The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-02-17
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

Liquid Air Explosivss-A Vibrating
Table Setting Diamonds in Saws.
Progress on the Farm-PotatO Poi
soning = Distilled Metals = Novel
Cause Of Red Nosss-A cOntinent'a
Stone Wall-stesl culverts-A Rus.
sian Institution.
When liquid air Is evaporated the nj
trogen escapes hrst, causing the liquid
soon to become nearly pure oxygen, as
may be demonstrated by the fierce
blazing up Of a glowing bit Of wood
plunged into 1t. Powdered charcoal
saturated with the liquid burns like
gunpowder when ignited, and may be
exploded by q decoration cap. A Ba-
varian chemist, Carl Linde, has been
making experiments that lead him to
believe we must change our views OF
explosions He mixed petroleum with
an absorbent, like keselguhr or cork
coal powder, then saturated 1t with
LIQUID oxygen, and found that the mix
ture would explode violently even when
not confined In cartridges, the effects
seemed to be greater than those of
blasting gelatlne, hitherto regarded as
the most powerful explosive. Deto-
mated In a large bomb, provided with
q suitable registering apparatus, the
petroleum and liquid air preparation
showed a maximum gas pressure great
er than that from blasting gelatine, and
reached 1t more quickly.
To test the effect Of vibrations on ac-
cumultaors and electrical measuring app
pRratus, the Central Laboratory OF
Electricity, in Paris. has devised q ta-
BILE that can be given practically The
same joltings that an automobile In ae-
tIon receives. The table is supported
by eight springs in pairs at the four
corners. Under the table are two tap
pets that are raised by cams on 4 shaft
driven by a two-Speed cone pulley, and
by varying the relative position OF the
Gums and the tension Of the springs,
as well as the speed OF the shaft, q
great range OF vibrations can be given.
The loss Of diamonds, which has
proven a serious drawback in the use
Of diamond saws for stope-cutting, Is
obvlated by Mr.. James Anderson, a
Scotch inventor, by fixing the stones in
sockets in the steel by means Of an
electric WeldlnB machlne.
Measurements by an American micro-
scopist to test the theory that the red
blood corpuscleS vary In siEe in dimer-
ent races have failed to show any
marked differences.
A new era in British farming has
been inaugurated by the endowment OF
Q chair Of agriculture at Cambridge
University. In no hsld of effort has the
British conservatism shown 10 greater
DISADVANTAGES than among the tiiiers Of
the soil and an address by Prof SOM
erVille introducing the new collegiate
department points out that Intelligent
use Of the discoveries OF science will en-
sure SUCCESS even in times Of depres-
sion, while only failure can come from
Ignoring the results OF modern research.
ut is the fortune OF agriculture" he
said, ito be indebted 10 science at ev-
cry turn. Zoology and physlol0gy play
their part In such directions 40 the
breeding and feeding of live EtOclE, in
the various qualifications Of the veter-
mary art, and IN the attractive section
Of economic entomology. Geology afs
fects practical agriculture to less eX-
tent. but no science adds more to the
pleasures Of farmers life. Mhthe-
mntIcs ana physics lend their ASSIST
ance In such work as the calculation OF
volumes and areas In draining, levellng,
road maiIlng, the use and maintenance
Of machinery and the like" II II added
that familiarity with the principles OF
physical and natural science shows bet
Ter how TO Improve cultivation,
An epidemic Of acute cathrrh Of the.
Rtomnch and inteatinGs, Affecting NIFTY
glx soldiers, has be6n traced by Herr
y. Pfihl to new potatoes. These po-
| lntoeR, which were gathered IN June:
n ~ about six GTeg the normal
49,. Ion y. sollHino, ana smal spoO