The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-08-28
STEEL BOLTS
A NEW CHEMICAL AGENT THAT
HERALDS A NEW
ERA
BIG WONDER IN CHEMISTRY

laurie Acid May RevoIutionize the
Working of Metal-Its Applica-
ton Reduces Steel to the Con-
sistency of Putty-It May Be IT'LL
ICED in Many of the Mechanic
Arts.
One of the most valuable discoveries in
recent years, from a scientific point of
view, is that made by a Swedish pro-
lessor in chemistry in Washington. He
is Theodore OIan. He has found a new
element in the chemical world which will
soften steel, gold, silver, aluminium and
many other metals, making them as soft
and ductile in the hands as a ball of
putty. The discovery was made by the
merest accident, but that 1t will revolu-
tonize the working of metals in many
Of the arts and trades is beyond ques-
ton.
The new chemical agent is named
tauric acid by its discoverer. This coue,
from tauric moss, the principle element
. In the new chemical, tauric moss being
peculiar lichen or fungus which grows
on rocks and the roots of trees in many
parts of the country. 1t is common IN
this part of the United States, but lit
tie Is known of it in chemistry, says the
New York Prss.
WONDER IN CHEMISTRY.
Many eminent chemists who have
heard of the new discovery and have
seen practical tests made with 1t by its
discoverer say it is a wonder in the
word Of chemistry, and that it has a
great future before it.
Prof. Olan, the discoverer of tauric
acid, is connected with the laboratory of
the Swedish-American Society of Chem
ical Research in Washington. He has
given his dicovery to the world without
expecting to receive one penny in re-
turn. He will not even have 1t patented.
SO as to derive any profit from its use.
Nothing but fame of the discovery will
come to this modest chemist, heretofore
unheard of, but today the chief subject
OF conversation in scientific circles. To
reporter for the Press Prof. OIan de-
scribed yesterday his new discovery, how
ne found its value by accident and how
tauric acid is made. He is in the citv
comforting with several prominent chem
lists concerning the new chemical agent.
and they were astonished by the tests
made by him. For years the most emil
nent chemists of the world had been
working to develop what Prof Olan has
found, but without success
Olan Is not more than twenty-eiCht
years old, and has been in this country
only sixteen months He was educated
In the school of mineralogy in Christiania
Norway, and in the Academic du Saint
Patrie, in Paris All his work has been
alCng the lines of scientific research and
experiment.
DISCOVERY WAS ACCIDENTAL.
In telling of his discovery to a report
er for the Press Prof DIAN said:
Several weeks ago 1 was making some
e. Deriments with tauric moss In my lab
oratory in Washington This moss is a
common lichen which grows almost ev
erywhere in damp places, and, although
medical properties are derived from MANY
such hchens, tauric moss is little known
In chemistry. This moss is powerful as
a decompoSing material and with MANY
minerals 1t acts the same as does rust
upon iron and other metals [ had Il. II
the slightest idea of the discovery 1 was
about to make
Il was experimenting with it in con-
junction with several chemicals and upon
drawing off the residue on a metal dish
L found that the bottom of the dish had
become softened. 1 at first supposed the
metal had been decomposed by the acids
but this was not the case. The reason
for this peculiar condition of the metal
dish could only be attributed to some eIe
ment In the tauric moss and then I be-
gan the experiments which developed the
new substance-tauric acid
L spent night and day experimenting
before 1 had perfected the new acid and
found what it really would do A few
days ago my labors were rewarded by
fully developing the new agent By pIac-
ms gold silver, aluminium or lead in this
acid l found they became soft as dough.
so that they might be worked with the
hand into any shape or form. Although
steel softens readily when placed in a
vessel containing tauric acid, strange to
say, the acid has no effect upon iron
am unable to explain this at present but
[ shall continue my experiments until the
reason for this is made clear.
SOME OF ITS USES.
'"Tauric acid will be of great value to
jewelers. in making designs in precious
metals. Designs may be nodded or beaten
to the required shape without heat being
used at all.
I'm dentistry 1 expect 1t to work a rev.
olution in the filling of cavities in the
teeth Instead of the beating, plugging
and hammering, according to the methods
now in use, the gold or silver, whichever
it may be, may be softened by tauric acid,
then placed in the cavities while in a soft
condition. After being placed in position
the filings will harden. All that is neces-
sary to make the metals as they were be-
c n n he al In
this way the metals will be made much
the same as amalgam.
There are many other ways in which