Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-03-09
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

When liquid air Is evaporate. the nj
trogen escapes first causing the LIQUID
soon to become nearly pure oxygen, as
may be demonstrated by the fierce blaz-
Ing up Of a glowing bit OF wood plunged
into II. Powdered charcoal saturated
with the liquid burns like gunpowder
when ignited, and may be exploded by
a decorator cap. A Bayarian chemist,
Carl Bnde, has been making expert
ments that lead him to believe we must
change our Views Of explosions. He
mixed petroleum with an absorbent
Ike hiselguhr or cork-coal powder
then saturated II with liquid oxygen
and found that the mixture would ex-
plode violently, even when not confined
In cartridges, the effects seemed to be
greater than those Of blasting gelatine
hitherto regarded as the most powerful
explosive. Detonated in a large bomb.
provided with a suitable registering APP
paratus, the petroleum and liquid air
preparation showed a maximum gas
pressure greater than that from blasting
gelatine, and reached II more quickly.
To test the effect Of vibrations on ac-
cumuators and electrical measuring
apparatus, the central laboratory OF
electricity, IN Paris, has devised table
that can be given practically the same
Joltings that an automobile In action
receives. The table is supported by
eight springs in pairs at the four cor
ners. Under the table are two tappets
that are raised by cams on shaft
driven by a two-speed cone pulley. and
by varying The relative position OF the
cams and the tension Of the springs, as
vel as the speed Of the shaft. a great
range Of vibrations can be given.
The loss Of diamonds, which has
proven a serious drawback In the use
OF diamond saws for stOne-outting, is
obviated by Mr.. James Anderson,
Scotch inventor by fixing the stones in
sockets In the steel by means OF an
electric welding machine.
Measurements by an American micro
sc0pist 10 test the theory that the red
blood corpuscles vary In size In different
races have failed TO show any marked
differences.
A now era In British farming has
been inaugurated by the endowment OF
a chair OF agriculture at Cambridge
university. In no field Of effort has
British conservatism shown TO greater
disadvantage than among the tlllers OF
the soil. and an address by Prof Som.
ervlle introducing the new collegiate
department points out that intelligent
use OF the discoveries Of science VIII en-.
sure success even In times Of depression
while only failure can come from gnor- !
ing the results Of modern research. 1T |
Is the fortune OF agriculture, he said.
TO be Indebted 10 science at every
turn. Zoology and physiology play !
their part In such directions as the !
breeding and feeding Of livestock. In |
the various ramihcatlons Of the yeteri- |
nary art, and In the attractive section |
OF economic entomology Geology az |
fects practical agriculture TO less ex- |
tent, but no science adds more TO the |
pleasures Of farmers life. Mathema- |
tics and physics lend their assistance In
such work as the calculation Of volumes |
and areas. In draining, dwelling, road |
making the use and maintenance Of |
machinery and the Ike II Is added /
that familiarity with the principles Of |
physical and natural science shows bet.
ter how TO improve cultivation.
An epidemic Of acute catarrh OF the