The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-24
WITH THE SCIENTISTS.
A New Use for the ROentgen Rays
Science Association so Years Old.
New York E,unni,ncr Post

ScAcnCE ASSOclatkO0 Oh cars OAus
New York Evening Post.
A novel application of the Roentgen rays
in anatomical investigation has recently
been made in England which promises TO
furnish considerable assistance in studying
the condition of various parts and organ
isms of body. The x rays have. as is we'll
known, been employed to show the relation
Oh various opaque portions OF BODY 10
lately it has been desired to study the blood
vessels in their positions previous to dissec-
ton. In the experiments alluded to metal
nc mercury was employees, which was
forced into the veins and arteries at slight
pressure: AS the mercury is quite opaque
10 the x rays, a photograph will show all
the branches of the blood vessels in sill
houette, and their structure and relative
positions appear most distinctly.
The symptoms of 'sunstroke" are known
10 occur without any necessary connection
with the rays of the sun or high tempera-
lures, but somewhat novel view of the
cause of the malady has been taken by DR.
Sambon, an Italian physician, who believes
the cause to be specified germ According
10 Dr Sambon, the specific organism OF
SlrlaSlS (SiriaSiS or thermic fever is so
called from connection which is believed
by certain people to exist between Sirius
the dog star. and sunstrolze) SIS probably
spread in the superficial layers of the soil
IKE other pathogenic micro-organisms, and
may be conveyed to man with dust blown
by the wind or thrown up under the tread
OF marching column. 1t is then inhaled
INTO the lungs or ingested into the alimen-
tary canal, where II produces the Virulent
toxin which probably, as in cholera, be-
comes absorbed and sets up the symptoms
of the disease"
The fiftieth anniversary of the American
ASSOCIATION for the Advancement of Science
VIII be celebrated in Boston from Aug. Y
10 ~, and at the same time number of
AFFILIATED scientific organizations will hold
their annual meetings In this number are
included the American Forestry Association,
the American Geological Society, the Ameri
can Chemical Society, the Society of Eco
n0mc E2tomtologists the Society for Pro,
Tor the Promotion of Agricultural Science,
and the American Mathematical Society.
The buildings of the Massachusetts, Insti-
tGto of Technology and the Boston Society
OF Natural History will be used for the
meetings OF the association, while invita-
tons have beer received to visit Harvard
University and the Essex Institute at Salem.
BY a decree of the Car, the metric sys-
adopted for use throughout the Russian en-
pire: and commission has also been or
ganized to consider the reform of the Rus
sian calendar so as to harmonize with that
prevailing in the other civilized countries.
At Los Angeles, Cal, during the past year
company has been making a series of ex-
periments in which the force of the waves
of the ocean was used to generate electric
power for light and other purposes. A wharf
made of metal was built extending $50 feet
out into the ocean, and at the end was
placed the generating plant, which included
three floats connected with vertical hydraulic
compressors, which in turn are connected
with a Storage-pressure tank. The move
ment of the waves alternately raises and
lowers the floats pumping fresh water from
reservoir into the Storage-preSSure tank
where the water is subjected to sufficient
pressure to drive it ont with great force
through q water wheel. This water motor
operates the dynamo, and the water which
has passed from the motor flows into the
reservoir to be used again. The machinery
is almost self-governing, as in case of storm
or heavy sea the accumulated pressure in
the storage tank eXertS itself against the
pump pistons and offsets the action of the
floats. A thorough test of the apparatus
was made during the winter: when all kinds
of weather were experienced, and the plant
is now to be enlarged to capacity OF two
hundred horse power.
The use of electrical appliances in the
ships of the United States navy has been
more general than in the case of the war
vessels of other powers, and, accordingly.
the Japanese officers experimenting the
construction of the two new imperial cruis-
erS at San Francisco are not only making
use of all that has been done in this line,
but are eager to secure the maximum eff
Gle ICY and adaptability from their electric
equipment. complete system of electric
ammunition-h oists has been devised to send
the shells and powder from the magazines
and deliver them in armored hoods on the
main deck with Il rapidity depending on the
caliber of the ammunition Thus, the
tweve-pounder and 21A-pourder HOSTS can
deliver four boxes of shells and two boxes
of powder per minute for each of these
classes of guns, while the eight-inch hoist
can deliver three rounds per minute to its
respective gun. There are ordinary and bat
tie circuits to distribute the current, and in
the case of the latter the wires are pro-
tected and carried entirely within the ar
mored portion of the cruiser. ship
equipped with the appliances designed for
the Chitose, as one of the new Japanese
cruisers is named, will be able to fire with
in two hours all the ammunition she can
carry rapid is the electric service ex-
pected to prove.
The manufacture of charcoal from ordi-
nary peat promises to become an important
industry in Italy, where charcoal is extern
sively used for fuel and the supply Of peat
is practically unlimited. The peat is worked
in machine TO fine paste, and leaves it
in thick cylinders, which are dried in the
open air. After from three to four weeks
of drying, the sticks may be used as fuel
but it is considered more profitable to
vert the peat to charcoal in retort. Three
tons of the peat make one ton of charcoal
and as it's cost is about S. a ton at the re-
tort and the price of wood charcoal is from
SIG to $40 per ton, the profit in the business
is evident. The process has been devised
and patented by a Mr. Blundell, of Eng
land and company has been organized
to carry on the industry in Italy on a large
scale.