The Washington times., 1894-11-25
Scientific Notes.


Popular opinion concerning the great value
OF platinum is largely at fault. One fire.
quently hears the statement that platinum is
more valuable than gold-that it is an ex-
ceedingly rare and curious element. Nothing
could De further from the truth. Pure plati-
mum is worth about So an ounce. The price
fiuctuates according to supply and demand.
In recent years it has been as low as sc an
ounce. Once, owing to a speculative corner,
it reached the top figure OF S17. but 1t soon
fell back to normal. Pure gold the world
over has a never-varying value of S20.67 an
ounce.
Platinum ewelry. which, by the way, is not
so much in vogue now as formerly, is expen-
sive because it is made from pure platinum;
but gold is always heavily alloyed for jewelers.
purposes: the pure article would be entirely
too soft to wear well. About three tons of
platinum is annually consumed in this coun-
try in the manufacture OF incandescent cleo
trio lamps and for similar purposes. At least
another ton is used in the manufacture of ar
tificial teeth.
Although the magnifying property of the
lens was known 800 years ago, yet the micro
scrope was little more than a toy until the
the year 1857, when the introduction of the
achromatic lens caused it to reach high
place as scientific instrument.
With the aid OF modern inventions the
microscope has now enabled scientists to
learn something OF the habits of numerous
low forms of life whose very existence was in
doubt until recent years.
At the present day the expert microscopic
can both see and measure objects no larger
than the ee-hundred-thousandth part Of an
inch.
Dol; TO- ~,
spontaneous generation will not credit their
having proceeded from parent, but profess
to solve the problem by the simple assertion
that these small forms OF life have come into
existence spontaneously.
1t may be asked, now how does this techni-
cal scientific question interest the public?
The answer is that it has now been saticfac-
torily proved that many diseases-typLoid
fever and tuberculosis among the number
are caused by microbes, and it would be well
that every thinking man and woman should
clearly understand that these complaints can
not arise spontaneously, but appear to be
always produced by the action of some already
existing germs.
We live in an age of the intensest mental
growth. Science penetrateS deeper and deeper
into the secrets of being, teaching US at the
same time the conditions of improvement and
progress: while the results OF our more com
plete insight into the nature of things have
matured our whole trend of thought and rem
dered our world conception more sober, more
positive and clearer.
The new philosophy which is dawning
upon mankind has been briefly called monism
or the theory of oneness, which indicates
that the world. we ourselves included, must
be conceived as one great whole.
All CONGRATULATIONS, such as matter, mind,
and motion, are distractions representing as
poets of reality but not entities or things-in-
themselves by combination of which the
universe has been pieced together and all our
notions of nature can be formulated In exact
statements which, when properly understood,
form one harmonious system of natural laws
Monsm is the product of the scientific ten
denotes OF our age; it is the principle that per-
Vades Them it is their consummation and in
it the spirit of modern science is concen-
trated, as it were. in its quintessence. As
such monism not only forms center for the
various specialties of scientific research,
throwing light upon their interrelations and
their aims, but is also destined to penetrate
the public mind TO rally, 10 render judicious
and to direct all efforts at reform and TO re-
generate our entire spiritual life in all its
various fields.
a few years ago a howl of indignation. to
say nothing Of shouts of laughter and ridI-
the hardihood'to make public statemet that
mans ancestors walked on all fours. People
often sneer at the theory by saying that they
do not believe that man originated from mon
key. They actually think that Darwin claimed
that men descended from existing apes
Those who make such statements are totally
ignorant of the first principles, and certainly
their opinions on the general subject is OF no
account.
What scientists do claim is that men. mon
keys, apes, gorillas, chimDanzes, ourang
outangs, and so FORTH have descended from
lower forms, and that man by his brain power
aided by other things. has far outstripped his
competitors in the race for leadership. Mod
ern research has shown not only that the
above statement is highly PROBABLE. but also,
if we wish to know the starting point of the
human race. we must in time go back 10
primeval seas and in development to a single
cell.
Let US apply the arguments. already used
with releren g to plants and to other animals,
to man himself and see if the theory holds
good. The tendency of the human species.
like the rest of organic nature to increase in
a geometrical ratio can be easily shown by a
mathematical demonstration. Like other
forms the human offspring tend to vary from
the parents, and like them they are subject to
the laws of heredity Then has resulted a
struggle for existence. not only with one an-
other and their other animal enemies, but
also against the forces of inorganic nature.
This factor has been at work not only in
prehistoric times but also throughout all his
tory and the same force is active to-day. It
was probably slight increase in brain power
that gave man his first decided advantage.
The most cunning would thus survive, while
the dullest would perish. Fleetness and
strength also doubtless had their share in the
struggle or the body would not have in
creased in grace aud beauty.