Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1892-02-26
Scientific Miscellany.

EXPERIMENTING WITH CoLD.-The
laboratory of Prof. Pictet, at Berlin, is
designed for the investigation of the
effects OF cold. The refrigerating ma
chinery, driven by several powerful
engines, keeps the objects under OBJ
servation at any temperature between
20 degrees and 200 degrees below zero
c. as long as may be required. The
cooling is effected by the evaporation
of liquids, and is divided into three
stages, each with its special apparatus.
For,the first stage is used the mixture
OF sulphurous and carbonic acids
known as "Pictet's fluid" which is
condensed at pressure of about two
atmospheres in spiral tube cooled by
water. Oxide OF nitrogen Qaughing
gas) is the liquid chosen for the second
stage. 1t is condensed at a pressure
of 10 or II atmospheres in tube
kept at about 80 degrees below zero
by the action of the first circuit. For
the third stage air is employed, and
passes into the liquid state at pres
sure OF IS atmospheres when the tenn
perature is kept at 135 degrees below
zero by the other circuits. The evap-
Grafton of the liqulied air gives cold
Of about 200 degrees below zero. Abb
solute zero is placed at 273 degrees
below zero c, but Prof. Pictet regards
255 degrees below zero as about the
lowest attainable artificial tempera-
ture. One of the effects of great cold
has been the conversion of quicksilver
into beautiful fern-like crystals. Glyce-
rine also has been crystallized. and
cognac has been given by freezing the
peculiar mellowness commonly at
tanned only by long keeping. The
most important result thus far, how
ever, has been the publication of
chloroform, the crystals that form in
the commercial chloroform at about
6S degrees below zero being almost alb
solutely pure.
MAGNESIUM LIGHTING.-A new mag
nesium lamp, devised by M. Dronier,
burns without attention for regular
period of twenty-four hours. A pound
of magnesium is consumed in about
one hundred hours, giving light
equal to that of 130 pounds of candles,
80 pounds OF petroleum, or somewhat
more than 100 cubic yards of gas.
The advantage is offered of freedom
from risk of fire. The present run
ming expense OF the lamp exceeds 30
cents an hour, but with the anticipated
great reduction in the cost of the
metal, lighting by magnesium may be
made fairly economical.
Projected RAPID TRANsIT.-The
schedule time for cars on the proposed
electric railway between Vienna and
Buda-Pesth is expected to be Is
minutes for the entire distance of $50
miles. As planned, the road will have
two main power stations, with 100
sub-stations, but only three or four
stopping places. Each car will be
about 13O feet along, with four bogie
trucks, and an electric motor at each
end will receive current through con-
tact wheels running on conducting
rails. The ends of the cars, to di-
minish air resistance, will be shaped
like those of ship.
POWER FOR SMALL BoATs.-The novel
feature of new electric boat, the idea
of French engineer, is a sea-water
battery. The zinc and copper plates
are under the boat, and can be raised
or lowered by pulleys, serving as a
kind of keel while at the same time
driving a propeller by means OF a mo-
tor.
THE MAGIC OF MODERN SCIENCE
In a paper on "Ignis Fatuus of Photo
graphy," Mr.. F. Adolphe mentions thu
following as among the specialtiel
which modern men of science arr
seeking as a means whereby their re
suits may be indirectly turned int
gold: 1. The artificial production o
the diamond from carbon, which
means the capitalization of carbon
y. A prevention or cure for epileps!