The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1901-08-29
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

SNlGNNE ANU INDOolnis
The suns surface Is known to be
subject to greatly increased distur-
Dances every II years, known rs tho
sunspot period. Auroral displays and
disturbances of the earth's magnetism
have q similar period.
Recent measurements of Saturn
show that the outer ring, with a total
width of 1850 miles, has an external
diameter of 173.200 miles. The cen
trail ring. 1880 miles wide, IS 145,S30
miles in outside diameter. The plan
cts equatorial diameter IS 1880
miles: polar diameter $3.50 miles.
The diameter of satellite Titan is 2lOO
miles. Saturn's mean density is cal
culated to be 0.G79 that of water.
Eminent authorities declare that the
Lyddite shells supplied to the British
army in South Africa were far from
being successful, owing to inherent lif-
ficulties in the use Of that explosive.
1t Is reported that except In shells
weighing 100 pounds, or more, 1t is
practically impossible to obtain a sat-
isfactory detonation, and this ts indie
pendent of the kind Of fuse used. Most
Of the shells in South Africa when de-
tonated only gave off a greenish-yel!ow
smoke, instead Of the black fumes
present when they are prope. tly deton-
ated.
A new, powerful and agreeable anti
septic has been introduced In Ger
many. It is possessed Of so many
properties to recommend it that the
public, who will doubtless know 1t
shortly, should be made familiar with
its origin. 1t is known as "tannoform,"
and is produced by the action of tannic
acid on formaldehydc. Tannoform is
odorless and tasteless, and at the same
time appears to possess all the anti
septic properties of formaldehyle, but
Is free from its unpleasant smell and
irritating action. besides which the
well.known astringent properties Of
tannic acid are also retained.
A species Of sunflower hitherto un-
known to science has been discovered
by Judge DAILY near his summer homo,
at Sag Harbor, Long Island. 1t is very
remarkable that such a conspicuous
plant as q sunaower, growing where
botanists 90 collecting year after
year, should until now remain un-
known to science. The explanation
seems to be that there are very special
conditions existing at particular plot
q few yards square on the beach at
Sag Harbor, for it Is only in this area
that Helianthus Dalri, the new sun
flower, has been found. and it has per-
sistently refused to grow in the New
York Botanical Garden. whittier it has
been transplanted.
Until recently 1t vas believed that
the famous atlantoSaurus, whose
length was reckoned at 80 feet and
height 80 feet, was the largest land
animal that ever inhabited the earth.
But the Field Columbian Museum in
Chicago has lately come into posses
sion Of some bones that out-measure
those of the atlantosaurus. They are
the bones of dinosaur from the Rocky
Mountain region. The thigh bone Is
six feet eight inches in length, and the
bone Of the upper arm, the humerus,
Is even larger, exceeding by % inches
the largest humerus hitherto known to
science. Prof Riggs says that the ex-
traordinary length OF the humerus sug-
gests that the animal had something
girafe-like in its proportions, in which
case its height must have been truly
yipanfic