The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1904-03-05
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

SCIENTIFIC MIS- CELLANY.
ering of q Comets Tail-Oxygen Heal
ing-A Store ofFood for Sleep-Electric
Osclllatious-Parks for Preserving Rare
Species-EIectric Medication.
From what is now known of radium, Dr. s. G.
Tracey reaches these conclusions: The discov-
cry may make it necessary to change our
theories about matter and the conservation Of
energy. Radfum may possibly open up the way
for cheaper and more wholesome lighting of
houses by phosphorescence. It is an agent
to diferentiate genuine gems from artificial.
It Is a useful agent to kill bacteria. 1t may be
considered valuable agent for the treatment
Of lupus, cancer tuberculosis, and possible
agent to improve the eyesight and overcome
blindness. Later discoveries will doubtless
show service in other diseased conditions.
80
In June, 1885, the waters of Lake Rotomaha,
New leland, seemed to find their way to the
heated rocks near the surface of the earth in
this locality, when there was sudden genera
ton of steam, and the lake was emptied and an
enormous mass of rock was blown out. In
place of the old lake, which was TX mile long
and mile wide. much larger one is forming.
1t is now miles long. containin ten times the
old volume of water, and may rise many feet
more before finding an outlet. A tremendous
eruption is feared If some shock should bring
this water in contact with molten rocks.
"a
The novel small boat of an Italian designer
has q framework of small steel bars, which is
covered with wire netting, and the latter with
cement. The surface is then polished. The
cost Is less than that of wooden boat, and 1t is
claimed to have greater speed despite its greater
weight.
From the latest earthquake data, it is inferred
that the crust Of the earth is not more than 40
miles thick, and that the nucleus is more uni
form in chemical and physical conditions than
Is usually supposed.
An extraordinary change in the tail Of Bor-
elly's comet is shown by photographs to have
taken place on July oath. section broke from
the head and travelled away at the rate of %
miles per second in retrograde direction, or
with an actual repulsion from the sun of miles
per second, the comets motion being % miles
per second toward the sun. Prof. Barnard sug-
gests that either the outburst from the head
suddenly took slightly different direction or
else the existing tail was forcibly detached by
some unknown body. like swarm of meteorites.
The severed section fioated away in its old path,
under the suns repulsion, until it was dissi-
pated, or its light-emitting power died away !;
and meanwhile the new tail was evolved at
mysteriously increased velocity, giving the
phenomenon of two tails nearly parallel for
some distance.
The oxygen treatment of advanced tubercu-
losis is claimed to cause speedy reduction of
temperature and disappearance of the tubercule
bacilli. The Oxygen Hospital in London reports
SS cases treated in the past year, of which 80
Heved, CONSUMPTION being arrested In cases.
Only one patient received no benefit. One Of
the cures was that of a leg ulcer of "a years
standing, the patient having been confined to
bed for several years, and tried other treatment
in vain.
Natures curious provision for long sleep is
shown by two English observerS in the so-called
alternating gland of the hedgehog. Careful
analyses showed that the 40 per cent. of fat in
this gland fell to Is per cent. during the winter
Sleep but that the proteids were only slightly
reduced. 1t was evident that life during hiber
nation is maintained practically upon fat alone.
of which the alternating gland is a store for the
purpose.
The introduction of parafhn into the tissues
proves to be not entirely harmless, DIR. L. Hurd,
nent blindness from three injections of paraffin
to relieve nasal deformity.
The existence of oscillatory electric currents
and discharges is shown in beautiful way by
A. Winklemann. The apparatus consists of two
vertical vacuum tubes connected by cross
tube, the tops of the tubes containing cleo
trodes, while crystal Of corundum is mounted
on glass support in the center of one bulb and
one of scheelite in the other. Cathode rays
cause the f1rst-named mineral to shine with
red light and the other to take blue color.
When a current is passed, the cathode is shown
by the shining of the mineral under it, and
both minerals shine out when the current is os-
cillating. For showing the transition from one
type Of discharge to the other, the two cleo
trodes are joined to an influence machine. The
discharge is continuous when the discharging
rods are pulled so far apart that no oscillations
take place, but both crystals shine out when the
rods are near enough to let sparks pass.
Thoughtful nature lovers note the rapid ex-
tinction of numerous species Of plants as well
as of animals. Prof. Conwentz, of Berlin, mem
lions the destruction of orchids in Thuringen,
the determination of rare thistles on the Ger
man coasts, the cleansing of brooks from aquatic
vegetation, and the destruction of large trees.
He urges the setting aside of districts where the
natural features of the country should be pre-
served.
Drugs introduced into the affected. parts by
electric osmose from high-frequency alterna-
ting currents have been used In the treatment
of cancer by an English physician, with success
in 20 per cent. Of cases. He has reached the
conclusion that a radioactive salt of strontium
so used would cure large portion of the cases
of all malignant diseases.
-
vitiation of the air by burning gas always
causes feeling of oppression. DR.. ]. s. Hal
dane shows that this cannot be due to the in
crease of carbon dioxide, and he attributes the
effect to sulphur compounds, chiefly sulphur
dioxide.
IT WILL be remembered that one of the SEN
sational elections of last fall was that of Charles
NJ. Leeds, mayor of Stanford, Conn.,, twenty
one-year-old millionaire and college bred. He
espoused the Labor and Democratic causes
and no doubt was honest in his advocacy, as
be had been an everyday workman to gain
experience. Now, to the surprise of everyone,
Mr.. Leeds has thrown the Democratic party
overheard for these reasons, which should be