The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-07-03
SCIENTIFIC
''''' = MISCELLANY. Nj
Possibilities of the Greatest
Waste-Spot.
FUEL IN RUSSIA
OIL
Decoration Of Metais-Ger-
man Peat-An Arc-Light without
Carbons-Flexible Glass
Fossil Microbes.

supports considerable population, but
the Antarctic Circle is without trace of
human life. Upon S0,000,000 square
miles surrounding the south pole the
foot of man has never trodden. DR.. +.
A. Cook dissents from the general belief
that this vast waste offers nothing to
repay investigation, and points out that
whales. seals and penguins are abun-
dant, that immense deposits Of guano
exist and that the region Is especially
adapted to the farming Of fur-bearing
animals. Possible future Industries are
thus suggested. The prospect, how
ever, is a forlorn one to the home-seek-
er, as beyond the Antarctic Circle the
line of perpetual snow extends to the
seashore, and only an occasional island
or cape Is bare for a few weeks in
summer. The coast is made inaccessi-
BILE by an almost unbroken ice wall from
so to 200 feet high. There are no trees
or plants except few MOSES and lich-
ems upon rocks too steep to hold snow,
yet animal life seems to be well dis
tributed. The average temperature is
low. though the extremes are less than
in Arctic regions. DR.. Cook has exper-
fenced go degrees above zero in summer,
north, while in the south the mercury
went to As degrees below in winter, but
did not reach degrees above on any
day in summer. The Antarctic temper
ature is less trying than the excessive
humidity, and the gales and snow
storms which are almost continuous
through the year.
An. nj In,
the plan of seidlitz powders, Is French
idea. The white paper contains binox-
ide of barium, saturated with a concen-
trated perfume, while the colored pa
per holds powdered permanganate of
potash, in the proper proportions to
liberate oxygen when the two powders
are dissolevd together. The liberated
ozone or oxygen carries the perfume
into the air. which it disinfects at the
same time.
An amorphous silicon that is so active
as to burn when gently heated in the
air is produced by two German chem
lists by causing sodium to act on the
fiuoride Of silicon and subsequently fus-
ing the powdered mass with aluminium.
Inc req enQ OF the spectrum mas Deen
found to be exciting to the nervous sys-
tenn. Henri de Parville points out while
violet, blue and green have soothing
effect. Bulls and turkeys are angered
by red; blue glasses are sometimes used
to quiet horses. In factory at Lyons
sensitive plates were formerly made by
red light, and the workmen continually
sang or gesticulated; but In the green
light now used the men are calm, talk
little, and are less tired at night. The
effect Of sunshine in cheering nervous
patients is often very marked. 1t has
been further suggested that the green
of vegetation, the blue of the sky and
the blue-green of the ocean may pow
erfully effect health through their
calming influence. With such evidence
as we have of the effects of colors on
the organism, De Parville considers the
subject worthy of thorough investiga-
ton.
Petroleum residue is now used for
fuel for the locomotives on thirteen per
cent of the Russian railroads. 1t is re-
quired that the oil be of greenish
color, never black, and free from sui
phur, water and sand. Its specific grav-
ity must not exceed 0911 at SO degrees
F., it's boiling point not to fall below
2S4 degrees. To ensure fuel for winter,
when transportation is difficult, stor-
age tanks are placed at intervals along
the railways, and have capacities up to
$500 tons. The locomotive carries about
five tons, which is stored under the
water tank of the tender.
new process of engraving photo
graphs on metal is claimed by ]. Pat
erson and w. Dickson, of Edinburgh.
The clean and polished metal is coated
with hot solution of 8 ounces of fish
glue in 8 ounces Of water, to which 5
scruples of bichromate of ammonium
has been added; and when this coating
Is cool it is printed by exposure to light
under Photographic negative. The
coating or enamel is then heated by a
gas stove or spirit lamp until given a
rich brown color. The metal under the
unhardened parts of the enamel is then
chemically etched, and the design is
given sharpness by furnishing.
Insanity is not largely due to mental
worry, according to DR.. Clouston, Of
the Royal Edinburgh asylum. He
traces only 11.5 per cent of the cases to
this cause, bodilyaffections, drink faulty
development, ETC., being the chief
source.
An estimate of the possible value OF
the great peat beds of North Germany
has been made by DR.. Frank. He finds
that an acre Of turf, ten feet thick,
gives one thousand tons of dry turf,
equivalent to 4SO tons Of coke, and that
the MOSES Of the Evus Valley, covering
1000 square miles, might yield the
equivalent Of S0O,OOO,0O0 tons of pit coal,
or more than the total production of
Germany for three years. 1t is pro-
posed that the peat be burned at CEN
tral stations Of 1000 horse power ca
pacity, consuming annually the prod
uct of 200 acres. The power would be
useful on the new canal connecting
DOrt tmnnd IN the Epua hut mora az In,