The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-10-11
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

| These arc cut into small pieces, frced
from glutinOus matter In alkaline solu-
tiOn, beaten, passed. through roiiner,
thon made into very thin paper, which
100 to 1000 sheets.
| that earth disinfectiOn makes burial
tho safest disposal OF the dead. In
twelve years OF experiment, Sir Sey-
mour Haden found that bodies buried
| ! feet deep required moro than yoars
for complete dissolution; fcot, 3yoars;
| : feet, 2 years; | foot, year. In no
case was tho earth or air polluted,
nothing worse than carbonic acid and
water evor being given of at tho sur
face OF burial grounds.
An interesting chapter In the
worlds history is suggested by Mois-
sans electric furnace. The metallic
carbdes produced are like those now
existing in the sun and stars, and 1t Is
thought that those many OF thom dc.
composablo by wator originally held
the worlds carbon. When the cooling
gases formed wator, carbidos were do
composed, forming hydrocarbons. Oxi-
dntiOn gave carbOnic acid, whom voge.
table life became possible.
The theory that sunstroke Is u con-
tHgiOus disease, duo to microbes, has
mot with little favor, nOtw itStandfng
the evidence brought forward by DR..
SanbOn year or two ago. Mr.. h. III.
Freeland, who has seen many casos,
finds no good reason for changing the
old explanation, and believes that
there Is ample proof that sunstr0kc is
duo primarily to the exposure OF the
body to Il hot moist atmosphere, and
sccondarily to blood poisoning from
~ ut al tnl rlt k>,,,
set up.
During inundntiOns at Munich two
batteries OF accumulatOrs In the muni
cipal electric station were completely
submerged. On the following night
an attempt was made to light part OF
the streets from one Of the batteries,
anu proving successful. with about
third OF the usual current, the battery
was charged on the next day, and
again discharged Oh the second night.
On the subsiding OF the water, the ac-
cumulatOrs were found to have sustain
ed no damage except slight weaken.
Ing OF the acid.
The entire drainage basins of the
Aral and Caspian Seas are found by
DR.. Swan Hedin to be drying up. Lakes
and rivers are becoming smaller, and
dwellers on Lake Balkhash assert that
that the lowering OF its waters is as
much as foot in five years. The most
| remarkable changes appear in the Lob
Nor. ibis lake has no outlet, although
1000 feet above sea level and It's fresh
| ness led to the inference that it must be
OF recent formation. 1t Is now proven
that the sheet Of water described by
early geographers has disappeared
I leaving only dry bed OF shells and
other remains, while series OF now
lakes has formed around the old basin.
The termination OF seeds In steril.
lied water to which varying quantities
Of oxygen had been added has been
studied by Nj. =. Maze. lie concludes
that, while life appears to remain la
tent, certain slow changes take place,
although termination under water may
fail on account Of lack Of aeration.
Some small seeds are developed slowly
by the atmosphere within their coats.
Starchy seeds under water quickly lose
all power Of terminating; oily seeds re.
tain it longer, but there is no proof th at
any seeds can long retain their vitality
The weakening OF the submerged en-
bryos is attributed to the accumulation
of poisonous products, especially aide
hyde.
In the GuZzi aerator, which Ia in.
tended TO take the place OF the ordi-
nary window, strips OF glass supported
at the ends by timed iron pivots oper
ate like the Stats Of Venetian blind
The Stats arc held tightly closed by q
spring. and are opened and held st any
desired point by means OF q chain
The advantages of the aerator are
claimed to be important. 1t may be
used where 1t would he impracticabie
to place swing or sliding window, and
gives continuous and easily regulated
ventilation, In all states OF the atmos
pherC, whereas an ordinary window
must be closed in storms and gales and
permits the entrance 0f sudden cooling
, and dangerous drnughts on being open
cd In winter.
"A new steam freight automobile
made in Leeds, England, merits spec
lal attention because 1t has been pro
nOunced one OF the most satisfactory
solutions OF a diillcult problem. II con
sists OF road locomotive weighing
630O pounds and truck weighing 2i0C
pounds and having a platform II feet
long by G wide, the load to be- carried
being J tons. The front wheels Of both
engine and truck are IS inches In ,lia.
meter, those In the rear being 4G
Inches. The high pressure cylinder IL
inches in diameter, tho low pressure
Is Gs inches, and fnI starting on high
grades steam can be admitted st high
pressure intc the low pressure cylIn.
der. The water tank holds 23O gallons
and the coke box carries 200 Lounds
IN q recent test for 10 hours, with four
tons Of baled wool and five passengers
an average speed OF I to 6 miles per
hour was made, and $50 pounds OF coke
and 800 gallons OF water were cOnsum
cd. The cost per mile for each tor
carried WAS estimated at trile lcse
than half the cost with horses.
An investigation in Switzerland by
Prof. II. II. Weber has proven that
electric currents begin to be dangerous
At a much lower voltage than has been
supposed. With wet hands grasping
both bare conductors, the muscles were
para yzcd at so volts, and tho wires
could not be released and with dry
hands like result, with severe pains,
was reached at 90 volts. With one con.
ductor only touching the skin, the body
being insulated by the shoes, the expo.
, | rionCo WAS Vrrv ri I,rapf Thn of ,,t A,