The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-30

Since the theory long advanced Dy the medical world,-and lately confirm ed through experiments in Cuba. the mosquito plays an important role in the transmission of yellow fever Is now attracting the attention of both the lay and scientific press. the follow ing interview accorded representa-
 tive of The Advertiser by MT. Alfred d'P. Weaver on the effect of certain musical sounds on the mosquito. will
 be of interest.
 Mir. Weaver is an electrical expert and scientist of some note, and pro- life inventor, among his more note-
 worthy achievements being the inven-
 ton of the Telephotoaerograph, a con- trollable aerial camera for war pur-
 poses. and which is employed by sev- eral foreign governments; the secret telegraph, used largely by railway Oftt.
 cials; way and terminal quadrupiex
 telegraphs, telephone systems, and up-
 ward of one hundred other devices. re- lating for the most part to the electric al, optical, light, heat, sound and hy- drostatic subdivisions of Physics. He is now connected with the Associated Press in this city.
 To an Advertiser representative MT. Weaver said:
 While engaged in the capacity of electrician to the Weaver Electric Com pany of Chicago and Jackson, Miss. carried on. among a great many other experiments, one having in view the eli- imitation of certain defects in the then existing system of harmonic telegraphy by means of which a plurality of sig nals are transmitted simultaneously over the same wire, by sending at the same time electrical impulses of diff ferent frequencies or phases, and which system is based upon the well-known physical fact that when two tuning forks are adjusted to the same pitch, and one of them Is caused to yibrate the other situated in it's neighborhood will be thrown into motion also by what is known as sympathetic vibls tion.
 While experimenting with this ap- paratus my attention was called to the fact that when a note of definite pitch was given off by one of the forks. 8 great number of mosquitoes, with which the laboratory was infested, were attracted to the sounding body.
 Having formerly given some atten- tion to bacterioiogy and microscopy, and concurring in the opinion that the mosquito was a factor Tn the transmits sion of the bacilli of certain diseases. became greatly Interested in the phe- snnmena.-, .------4. ssss-tl a
 Having at hand pierced plated si- ren. proceeded to determine the pitch of this particular fork. and found that 1t corresponded to the slightly fiatted middle c of the American standard, giving approximately 526 double vtbra- tfons per second.
 Further research demonstrated the fact that the attraction which this par ticufar note had for the mosquito per SC was dependent solely upon the pitch Of the note. and was independent of the quality of the sound given off. Thus, by varying slightly the pitch, the effect would he destroyed, while on the 0ther hand. sounding the correct note on diff ferent wind musical instruments of varying quality and volume of sound did not interfere with the peculiar ef- feet noted. tried successively the flute. clarinet, piccolo and saxophone, correcting the pitch in each instance by means of the tuning slide.
 T found. however. that the intensity Of the effect varied directly as the vol- ume of sound. When I sounded the flatted c of the gamut on the flute. great numbers of mosquitoes from all parts of the room would be attracted toward the flute. and would precipitate themselves against my face and hands with such violence that their impact would cause a stinging sensation.
 When the note was sounded on the saxophone. which gives off a much greater volume of sound, not only did all the mosquitoes in the laboratory throw themselves against my person. but they were Joined in their mad rush by hundreds of others from outdoors.
 ''I further demonstrated the fact that not only did the f1atted middle c induce the phenomena of which have spoken. but that its first and second higher oc- taves produced the same effect, but in a diminished degree"
 Having noted these phenomena. what practical use was made of your asked the writer
 "On a small scale I electrocuted the after they had once been assembled continued MT. Weaver. Securing a section of wire window screen. l mounted this on plain sur face and in the interstices of the wire the screen drove pins. and. all the pins one electrode. and the screen the other. caused to be sent through the electrical circuit thus formed current of high potential form a LfdnSIOfHleT.
 Behind the screen thus fashioned set up a tooth wheeled siren, kept in motion by an electrical motor this be- ing the most available power at hand. So long as the siren gave out it's sound the mosquitoes precipitated themselves against the screen. and their bodies the electrical circuit, they were immediately killed.
 ''In another experiment" continued Mir. Weaver. T covered a surface with the sticky fly paper of the housewife, and, being attracted by the sirens song the insects became fixed thereto, and like many other members of the animal kingdom of much higher organization who listen to the song of the siren, they came to grief.
 "SO far as my own chambers were. I was enabled by this means to rid myself of the microbe-carrying pest.
 Knowing that a cause exists for every effect, I gave attention to some theory that would explain the effects noted
 At the time two theories presented themselves to my mind-one physical lp nature and the other psychical.
 According to the first named theory reasoned that. as sound is merely a more or less rapid attenuation of con- densation and ratification of the air. and since 1t was found necessary, in order to produce the effect. that these should be of definite ra- pidity was it not possible that the body produced A sYnnpatheti