The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-09-09
LIQUIDAIR


Baltimore Sum-
Experiments with liquid air as part
Of a lecture on the subject by Profes-
sor William Simon, teacher of chem
istry at the College OF Physicians ard
Surgeons. the Maryland College OF
Pharmacy and the BaItimor@ College
Of Dental Surgery, interested last
night a large audience at Lehmann's
hall, North Howard street. The audi
ence was composed almost entirely Of
TIE delegates to the ~forty-sixth annu-
al meeting Of the American Pharma-
teutica1 Association, now being held in
this city, together with their wives,
daughters and friends
Before commencing his lecture Pro-
fessor Simon told the audience that
he was indebted to Mr.. Charles Z.
Tripler, of New York, for the liquid
air. He explained that the air has not
been forwarded in alright vessels, as
ii would either explode such a vessel
Or become a mass of gas. Professor
Simon stated that OF the twenty-tnree
and a half gallons which had beer sent
between Is and SO per cent. had es-
capped in transit The experiments
made by Professor Simon tended to
show h intense low temperature of
liquid air, which he says is 312 degrees
~(Fahrenheit) below zero.
HANDLED WITH "A UPPER.
A tin dipper was used by Professor
Simon to remove the liquid air from
the vessel in which it was transported,
From the time the first quantity was
taken out of the dipper until the ex-
periments ceased-about an hour la
ter-the attention of the audience was
undivided. The heat in the hall was
almost uncomfortable, and as the swell
tering audience endeavored to keep
cool by frequent visits to the ice COOL
er and a liberal use of handkerchiefs,
a desire to possess some Of the liquid
air became general, and from all ports
of the hall could be heard at different
times persons expressing a wish that
they could a k a quantity Of it TO
their hotels.
When taken from the vessel the
liquid air, in contact with the moisture
of the surrounding atmosphere, con-
densed it at once to a vaporous mass,
resembling fog. This was accompan-
led by a cracking noise, which led
many to believe that the air had be-
come hot by coming in contact with the
dipper. The dipper was afterward
passed around among the audience,
a the greatest timidity vas mani
tested by some to putting the ends of
their fingers in the air, seemingly
afraid that they would be burned. One
young lady in particular was so sur
prised to find hat the contents of the
dipper vas not hot that she CAV ex-
preston to her establishment by de-
claring aloud, "Oh, it is cold"
Parafine, wax, a rubebr ball, a piece
of copper and another of steel We're
placed in a vessel into which had pre-
| viously been poured some of the liquid
air. After they had remained in h
| vessel a short time Professor Simon
took them out, and to the surprise of
| every one they had become brittle, the
! piece of copper alone remaining NAL
| leable.
A quantity of mercury was placed in
the space between a glass globe and
one somewhat larger. Liquid air was
| poured into the inside globe, and in a
F.! short time the mercury had frozen.
| into a vessel filled with a quantity of
liquid air. Hammer and knife were
needed to break an egg which had been
placed in a cup containing liquid air,
and a piece of meat which had been
| put through the same experiment was
SO cold upon being taken out that for
J some minutes after touching it the
extremely cold.
FROZEN MERCURY.
One of the most interesting expert
ments was the freezing of a quantity
of mercury by means of the liquid air
into a solid bar, which, suspended
from a tripod, held fast a heavy bar
or iron. When the audience saw the
successful result Of this experiment it
broke forth into great applause. An
other equally interesting experiment
was the pouring of water into a tin
tea or coffee pot which had been i'm
meresed in h liquid air and then
placed over a flaming gas jet. First
of all, the lecturer scraped off a guam
tity Of snow from the bottom and sides
of the vessel, Notwithstanding the
nearness of the flaming gas jet, and
then, to the surprise of the audience,
opened the vessel and out fell a num-
Der of pieces of ice.
An iron cylinder was then taken,
and, after being filled with liquid air,
stopped up with a cork. The cork had,
however, hardly been put in place when
h air expanded and the cork was
blown fully twenty feet across the hall,
amid great applause. The liquid air
vaporized SO quickly that it passed in
to a gaseous state n at once became
an irresistible force. This, the lecturer
stated, explains the expected use of
liquid air as a motive power.
Summing up the results Of his ex-
pertinent, Professor Simon stated that
AAfoto Vio IL III IlIIS NC 0SCa de- q
motive power. The trouble now in cen
Quoting electricity, he said, is due TIC
the resistance of the electric current
by the copper wire He said this re-
siStaDCe a be reduced to a minimum
| by cooling the wires by means of liqui-
i.ed air. Liquid air can also be used as
a refligerating agent, and q relatively
small quantity, if properly arranged,
would keep cool any house or the
warmest summer day. 1t is C aimed
that it will prove useful also in keep
| ing down the temperature IN hospitals,
and thus naturally assist in the sue
cessful treatment of fever cases.
At the conclusion of the addresses,
a rising vote Of hanks was teEoere
Professor Simon, who graciously re-
piled, II at the same time suggested
that it be extended to Professor Trip
re". VINO made possible the lecture by
| se;'iin~ the air. The audience how
ever, would not bCar to this. bat final
~ Tie vote of tanks was extended to
Professor Simon Ink his asii.anrs-