The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-04-14
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
SCIENTIFIC MIS- CELLANY.


An Interesting Alloy-Next Century's
Eclipses-A Much-Needed Chemical
The Camphor Habit-The Driest Place
"A Coming rofession-Mercury Mas
sage-Geology and Chsese-The Long
est Storm-Poetical Science.
Magnalum, DIR. Ludwig Mach's new alloy of
aluminium and magnesium. is found to vary con-
siderably in properties with slight difference in
composition, 10 per cent. of magnesium giving
it resemblance to zinc, Is per cent. making 1t
like brass. and % per cent. causing it to become
like q compound bronze. The fact that the
alloy is lighter even than aluminium gives IL I'M
usual interest. But besides having all the adj
vantages of aluminium, the new product is
claimed to admit of cutting with tools, stamp
ing. rolling, curling and polishing, and it does
not oxidize in the air. It can be welded with
metals under pressure. Magnalium containing
10 or IL per cent is reported to be like silver in
wilderness; and the cost by volume was some
what less than that Of brass.
s"s
The twentieth century will have about $50
eclipses, according to Mr.. b. F. Yannery, the
solar being to the lunar in about the ration of
to 8. For the first time in any calendar year
since 1922 the year 1885 will have seven eclipses,
the largest possible number. The total solar
eclipses visible in the United States will occur
in 1918 1928 1926 1885, 1854, 1879, 1884 and 1904.
There will be IL transits Of Mercury, the first in
1907 but the more important transit of Venus
will not occur. its next date being June s, 2OOl.
s"s
A substance having all the properties of tan
min with the additional one Of destroying the
bacillus of anthrax is pointed out by an English
veterinarian as one Of the desiderata Of the
present time. Hides from China, Peru, Russia
r. - Ixnw. 10 nd ~
costing many human lives every year in British
and American tanneries Last year. in Penn
syIvania alone. II men and 90 cattle died from
anthrax from the tanneries.
The fossil vertebrates of North America north
of Mexico are found by Mr. o. p Hay to en-
brace 1926 species of lib genera. The group of
birds has the largest proportion of survivals-33
species in 102.
The notion that small and regular doses of
camphor impart to the complexion a peculiar
clear creaminess is said by London physician
to have developed new habit among many
well-to-do young women. Like other drug
taking habits this Is difficult to abandon after it
is once established. Mild EXPLANATION and stu
pefaction are produced, and the doses are often
very large. In some cases the effects are hardly
to be distinguished from those of alcohol. Ex-
treme weakness generally follows regular doses,
and the camphor-eaters all have a dreamy.
dazed and very listless air, usually with a con-
slant longing to sleep. The complexion, instead
Of being in any way improved, is given CHASTITY
pallor.
The reputation of being the driest spot on
earth is claimed for Payta. IN Peru, place
about 50 south of the equator on coast that has
risen 40 feet in historic times Prof. David G.
Fairchid. recent visitor, reports having
reached there in February just after a rain of
more than "a hours, the first for eight years.
The average interval between two showers is
seven years. Sea fogs are common. OF about
nine species of plants noticed. seven were an
nuals, and their seeds must have remained DOR
mant in the ground for eight years. In spite of
the lack Of rain, the long rooted Peruvian cotton
is grown in the dried-up riyer-bed, furnishing
crops that yield subsistence to the natives.
80
Men able to treat plant diseases is a need dis
covered by an English botanist, who predicts
that the time viii come when every agricultural
district will have its plant doctor. and when
specialists in animal parasites, cryptogamic
botany and bacteriology will be consulted in
difficult and obscure cases. The practice in
plant medicine is in its infancy. With increased
competition in crop raising, however, the farm
er cannot afford to neglect the aid he can get in
keeping his plants in the highest degree of
health.
massage OF rheumatic finger-join is practiced
by German physician in a deep vessel two
thirds full of quicksilver. The patients hand is
alternately plunged into the mercury and with
drawn from it 20 or 30 times at each treatment.
and the effect of the equal and considerable
pressure on every part of the fingers is usually
marked diminution of swelling after the sec
ond visit.