The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-09-30
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

r. II. Glew writes to Nature: III .
tube containing radium bromide IL
wrapped in black paper and brought
within three or four inches Of the eye
In dark room, curious sensation Of
general illumination of the eye Is ex-
perienced; this occurs whether the
eyelid is closed or not. It is difficult
accurately to describe the sensation
produced; the eye seems filled with
light. Probably the efrect Is due to
general fluorescence OF every part Of
the eye."
For many years past II has been the
practice Of the Iron and Steel insti-
tute to republish from time to time
rare and interesting papers relating to
the history and manufacture of iron
and steel. With the permission Of the
Council OF the British Association, the
institute has now added TO the series
the report presented by Busin and
Playfalr to the British association at
Cambridge, In 1S45. on The Gases
Evolved from Iron Furnaces. with Ref
erence TO the Theory of the Smelling
OF Iron" This research has long been
looked upon as a model Of the applica-
tion of the methods of scientific inves-
tigation to the elucidation Of Industrial
problems.
The poison Of tho Hydrophidae. or
sea snakes, which occur In large num-
bers on the coasts OF India, is ex-
trcmely deadly. According to DR.. l..
Rogers, who recently described his
study Of their venoms to the Royal
society, the poison of the Euhydrina,
one OF the most dangerous species, Is
from FIVE to twenty times as power
fm as cobra poison, and to fishes Is
fifty times as poisonous as the most
deadly cobra venom. It produces the
same symptoms as the latter-drowsi.
ness, muscular weakness, progressive
paralysis, failure of breathing, and
finally commissions. DR.. Calmette's an
twenine was found to have no value
as an antidote to the Euhydrina
venom.
The Cairo survey department has re-
Gently published preliminary descrip-
ton by Messrs. Andrews and Bead
nell, of the remains Of a giant land
tortoise (Testudo ammon), from the
EOcerne of the Fayum district The
especial interest Oh. this form is its
antiquity, which far exceeds that of
all other known members of the group.
DR.. Andrews thinks 1t probable that
Testudo ammon is the ancestral form
OF the giant tortoises met with in
several European Tertiary horizons
and that the existing African Testudo
pardalis may be a small survivor of
the group. to which the Indian Stalk
Testudo atlas and Testudo cautleyi,
and the existing Testudo sumeiri (the
well known giant tortoise Of Port
Louis) may also pertain.
The recent Incorporation of the firm
Of Krupp, of Essen, as a company with
share capital of s40,0O0,0O0, is es-
sentially a family matter, as the COM
pany only comprises five shareholders,
who also form the legal number of
signatures or founders of the COM
pany. Miss Krupp, the eldest daugh-
ter Of the late Herr Krupp, holds 150,.
996 of the total Of 100000 shares. The
enormous share capital of the COM
pany-in German money 160,O00,0 900
marks-is only equalled by one insti-
tuition In Germany, namely, the Ger
man bank. The company takes over
the famous steel works at Essen, to-
gether with the incidental coal and
iron mines. stonequarries. clay pits,
blast furnaces and steamers, the Cru
son works at Majgeburg; the Amen
Steel Works, the Germania Shipbuild-
ing Works, at Kiel; the Rheinhausen
Steel Works, a shipping enterprise at
Rotterdam, and the firms interests in
Spanish and other foreign iron ore
mines. The total number Of hands
employed in the various departments
and works Of the company is 1920.
The administration consists of twelve
active directors, including a former
minister of state, a German admiral
and Prussian general.