The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-08-04
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
SCIENTIFIC MIS- CELLANY.


SCIENTIFIC MIS- CELLANY.
Liquid Air Explosives-A Vibrating Table
Diamonds In SaWs-ProgresS on the
Farm-Potato Observation-Disclosures Met
als-Novel Cause of Red Noses-A
Continents Stone Wa1l-Steel Culverts
"A Russian Institution.
When liquid air is evaporated, the nitrogen
escapes first, 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 it. Powdered charcoal saturated
with the liquid burns like gunpowder when ig-
nited and may be exploded by detonator cap.
A Bavarian chemist, Carl Linde, has been max
ing experiments that lead him to believe we
must change our views of explosions. He
mixed petroleum with an absorbent, like Ale
selguhr or cork-coal powder, then saturated
it 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 gelatine,
hitherto regarded as the most powerful explo-
sive. Detonated in large bomb, provided
with a suitable registering apparatus, the petro-
leum and liquid air preparation showed maxi
mum gas pressure greater than that from blast
ing gelatine, and reached it more quickly.
To test the effect of vibrations on accumu-
lators and electrical measuring apparatus, the
Central Laboratory Of Electricity, in Paris. has
devised a table that can be given practically the
same joltings that an automobile in action re-
ceives. The table is supported by eight springs
IN pairs at the four corners. Under the table
arc two tappets that are raised by cams on
shaft driven by two-speed cone pulley, and by
varying the relative position of the cams and
the tension Of the springs. as well as the speed
Of The shaft, a great range Of vibrations can be
-
The loss OF diamonds. which has proven a Sc
rlous drawback In the use of diamond saws for
stone cutting. is obviated by Mr.. James Ander-
son. Scotch inventor. by fixing the stones in
sockets Ia the steel by means of an electric
welding machine.
Measurements by an American microscopic
10 test the theory that the red corpuscles vary
in size in different races have failed to show any
marked differences.
A new era In British farming has been inaugu-
rated by the endowment of a chair of agricul-
ture at Cambridge University. In no field of
effort has British conservatism shown to greater
disadvantage than among the tillers of the SOIL
and an address by Prof. Somerville introducing
the new collegiate department points out that
intelligent use of the discoveries of science
will ensure success even in times of depression,
while only failure can come from ignoring the
results of modern research. ut is the fortune
of agriculture" he said, ito be indebted to
science at every turn. Zoology and physiology
play their part in such directions as the breed
ing and feeding Of live stock, in the various
ramifcations of the veterinary art, and in the
attractive eoQfi0n nj on<o
Geology affects practical agriculture to a less
extent, but no science adds more to the pleas
ures of farmers life Mathematics and physics
lend their assistance in such work as the calcu-
lation of volumes and areas, In draining, level
ing. road-making, the use and maintenance of
machinery, and the like" 1t is added that ia
miliarity with the principles of physical and
natural science shows better how to improve
cultivation.
An epidemic of acute catarrh of the stomach
and intestines, affecting fifty-six soldiers, has
been traced by Herr E. Pfuhl to new potatoes
These potatoes, which were gathered in June,
contained about six times the normal proper
tion of solanine, and small spots on the surface
Of the peeled tubers showed third more than
the rest. 1t was found that the men who ate
their entire portion had taken about five grains
OF solanine. sufficient to produce severe distur-
Dances.
Distilllng various metals, Kahlbaum, of Basle
has found that a number of them that usually
rust Quickly-like iron or cOpper-are so puri-
ned that it becomes difficult TO oxidize them.
Iron Is beautiful silver-white metal that does
not tarnlsh in the air. Tin proves to be the
most difficult Of the common metals to distill,
as IN vacuum 1t does not begin to pass over
until a temperature of 1900 G. Is reached.
Redness of the nose has been found by a Ger
man physician to be very common among
the cheeks under pressure being also Redeemed.
feet Is about HOO miles long ana from 90 to
200 miles wide. Its bulk has been roughly esti-
mated at that of a mass 100 miles wide and 10 600
feet high throughout the entire length 1t con-
tains at Cayamba an extinct volcano with an al
titude of 1854 feet, the highest point of land on
the equator and the only point on the equator
that is buried in eternal snow. The passes be-
tween Panama and the Straits of Magellan, ac-
cOrding to Prof. Bailey of the Harvard Observa-
tory at Arequipa in Peru, are now known to
number 123, with elevations ranging from 2,756
to 16,047 feet above sea-level. There is no pass
and in Bolivia the lowest is that of Huesos, 49,
573 feet above the sea. In Peru the rich mines
have led to the crossing of this formidable bar
rier by railway reaching height of a. 800 feet.
For the Santiago and Buenos Ayres transconti-
mental railway an eleven mile tunnel under
Ushallata pass, IL, 700 feet high, was projected,
but was given up on the discovery of lower
passes to the south, and instead of it a railway
s to De built across Amigo pass 2OS south
form link in q system of railways connecting
Chilli with the Argentine Republic, breaking
through the mighty wall that has kept the two
countries apart.
-
Masonry being expensive in Africa, the exper-
iment of using cuverts of metal has been tried
on the Congo Railway. Tubes of mild steel
varying in thickness from OILS to OBS of an inch
are employed, and are made of diameters of 1877
and 1913 inches, and in lengths of 1856 and 3l.5
inches. The joints are closed with Portland
cement, over which is fitted q ring Cheaper
joints of tow and lead have been tried, and in
later experience no packing of joints at all has
proven more durable than was anticipated.
-
The great botanical garden of st. Petersburg
is stated to have "a ,176 species and varieties Of
plants under cultivation. The herbarium con-
teins more than million and half specimens
and the library contains 14,040 different works,
which are bound in p, 58S volumes.
Niagara Falls Excursions.