The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-13

4
of a blanket, or raised by additional COW
erings. This new adaptation of the prin-
ciple of electric heating is made in various
forms, from the simple pad, which lends
itself to all ordinary uses, and the wicker
covered mat, or foot-warmer, to a cape
like covering, which will completely en-
wrap the neck and the upper part OF the
body.
THE PLAY OF CoLoRS IN THE ELECTRIC
FURNACE of the most beautiful pro-
cesses in modern metallurgy is the melting
of certain metals in the electric furnace,
and it is now possible to project upon a
screen every phase of such an operation.
Some idea of the wonderful play OF colored
light, which thus becomes so toned down
as to be tolerable to the naked eye, may be
formed by description lately given by
Professor Roberts-Austen OF the projection
of an electric furnace during the melting
of metallic chromium. AS the current is
turned on the interior of the furnace ap-
pears as a dark crater, the dull red poles
revealing the metallic luster and gray
shadows OF the metal beneath them. Soon
these poles are tipped with dazzling white,
and in the course of few minutes the
temperature has risen to about $500 de-
grees c. A lambent halo OF green blue
now encircles each pole the central band
of the arc changing rapidly from peach
blossom to lavender and purple. AS it
becomes necessary to lengthen the arc,
and the poles are drawn further and
further asunder, the irregular masses of
chromium fuse in silver droplets In the
midst of light changing from intense
blue to green of lustrous emerald. Then
the last fragments OF chromium dis
solve into shining sheet, which reflects
/ ND al11@
with orange hues. Professor Roberts Aus
ten adds: "Still few minutes later, as
the chromium burns, shower of brilliant
sparks of metal are projected from the fur
mace amid the clouds OF russell or brown
vapors which wreathe the little crater;
while, if the current is broken, and the
light dies out, you wish that Turner had
painted the limpid tints, and that Ruskin
might describe their loneliness. The effect
when either tungsten or silver replaces
chromium is much the same, but in the
latter case the glowing lake is more bril-
liant in it's turbulent boiling, and blue
vapors rise to be condensed in iridescent
beads of distilled silver, which stud the
crater-wal."
THE CAUSE OF DEATH IN ELECTRIC SHOCK
The theory of the disintegrating effect of
the electric current upon brain and nerve
tissues in persons electrocuted has been
controverted by DR.. A. NJ. Belle. DR..
Belle holds that death in electric shock is
entirely owing to the contraction of the
arteries produced by the current through
its influence on the nervous system. The
effect of this construction is that the heart
fails in its attempt to overcome the me-
chanical impediment arising from the
greatly retarded flow of blood. in the
!, -
has been found that when drugs have been
given to counteract the constructive effect
of the current much larger doses of cleo
tricity than the ordinary can be borne.
This fact cannot but have bearing upon
the much disputed question of resuscita-
ton after electrocution. Notwithstanding
the apparently conclusive testimony which
has been given on this subject, it is still
believed by some medical experts that
given a criminal who had an exceptional
capacity for resisting the electric shock
and this capacity varies in every one-and
let his power OF resistance be further in
creased BY timely dose of the drugs men
toned, the effect of the electrocuting cur
rent would be so far modified as to make it
possible to resuscitate the body after the
execution, even though signs of apparent
death were exhibited.
ELECTRIC POWER SALABLE CoMMoDITY.-
An incident is reported from Niagara
Falls which illustrates the readiness of
manufacturers to utilize electric power.
1t has been generally expected that Buffalo
would be large user of the electric power
generated by the Cataract Company at
Niagara Falls. Considerable delay has
taken place in the negotiations between
the city and the company for the power,
nd int mo hpr on STR ha g
arisen. According to a Buffalo paper,
''while Buffalo is dickering for Niagara
Falls power and talking about impossible
restrictions, Depew has made bid for it.,
and literally goes half way to get it. In
all probability Depew will get the power
before Buffalo does" Depew, a growing
town, eight miles from Buffalo, actually
stepped in and pre-empted large amount
of the power for which Buffalo was some
what too complacently bargaining. The
town has large locomotiye-Shops, coupler
works, etc.
TELEPHONE MESSAGES MUST BE KEPT Sc
cRET.-An act has been approved by the
Governor of the State of New York requir-
ing employees OF telephone companies, on
and after September l next, to be as secret
i've regarding the nature of their business
as are the men and women who handle
Geographic messages. The act makes it
punishable by a maximum fine of $1,000 or
by imprisonment for not more than six
months for any person 10 wrongfully OBJ
tain, or attempt to obtain, any knowledge
of telegraphic or telephone message by
connivance with a clerk, operator, messen-
ger or other employe of a telegraph or tele-
phone company. The same punishment
may fall on the operator or other employe
of the telegraph or telephone company
who willfully divulges to any one but the
person for whom it was intended the con-
tents or the nature of any message or dis
patch intrusted to him for transmission or
delivery The same penalties attach to re-
fusal or neglect of an employee to transmit
or deliver such message, or the aiding or
abetting of any unlawful business or
traffic.
THE SPEED OF ELEcTRICITY.-The speed
of electricity under the most favorable con-
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