The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1895-09-13
written tor the Citizen

consists in washing il with an autisep
tic liquid that may be removed with
warm water, and then keeping it in
air freed from bacteria. A two pei
cent. solution of persulphate of sodium
has been found a satisfactory liquid
The meat, first placed in a specially
devised chamher, capable of being her.
metically closed, is covered with the
antiseptic, which is drawn off through
cock at the end of ten minutes,
when warm water is admitted through
another cock and allowed to run as
long as it brings away any trace of the
chemical. The air which enters the
chamber through tube is thoroughly
purified by first passing through sui
phuric acid or some other autiseptic.
The germs of fermentation in the meat
being destroyed, and all the mauipula-
tion having been carried on in steriiz-
ed atmosphere, the meat may be left in
the closed chamber six months OF more
with the assurance that it will continue
fresh and unchanged.
An electric target the invention of
two Austrian military men, is reported
to have gwen satisfactory results in a
recent test at Gratz. The target is of
the usual form, but made OF meshes of
wire tOlerably close together. 1t is
connected with the stand by an cleo
trlc cable, and when any part of ii is
mt ny ball the electric current is
closed. ringing a bell, and signaling on
an Indicator at the stand the portion
OF the larger struck.
What appears to be the most power.
ful explosive yet produced has been
obtained by Prof. Victor Meyer. t,om
nithramethane. by substituting three
atoms oil hydrogen by one Of sod,uin.
The nitromethane is diluted WITH sui
phuric ether, and the alcoholic solu-
ton Of the substance resulting from
tue acton "i sodium upon alcohol is
then added. The precipitate is washed
with ether and dried by means of con-
centrated sulphuric acid. The explo.
slve force of the compound is terrific,
as Is also that of the product when po-
AoSSiuLl 10 uStu.
The latest advance in the transmits
sion of images by wire is the telepho-
tograph, new Swedish inven ton bas-
ed upon the remarkable variability of
the electric resistance of selenium UNI
der light OF varying intensity. The
transmltter is fine seienium point,
which is carried by mechanism moving
1t repeatedly forward and backward
IN travelling spiral of very close wind
lngs. The receiver is very suscept-
lple lncandescent lamp arranged in to
move III exactly the same way as the
selenium point. The despatching APP
paratus resembles photograph CAM
era, with its lens SO placed that the
image to be transmitted is thrown
upon the plane in which the selenium
point moves. An electric current pass
ing through the selenium point varies
with the lights and shadows through
which the point passes, and produces
III the incandescent lamp at the other
end corresponding variations, which
trace out picture identical with that
at the dispatching station. There are
various ways-such as photography,
aud viewing direct through some mag
nifier-of making the picture visible.
The speed of the selenium point is adj
justed to that of the eye for receiving
impressions, continuous image of
any part of the picture being given
when the point passes completely
over II in about an eighth of a second.
The high cost of platinum has natu-
rally led to efforts to discover some
cheaper metal that can oe used in its
place for electrical apparatus. 1t is now
suggested that glucinum may prove
the successful substitute. Recent ex-
periments indicate that this metal is
mechanically more resistant than iron
and is better conductor than copper,
while it is besides lighter than alumni
mum. Its market price would be about
$1,000 per pound, which is 100 times
less than that of platinum of the same
volume and 10 times less than that of
the same weight.
Multiple births are reported in LII
per cent. of all cases, the percentage
varying greatly in different races. The
proportion of twin births is greater in
country than in city, and very curl
ously seems to diminish as the size of
the town increases.
A reason for doubling that oxygen is
an element has been given to the Lon
don Royal Society by Mr.. l.. +. G..
Baly. Under the silent electric dis
charge, the gas that goes to the cathode
with LOG sparks is less dense than un.
electrified oxygen, while in the case OF
short sparks it is more dense.
A few unfortunate experiences sug-
gest that the aspect Of the entire earth
might very possibly be transformed il
each plant and animal species were to
be placed where the conditions are
most favorable to 1t. The rabbit in Aus
tralia and the gypsy moth in Massa.
chusetts have found their new homes
so well adapted to them that they are
even struggling with man for posses.
sion of the land. From the plant world
comes the similar lesson of the water
hyacinth. A few years ago a man
from New Orleans saw and admired
specimens of this plant in Colombia
where it Is harmless Towering plant
growing in tubs-and took home some
bulbs and grew them in his front yard
In couple of years the plant appeared
in patches in the Bayou st. John
which connects New Orleans with
Lake Pontchartrain. A year later the
bayou was full of il and navigation
was impeded while 1t has now over.
run all the canals In the vicinity
choked up the rivers, extended in great