Evening star., 1900-09-29
Some Of the Wonderful Properties Of
Bioxide of Sodium.
DISCOVERY MADE BY ACCIDENT 7
Submarine Navigation and Diving
Safe and Easy.
ITS MANY VALUABLE USES
Written for The Evening Star,

Written for The Evening Star
BY the merest chance two French chem
lists, Drs. Desgrez and Balthazard have re-
Gently made a discovery that may, in its
effects, prove to be one Of the important
scientific events of the century. Following
1t up with experiments they have shown, to
the satisfaction of the scientific men as
sembled at the Paris exposition, that, by a
property hitherto unsuspected, bioxide of
sodium will purify and repurify air indef-
nitely. This means, roughly speaking, the
removal of the chief obstacle to submarine
work and to all other pursuits requiring a
constant renewal of air by mechanical
means. It's commercial value along many
lines can hardly be estimated.
To several mice, forgotten and left
to die, the discovery must be credited.
In the laboratory of the two dis
ting uished chemist the little rodents had
been placed for some experiments, in a
closed glass globe, and then forgotten. In
the nature Of things the air of the globe
should have been soon exhausted, and the
mice have perished of asphyxiation. Great
was the amaZement OF the chemists, there
fore, when. several days later, they had
occasion TO use the globe, and found the
mice still alive; somewhat thin, t. be sure
but exhibiting no difficulty in their breath
ing. Casting about for some explanation
of the mystery they decided in lieu of any
other enlightenment, that a small block
of bioXde of sodium which had been left
in the globe must nave wrought the mira
Gle of the unexpected prolongation of life
They tested the matter. Rabbits and dogs
We're shut uD with a block of the bioxide
in Theoretically sealed glass receptacles
just large enough to hold sufficient air for
half an hour or so. After five hours and
half the animals were still breathing regu-
larry and placidly just as If they were in
the open air.
Id ,at,f xx-tth
human subjects. divers helmet was
constructed with lining of the bioxide of
sodium. The air capacity of the helmet
was only about five pints. But, the air
being purified and oxygenized by the action
of the chemical, the wearer was able to re-
main under water for an indefinite period.
How the BiOxide Works.
There was no longer any room for doubt
that a discovery had been made which,
while of extraordinary simplicity, will be
an Invaluable aid to progress and to the
comfort of life. 1t was shown by chemical
experimentation that wherever carbonic
acid gas is present bioxide of sodium fast
ems on it avidly, planting its teeth in 1t, so
to speak, to get at the carbon and combine
with it. incidentally proportlonate guam
tity of pure oxygen is set free. That is to
say, the bioxide of sodium is the most eff
ficient scavenger of vitiated air yet discov-
cred. 1t needs no preparation of any kind;
lutely Unsuitable. AS long there is a
morsel of the bioxide left and the tiniest
whiff of carbonic. acid gas for 1t to play on,
it continues its purifying work.
Perhaps one of the most interesting ap-
plicatons of the newly learned properties
of the bioXide will be in the development of
submarine navigation. Experts claim that
the oxygenizing compound will solve at
once the difficulty of providing under-sea
vessels with a constant supply of fresh air
at normal pressure. That phase of the
problem has hitherto baked all the efforts
of submarine engineers.
A Great Improvement.
The plan adopted Of late of storing COM
pressed air in the reservoirs of submarine
vessels necessitated frequent returns to the
surface for repienishment, and the use of
cumbrous apparatus and delicate valves for
pumping out the vitiated air. The employ
ment of liquid air, in which the French
government made elaborate experiments,
was a step forward. Being able to carry
the air in SO highly concentrated a form
and at the normal pressure, submarine YES
sells were able to remain longer under the
surface than was the case 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 it became foul. And. of
course, the store even of liQuified air was
not inexhaustible.
With the use of the regenerating bioxide
there is no question Of machinery other
than that used for propeling the submar-
inc vessels. There is no need of returning
to the surface for renewing the air supply.
AS long as the bioxide, the food and the
material employed for generating power
hold out the boats may remain under
water. The submarine boat comes at once
into the realm Of practical achievement
Naval warfare is in consequence likely to
be entirely revolutionized. 1t will be pos
sible very soon for submarine torpedo-car-
riers to track the enemy unseen for days at
a time waiting for favorable moment to
blow up whole fleet from underneath.
In Practical Use.
1t is is obvious that the use of diving
helmet, such as was employed in the in
itial human experiment recorded, will much
facilitate the work of salvage and scien-
tific exploration under sea. All the appar-
atus that the diver will need will be the
one rope cable by which he communi-
Gates with those above and by which he is
hauled up when necessary. Formerly he
was obliged to move very slowly and care
fully, for fear of tangiing the guiding rope
across the air tube. Often, despite all pre-