The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-11-27

to conditions of heat, cold aud moist
ure that is has been recognized as I'M
safe to attempt certain tasks-such as
those requiring accurate mathematical
calculations when these conditions are
unfavorable The influence of atmos-
pheric variations on the attention of
school hildren has just been a subject
of investigation by DIR. NJ. G. Schuyler.
From observations in four different
schools in Belgium, he finds that the
attention of children varies inve rsely
with the temperature of the air, being
greater in the winter than in the sum-
mer; that it is greater in the higher
than in the lower classes; that it is
higher among girls than boys, the diff
ference being greatest in the winter;
and that it decreases from the begin
ming to the close of each half. day, be-
ing greatest in the morning.
The annual theory of Photographic
development, according to a COM
munication by Mr.. Edward Banks to
the London and Provincial Photo
graphic Association, is that the unox-
idized hydrogen of the pyrogallic acid
Ito cite one of the best known devel-
Opers-brings out images of combining
with the bromine displaced from the
sensitive bromide of silver by the ac-
ton of light. Mr.. Banks finds evil
dence, however, that the atoms of bro
mine and silver are rearranged by the
light without decomposition or liberia
ton of bromine. He contends that de-
velOpement is due to the setting up of
a weak electric current, which decom-
poses some of the water of the devel-
Oping solution, the liberated oxygen
of which combines with the hydrogen
of the pyro, the liberated hydrogen of
the water-nOt of the pyro-reducing
the light-struck bromide of silver by
combining with the bromine. He had
developed images with plain water,
the film being copper plate and plac-
ed in the water with zinc plate.
Expe iments are being made in Eu-
ropean countries with alcohol for light
ing purposes. The flame of alcohol is
scarcely visible, but incandescent
burners make it possible TO get bril-
liant light from any source of sutfi-
cient heat.
Just what part the ocean may play
in International bimetallism cannot
yet be guessed, but Professor Liver
sidge's estimate that the sea may con-
tain more than 100000 100000 tons of
gold-this calculation being based on
experiments showing from one-half to
one grain of gold per one ton of sea-
water off New South Wales - will
doubtless lead TO many S themes for
putting into commercial circulation a
part of Neptune's reserve. An En-
glish writer suggests sea-mining with
an old iron ship. The vessel should be
foated by two air.tight compartments,
the hold should he cleared and asphalt
ed, an Inlet and an outlet should be
provided. and a twenty horsepower
engine working paddle-wheel should
drive through the hold from 10000 to
100, 900 tons of water every twenty
four hours. The gas from sulphur
burned in a small porcelain furnace
should be blown into the water as it
enters the ship. SulphurOus acid re-
duces gold from its solutions, and in
the large hold the reduced metal
would have time to settle. The chief
working expense would be for crude
sulphur of which the consumption
need not be very large. 1t is proposed
that such u vessel be anchored in some
sheltered strait aud dOcKed once year
to recover the gold from the hold.
High civilization does not seem to
favor extreme length OF life. A Ger
man statistician finds that the Ger
man Empire has but rs subjects over
100 years of age; France, 2l3; England,
l46; Ireland, 578; Scotland, 46; Den
mark 2; Belgium. 5; Sweden, 10; Nor
way, %; Switzerland, 0; Spain, 40;
Servia, 575; Roumania, l,O84; Bull
garia, 1883. The last named country
has a centenarian for every thousand
inhabitants. The oldest man in the
world is believed to be Bruno Cotrim,
a negro of Rio JaneirO, whose age Is
$50. A Moscow cabman is in his 10th
year, and Servia, in 1890, had three IN
habitants between 1876 and l4O, with Is
between Us and 1876.
A Iion-fsced boy recently exhibited
in Berlin, Stephan Sedlmayer, has the
face entirely covered with Blonde hair,
with the exception of the eyellds and
red portions of the lips, and the hair is
very thick on his back. The boy Is
well developed and intelligent, speak
ing German and Polish. He was born
in the government of Warsaw.
Experiments by two French chem
lists showed lately that the same per-
son digested 95.8 per cent. of ordinary
butter and SO of cocOa-butter, the latter
giving less disturbance in excess.
The fruit of the service berry, the
well-known decorative shrub that re-
tains its bright red berries even in mid
winter, was the source of sort of sci
entific puzzle about half century ago
says Cosmos. In 1852, Pelouze discov-
cred in standing juice of service berries
sugary, perfectly crystalized sub
stance having the properties of glucose
| The new sugar was named SOr6ne Oh
| sorboSe. There was nothing astonish
! ing about the discovery, but when
other scientists desired to make some
sorbose the puzziing thing happened
| the product absolutely refused to ap
pear The mystery has now beer
cleared up by Nj. Bertrand, Parisiat
chemist. Repeatedly exposing crushed
service berries to the air, he obtained
the usual alcoholic fermentation, fol
lowed by the growth of whitish layel
l. ~ tss.r