The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1903-09-19

II
tion-Mosquito Observation-Disclosures OF
the Pianist-Anaesthesia by Electricity
Unsatisfactory Thermonetry--- Elec-
trio Insect-D estruction-A Disease OF
Diet--Ane5thesine-- Modern Detec-
tive.
A most striking example of delicacy in weigh
ing has been referred to by Mr.. j. A. Brashear,
the widely-known instrument maker. At the
international Bureau Of Standards near Paris IS
a balance mounted in vacuum in a heavy glass
case, and provided with mechanism for handling
the weights from distance great enough to
give security against influence of the heat of
the body. So perfectly made are instrument
and accessories that when two kilogramme
weights are placed side by side on each pan the
indicator finally comes to rest at zero. But
when one of the weights in one pan is placed
upon the other the indicator shows the opposite
pan to be slightly the heavier, the almost in
credible explanation being that one weight is
made lighter by its slight increase of distance
from the earth's centerl
~.
The gradual disappearance of locusts in Rho
desa and other parts of South Africa is attrib-
uted by Mr.. J. NJ Orpen, writer on the agri-
culture of the region, to a rapidly growing
mould. The invisible seedsare scattered by the
wind, and destroys vast swarms of the insects.
Since its discovery during the last locusts in
vasion, the mould has been regularly distribu-
ted by the Department of Agriculture. The
disease thus arti1cialy spread has been very eff
fective, but dryness has caused some failures.
-
Mosquitoes are known to live through the
winter, awakening with the first warmth. A
late investigation by Mr.. John B. Smith proves
that certain species hibernate in the adult state,
others in the larval state also, others only in
the larval state, and some in the egg. Many
laryal survive repeated freezing and thawing
~
A lately -tested section of the submarine cable
laid twenty years ago between Cienfuegos and
Santiago is in excellent condition, proving the
durability of rubber-covered cables.
"a
Quite astonishing is the rapidity of working
of brain and nerves in modern piano playing
At the Conference of Musicians in Dublin, it
was shown that the ordinary player must Guilt
yate the eye to see about 800 signs per minute
the fingers to make about 1000 movements, and
the brain to preceiye the 1900 signs while issuing
1000 orders. In part of Chopin's "Etude in
Minor" the rate of reading must reach 1880
signs in 2K minutes. This is equivalent to
about 26 notes per second, and, as the eye can
receive only about 10 consecutive impressions
per second, it appears that in very rapid music
the notes must be read in groups instead of
singly.
In his experiments in electric anesthesia NJ.
Leduc has used maximum current of 80 volts,
and this was passed through electrodes of cot
ton moistened with saline solution, one of which
was applied over the kidneys and the other
upon the forehead. The current was increased
to the maximum in five minutes. numbness
then by suspension of the other faculties. The
only disagreeable sensation was nightmare The
breathing was somewhat INSTRUCTED, but the
heart was not affected, and consciousness, with
sense of IMMIGRATION, came instantly on
breaking the current. There seems to be risk
in the stoppage of breathing by too long appli
cation.
Ordinary thermometers are known to be very
inaccurate, varying many degrees. and this fact
throws doubt on many reports of extreme sum-
mer or winter temperatures. Even the scien-
tifc thermometers of the cheaper grades prove
to be unreliable, although their indications have
been placed on record as results of great pre-
cision. Medical men especially have need of
tested instruments. and the late startling dis
cOvery that the thermometers of a New York
hospital varied as much as 2k degrees suggests
compulsory certifcation of professional Their
mometers. The error named might show well
man to have a raging fever, or a patient to be
cured while still in a critical condition.
a.
From about 400 pounds of gaseous air, Sir Will
liam Ramsay has found the krypton to equal /
part by weight in about millions. or part by
volume in 20 milions and the xenon, part Oy
weight in 40 millions, or part by volume in no
millions.
An explanation of the remarkable influence
Of electricity upon plant growth is found by
Hugo Helberger, Of Munich, in the destruction
of the injurious insects of the soil. Noticing
some worms striving to get away from an ingot
mould that was being dried the ground by
electricity, he placed in the earth metal wire
connected with current of ITO volts, and soon
had the pleasure of seeing all small insects
within radius of two yards come to the sur
face and struggle to escape from the electrified
circle. In later experiments, using many wires
with very small current of high intensity, the
ground was completely freed from insect life
over a considerable area.
~
Modern science seems to show that leprosy,
the loathsome scourge of many lands in the
past, is among the disorders that may be easily
prevented His late investigations in South
Africa and in India have convinced DR.. Jona-
than Hutchinson that the disease is rarely, if
ever, transmitted from one person to another,
and have confirmed the theory that the cause is
the eating of badly cured and cooked fish. The
Kaffirs, who furnish very many victims have
depraved appetite for rotten fish.
~
Tho new local anaesthetic of NJ Courtade has
the advantage over cocaine of being not poison
Gus, while its action is much less transitory. 1t
is a para-amido-benzoin ether, derivative of
orthoform, and has been named anesthesine. 1t
has proven especially useful in cases of throat
liberation by enabling the patients to swallow
without pain.
~
Swallowing is no longer an effective method
of hiding stolen property At the Japanese
mint employees suspected of swallowing small
coins are now placed under the x-rays, and the
coins have been discovered in this way in the
stomachs of guilty persons.
80
German chemist states that, with suitable
apparatus, saltpeter can be produced from the
air by electricity at a fourth of its present cost.