The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1903-05-09

-Fruit-Drying by Steam-Heat-An I'M
proved Cement--The Air-Pump in
House Cleaning.
A need of the hour is more productive source |
Of radium, which is of great scientific impor-
lance, although not likely to be put to any prac-
teal use. This new element-supposed to re-
semble barium-is not known in the metallic |
state, and only its salts have been obtained from
pitchblende and other uranium minerals. The
chloride is by far the most remarkable producer
of Becquerel rays yet found, its activity rang
inQ-according to its purity-from 300 to 1,OOO,-
600 times that of uranium. The radiations are
luminous but differ from light, they AFFECT a
Photographic plate in a few seconds, they set
up phosphorescence in other substances, they
burn the skin and destroy bacteria, some OF
them are detected by magnet and others re-
semble X-rays, and they change oxygen TO ozone
and turn glass almost black. 1t Is estimated
that 5000 tons of uranium residues would not
yield two pounds of radium. In three years
the production of radium salts has been only
pound and quarter. and the only pure radlum
chloride in existence is specimen weighing
half an ounce, which the owner-Prof. Curie-
says cannot be bought for $4,000 Similar tiny
specimens contaminated with barium can be
had for 5000 each, while lower grades are on
the market at $3.50 to 500 per gramme. Even
If a store of radium should be found. the ex-
traction of the substance will be great diff
Guilty as merely to enter a room containing two
pounds would probably destroy the sight, burn
Off all the skin on the body, and quickly kill.
"a
The mapping of the world will be mostly an
achievement of the twentieth century. The
great map of the United States, begun twenty
-. 49,. nn6 70
10unplesI0n; ana Jne cnleT on Une hydro
graphic Office reports that the 1,250 chart plates
in his possession represent only about one-third
of what are necessary before the seas of the
world will be sufficiently charted for safe navi-
cation.
The phenomena of electric discharges in
vacuum tubes give US the nearest approach to
seeing electricity that we are likely to make,
states Sir Oliver Lodge. The streams of cor
puscles propelled along the tubes suggested to
Crookes in 1870 the idea of fourth state of mat
ter and these corpuscles- smaller than atoms
and the same in all kinds of gases-were named
electrons by Stoney, and have come to be re-
garded as the electric parts of all atoms or even
as making UP matter itself. When torn fromits
groups or from matter, the electron travels with
a speed comparable to that of light. A body
charged with electricity, if at rest presents the
phenomena Of electrostatics If in motion
those of electricity and magnetism; if in accele-
ration or change of motion, those of light and
radiation generally. Some substances-such as
uranium, polonium and radum-throw of cleo
irons without stimulus. giving very intense and
penetrating rays, with kind of electrical
evaporation. This property of radio-activity is
found in many bodies, even in leaves and newly
fallen raindrops, and it will soon be difficult to
find any substance without it in some degree.
On the hypothesis that matter is composed of
electrons, their size is known to be about the
hundred thousandth part of the diameter of the
atom IL an atom of hydrogen there are about
1000 electrons. in an atom of mercury there are
100000; but even in the latter they are shown by
calculation to be about as far apart as the plan
cts in the Solar System. By their force the
atoms come to be impenetrabe. OF the funda-
mental properties of matter, inertia is quite
certainly known to be electrical, cohesion Is
being shown to be so, but gravitation is still a
mystery.
In the electrical ore-detector of Leo Daft and
Alfred Williams, the secondary current of an
induction coil is taken to two iron rods, which
are stuck into the ground to the depth of an
inch or two at a distance apart of some hundred
yards. The presence of mineral vein of higher
conductivity than the average ground changes
the electric waves radiated from the rods. When
two other rods, connected to a telephone, are
moved about, any change is made audible, and
in this way lead and zinc ores have been located
in Wales and hematite in England.
80
The curious phenomena of "symphilism'' are
being investigated by E. Wasmann, German
zoologist. This is the harboring of foreign
or cFeat Hs as Sil q nnsS
legs, are thus associated with the ants, at least
IS or 80 species being beetles. All are recog-
nized easily by certain peculiarities. Most
notable among the characteristics of these bee
ties are their oily reddish-yellow or reddish
brown color and special emulation organs or
pores with brownish hairs, but there are also
notifications of the mouth and other parts.
-.
A new process for drying fruit and vegeta-
bles-already in use for drying hops-consists In
drawing air through a gridwork of steam-pipes
into chamber below the slotted floor holding
the materials to be dried. Absorption of sui
phurous gases is avoided while burning is i'm
possible. In test at Worcester Eng, samples
of carrots, potatoes, sliced and shredded APP
PIES and other fruits and vegetables. were
kept at temperatures Oh w 10 l4U TOT SIX nOurSs
reaching the ordinary commercial state of dry
ness. The cost of working being small, it is ex-
pected that important new industry will
soon develop in England.
4*a
A mixture of traumaticin,a solution of caout-
chouc in chloroform and concentrated solu-
tion of water-gass is recommended by Ger
man authority as cement for glass; Important
advantages are claimed, the joint being trans
parent as well as very strong, and moisture and
changes of temperature having no effect upon it.
"a
The up-to-date carpet cleaner is vacuum
produced in a steel cylinder by small but pow
erful electric motor or petrol engine, and it acts
by sucking the dust and germs into suitable
receptacle. 1t works rapidly and effectively,
raises no dust in the room, does not injure the
most delicate carpet or draperies, and not even
the furniture needs to be removed.