Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-09-19
SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL,

SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL.
In f1rcign countries aluminium is
being used extensively i'll army equip.
ment, Germany and Russia being es-
| pecially interested in the experiments.
Germany with its microscopic atten-
ton TO detail in military matters, con-
siders every fraction of an ounce de-
Quoted from the infantry equipment
as of Importance, and has introduced
aluminium even into such things as the
nails of the soldiers shoes, in some
regiments.
The dangerous character of wood
alcohol, now quite generally used in
alcohol lamps, etc, seems to be little
understood, but has been emphasized
within recent months by number of
painful experiences. Not only have
small doses of the commercial spirit
resulted in death, but from two to five
teaspoonfuls have produced total blind
ness through atrophy of the optic
nerve. Even inhalation of the vapor
has caused serious impairment of WIS.,
ion.
A German scientist has been making
some observations in South Africa on
the subject of the influence of repeated
detonations on the ear. He examined
the ears of ninety-siX soldiers before
and after battle, and found marked
changes in no fewer than forty-four,
or nearly fifty per cent. In seven
cases he found small hemorrhages in
the ears, and in one case large bleed
ing, while the firing caused the edge
of the ear drum to become red in thir-
ty-Seven cases.
DR.. Schliep, of Baden-Baden, Ger
many, finds that the condition of cleo
trification of the air has a great deal
to do with the feel of the weather.
The atmosphere is usually positively
electrified the earth itself being mega
tive at all times. When the air is pos
itiyely electrified the effect on us is
exciting and stimulating. When,
however, there is very strong electri-
fication it may cause over-stimulation
resulting in nervous disorders. Mega
tive electrification is firing and de-
pressing; it causes milk to sour and
meat to spoil quickly and stimulates
all kinds of germ and plant develop
ment.
A French authority gives the worlds
production of calcium carbide last
year as 256000 tons. At the average
cost of $40 a ton this would represent
nearly $20000,000. These figures show
to what magnitude this industry has
developed in a short time. Calcium
carbide, it will be remembered, is
used for the production of acetlyene
gas. The cost of producing it, even
under the most favorable conditions,
is still too high to give it a fair chance
against other sources of light. The
idea now is to make an electric fur
mace which will operate continuously,
so as to avoid the waste and delay in
cident to producing the carbide in sep
arate charges.
A German electrician has devised a
telephone system which he calls n
party system. 1t involves the use of
main telephone with which is con-
nected various other parties who may
supply their own telephones paying a
small sum for the right to connect |
with the main telephone. Each party
can call up the central station if the
signal shows that the line is clear and |
during a conversation no other party |
can listen nor in any way disturb the
conversation or call up central. If |
one of the parties is called by the cen
trail station, the main telephone is
called up first, and from there the sig |
nal is given to the party desired by |
pressing a button and turning a switch. |
Beings Living Without Nourishment.
There seems to be no philosophical |
necessity for food. We can conceive |
of Orpn nizpl bpinpc livinp without |