The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1903-06-11
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\ late British investigation has
shown that 13 per cent of manganese
makes iron practically magnetic.
Alloys more magnetic than CONNER
clal iron may be produced with nickel,
silicon and aluminium.
A recent series of experiments made
In Germany on the vibrations set up in
gun barrels by the effects of firing, in
dleates another allowance that the eX-
pert marksman should make for the
individual pecullarities of his rifle. The
shock of firing sets the particles of the
gun barrel oscillating In elliptic curves
producing reflections of the barrel. The
periods OF vibration in different barrels
vary between between one twenty
fifth and one fiye-hundredth of Il sec
ond, and the experiments indicate
that a small-bore gun is to be pre-
ferred to one of large ealiber because
the bullet can leave its muzZle before
the DETECTION of the barrel has be-
come considerable.
Among the many interesting discov-
cries of DR.. Sven Hedin in Central
position of the lake of Kara-koshun.
or Lop-n0r This lake seems as rest
less as some rivers that change their
beds. but the cause of its movements
is a secular change in the level Of the
desert, in the midst of which 1t lies,
bordered by vegetation. At present
the lake is retreatlng northward from
the place where Prjevalsky found it,,
and creeping toward its ancient bed,
where it is known 10 have lain in the
third century OF the Christian era; and
as It slowly moves, the vegetation. the
animals and the fishermen with their
reed huts follow its shores northward.
Dr. Hedn believes that after reaching
the northern part of the desert the
lake returns southwark, the period OF
oscillation being 1000 years or more.
The precious pearl Is produced, at
least in many cases, by the presence
Of minute parasite In the shell-se-
cretlng mantle of the pearl-oyster and
other molusks from which pearls are
obtained. \ spherical sac forms
around the parasite, which becomes a
nucleus about which the substance Of
the gem is gradually built up in con-
centric layers. Sometimes the para
site remains at the center of the pearl.
and sometimes 1t migrates from the
sac before it has become hopelessly
imprisoned. Reasoning upon these
facts. DIR. II. Lyster jameson, to
whose efforts the discovery of some of
them is due. suggests the possibility
of the artificial production of market
nble pearls by injecting beds of pearl
oysters with the particular species Of
parasites that are known TO attack
such mollusks with the effects above
described.
In the body changes that take place
Ms we grow old, Metehnikoff and other
Psychologists suppose that an impOr-
tant part is taken by the phagocytes.
or deyouring cells. Some years ago
II was made 10 appear that some Of
these cells are color eaters, aud that
they whlten the hair by Selling the
pigment grains and conveying them
into the skin or out of the organism.
On further study the theory has been
evolved that old age Itself is due to
phagocytcs that destroy the nerve
cells. The nerve-eating cells have
been found in the brains OF many old
people and old mammals. as well as in
persons suffering from nervous dis
ease. but in no case have they been
known to reach such deyelopment-or
to have so nearly taken the place Of
the nerve cells-as In the brain of a
parroquet that died at the great age
of eighty one. after some years of fee
bleness and senility.