The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1903-04-04

IN manufacturing COunLLlo5-A rOOu
Prob1em--Work Under Pressure--An
Exploded Theory--The Heraeus Fur
neutrality-suspicious. Fuei--A MOS
quito-Repelling Shrub.
The auto chronograph is q simple device that
is claimed by N. Maurice Espagnent to solve the
problem of measuring the speed of automobiles
with great accuracy. 1t consists OF time
recorder with tape moved by clockwork,
stylus that is made to mark on the tape by one
electromagnetic and is pulledaway by the second,
and two contact-bands in an electric circuit with
the magnets. In use the contact-bands are
placed across the track at distance apart OF a
kilometer or a mile. When the vehicle presses
one band the first magnet forces the stylus
against the tape. causing continuous line to be
made on the moving ribbon until the stylus is
withdrawn as the passage Of the second band
energies the second magnet. The length of
the line drawn shows the time to the fiftieth of
second or less.
An estimate of the water-power used for gen.
Grating electricity has been made by German
engineer. Germany and Austria thus utilize
10000 horsepower; Switzerland, about 10000
Sweden, 100000, and the United States, 100000.
The total available power in Sweden is placed
at 100000 horsepower; that of France, at TO-
100000; that of Germany, Austria, Switzerland
and Italy together at 100000; while in the
United States Niagara alone could furnish TO-
100000.
sts
Poisoning by sailed raw fish is so frequent and
little understood that prizes of $780, 81, $50 and
500 have been offered in Russia for papers in
dcating the signs, character and action Of the
poison, with methods of preventing its forma-
ton, and antidotes.
In 100 analyses of the air on Mont Blanc's
summitnot asngie microbe was found, although
they were plentiful in the observatory. The
number showed steady increase in descending
the mountain.
The physiological effects of working In COM
pressed air have been studied during the placing
of foundations for a lock in the Danube at Vi
emma. The work required nearly three years,
and in this time 675 men were employed for an
average Of 553 hours under pressures of one to
five atmospheres above the normal Each work
ing shift of four hours was followed by eight
hours of duty. Included in the working time
were the rests in the air-locks to become gradu-
ally accustomed to the pressure changes. from
to IS minutes being necessary on entering and
longer period up to 20 minutes for each at
mosphere on leaving. The results have led to
the conclusion that efully-selected men may
work under pressures up to rs pounds to the
square inch without serious risk. Yet of these
men nearly one-half were obliged to go to the
hospital, 2 dying and being permanently in
jured, and it was found that sufferers from nasal
catarrh, ear troubles or bad digestion were
specially unfit for employment.
~
The mysterious sleeping sickness" of West
Africa. which has been the subject of late scien-
tific investigation, proves to be form of mem
nights, differing from cerebro spinal meningitis
in its chronic and almost invariably fatal char
acter 1t is classed with hydrophobia as one of
the most deadly diseases known. 1t is commu-
nicated from person to person in some unknown
way beginning with slight listessness, which
passes into coma and then into death, its dura-
ton being from one to six months Thus far it
has been known only among negroes. 1t has
depopulated large districts, however and its
spread is feared through the opening of African
trade.
~
weather shooting" has assumed such impor-
lance in southern Europe that not less than
three international congresses to consider it
have been held. The latest report shows that
experts are mostly convinced that gun firing is
useless for influencing rain or hail, although ex-
periments are urged until the possible effects
are fully understood.
The electric light bulb at the end of a long wire
has been found by Dr. Forrest Willard to be
better than the water bag for applying heat to
head, chest or abdomen.
-.
rto oil IL
Heraeus, of Hanau. Germany, depends upon
the incandescence of a spiral of fine platinum
WIRE wiz In az improved and cheapsned form Of
1880 of inch, and the glass tube around
which the spiral is wound can be heated to l,700o
c., this being as great temperature as any
tubes now produced can stand. Such furnaces
are found useful for determining melting points,
organic chemical analysis, and other purposes.
In organic analysis the spiral of wire encircling
the glass combustion tube is cut up into several
sections, each with its own current connections,
so that successive portions of the tube can be
heated as desired. Heat loss is lessened, with
corresponding increase in the chemists comfort.
-.
Briquetts made with such cements as dextrin
moasses, lixiviated cellulose, or resinate of am
monia have the fault of dissolving in water. A
pldu VI making Uneu waterproof mas Deeu ue-
vised by Richard. Rock, a Saxon engineer, who
simply heats the finished briquettes until car
BOMBED, when they become quite insoluble. If
the cement is liable to ignite, the heating must
take place in an air-tight case or by means of
hot gases.
-.
Leaves of plant alleged to drive away mos
quitoes have reached English botanists from
Africa. The presence of single plant is stated
to clear a room of the pest, and an infusion of
the leaves has been found an effective substi
tute for quinine in the treatment of mosquito
conveyed malarial fever. The plant proves to
be kind of basil. Ocimum viride, Wild.
-
Plaster of Paris is given the hardness and dur
ability of stone, according to German writer,
by solution of boric acid in hot water with the
addition of sufficient ammonia water to redis-
solve the borate at first separated. The liquid
is used with the plaster for casting in the usual
way, or Is applied as wash to articles already
cast.
Successful Corn Husker.
Many attempts have been made to invent a
machine that will husk the corn direct from