATENT has been granted for an electrical
drill for oil wells. The device consists of
series of motors in tandem, connected in such
a way as to make one motor. The design has
been to get the power within six-inch diame-
ter, SO that the entire mechanism, which much
resembles a common boiler can be lowered in
the well, and the power can be applied at the
bottom. The drill bits are firmly fastened on
the rod, which is worked rapidly in and out Of
a cylinder, after the manner of piston rod.
-.
THE primary battery has been applied to the
propulsion of invalid chairs in England. A
strong chair. weighing about 2OOpounds, is fitted
with a battery at the back of the seat, and can
be speeden up to about i've miles an hour. As it
is calculated that the cost of maintenance Of
the battery does not exceed cents per hour,
and as no renewal would be required during an
ordinary days use, the economy of this mode
of propulsion for invalids is apparent.
.~+
THERE are many indications that before long
the electric light will be the only iluminant
employed on railway trains. An important
step bas been taken by the Russian Govern
ment, which has decided that all the cars
shall be lighted by the electric light in future.