The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-11-08
PURE AIR
FOR us ALL

PARIS Sept. 2O.-By the merest chance
two French chemists, Drs. Desgrez and
have recently made the i'm
portant discovery that bioxide of sodium
wnl purify and repurify air indefinitely.
This means, roughly speaking, the re-
moval Of the chief obstacle to submarine
work and 70 all other pursuits requiring
a constant renewal of air by mechanical
means. Its commercial value along many
lines can hardly be estimated.
To the credit of several mice, forgotten
and left to die, the discovery must be.
credited. In the laboratory or the two
chemists the mice had been placed for
some experiments, in a closed glass globe,
and then forgotten. In the nature OF
things the air of me globe should have
been soon EXHAUSTED, and the mice have
perished OF asphyxiation. Great was the
surprise of the chemists, therefore, when,
several days later, they found the mice
still alive; somewhat thin, to be sure, but
exhibiting no difficulty in their breathing.
Casting about for an explanation of the
mystery they decided that a small block
of bioxide Of sodium which had been lef;
In the globe must have effected the unex-
pected prolongation of life. They tested
the matter Rabbits and dogs were shut
| up Win a BLOCK OF the DlOAlue III me- met
cally sealed glass receptacles just large
enough 10 hold sufficient air for half an
hour or so. After five hours and hal:
the animals were stll breathing rcsu ar
ly and placidly just as If they were IN the
open air.
! Then it was decided to experiment with
human subjects a divers helmet was
constructed with % lining OF the bioxide
of sodium. The air capacity Of the hel-
met was only about five pints. But. the
air being purified and oxygeniZed by the
action Of the chemical. the wearer was
able TO remain under water for indefi-
mite period.
that discovery had been made which,
while of extraordinary simplicity. will be
an invaluable aid 10 progress and to the
comfort of life. Ii was shown by expert
mcnts that wherever carbonic acid gas is
IpTesent bioxide Of sodium fastens on it
To- get at the carbon and combine 1t. In
cidentally a proportionate quantity of
( pure oxygen is set free. That is to say,
| the bioxide of sodium is the most eff
tcient scavenger of vitiated air yet discov-
cred. II needs no preparation of any
kind its mere presence suffices. and II is
| absolutely Unsuitable. AS long there is
a morsel of the bioxide left and the tiniest
Whit OF carbonic acid gas for it to play
! on IL continues its purifying work.
1 Perhaps one Of the most interesting ap-
pliCations of the newly learned properties
OF the bioxide will be in the development
of submarine navigation. Experts say
that the oxygenizing compound will solve
at once the difficulty Of providing subma-
rine vessels with constant supply OF
fresh air at normal pressure. That phase
of the problem has hitherto baked all the
lefforts of submarine engineers
| The plan, adopted of late, of storing
compressed air in the reservoirs of sub
marine vessels necessitated frequent re-
turns to the surface for replenishiny
them. and the use of cumbrous apparatus
and delicate valves for pumping out the
Initiated air The employment of liquid
air with which the French Government
made elaborate experiments, was a step
| forward, as, being able to carry the air
| in so highly concentrated a form and at
the normal pressure, submarine vessels
were able to remain longer under the
surface than with compressed air. There
still remained, however, the necessity for
elaborate machinery for the storing and
dispensing of the air and for its removal
when IL became foul. And of course. the
store even of liquefied air was not mex
haustible.
With the use of the regenerating biox-
ide there is no need of machinery other
than that used for propelling the subma-
rine vessels. There As no need of return
| ing to the surface for renewing the air
supply. AS long as the bioxide. the food
and the material employed for general
II ing power hold out, the boats may re-
main under water. The submarine boat
comes at once into the realm OF practical
achievement.
l II Is obvious that the use of a diving
helmet such as was employed in the in-
tial human experiment recorded, will
much facilitate the work of salvage and
scientific exploration under sea. All the
apparatus that the diver will need will
be the one rope or cable by which he
Communicates with those above and by
which he is hauled up when necessary.