Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-05-24
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

| Wonders of SelenIum-A New Era
In Astronomy-PIating Aluminium
odoriferous Europeans - Disease
From the Sun-Musie of the Pulse
| Puncture-Proof Tires.
| What Is known as the universal
transferable steering propulsor,"
French invention, is a light explosive
motor that can be attached in place
Of rudder to any existing boat, with
out boring hole in the stern post, and
can be removed when desired. 1t en-
ables anybody to convert a rowboat
into a gasoline launch for the tempo
rary needs Of his days outing. No
rudder is necessary, and as the pro-
peller can be turned completely around,
a reverse action Is given. A launch to
which a twelve-horse power propulsor
had been attached, towed a 300-ton
canal barge loaded with $50 tons Of
sand.
| Selenium Is known for its variation
in electrical conductivity under the
action of light or Rontgen rays. Late
experiments by E. van Aubell, show that
the rays emitted by hydrogen peroxide
also increase the conductivity, and that
essence of turpentine and substances
that have been exposed to ozone have
similar but feebler influence. Ozone
itself had no effect. A striking fact
noted was the slow recovery of the
selenium after the ozonized substance
had lain upon It, about day being
required for it to regain its original
resistance.
The cancer studies of the past year
have disproven the idea that 1t Is
purely human disease, due to the pc
culiarities Of mans living, as it has
been found in all domestic animals and
in other Notwithstanding fishes.
It can be transmitted by innoculation,
though evidently not to animals Of
different species.
Monthly balloon ascents in the in
|terest Of meteorology are now made at
about fourteen stations in France, Ger
many. Russia. Austria, Switzerland
Spain and Italy. Kites are sent up in
Massachusetts and in England.
The Rumford spectroheliograph of
the Yerkes observatory is pointed out
by w. J. S. Lockyer as opening new
field of research that apparently has
no limit. The apparatus consists of
a spectroscope with two Sits, one of
which is moved slowly over an image
of the suns disc, while the second
narrowed to pass only single line of
the spectrum that comes through the
series of prisms and lenses-is given
a corresponding motion over pho
tographic plate. The operation gives
a picture of the sun in monochromatic
light, or light from a single element.
When the K line Of calcium is isolated,
for instance, the calcium Of the solar
atmosphere appears as bright flocculi
and patches, dark spaces representing
hydrogen and other elements. The
bright hydrogen line gives a similar
hydrogen picture, and it Is expected
that other elements may be brought
out in like manner, although other
lines have thus far proven too weak
for good results. Numerous changes
in the sun are shown, and as these are
constantly taking place, it is urged
that systematic observations should be
undertaken in all countries.
Attempts to plate upon aluminium
have been mostly unsatisfactory. The
difficulty is attributable to an invisible
film of oxide forming on that metal,
and in a new process, c. F. Burgess
and Carl Hambuechen seek to dis
solve this film by adding to the bath
a little sodium or ammonium fluoride,
or free hydrofuoric acid. AS they find
zinc most adhesive to aluminium, they
first deposit a thin zinc coating. On
this other metals, such as copper and
silver may be deposited by the usual
electrolytic methods, but if gold plate
is required q film Of copper must first
be deposited, as the gold sinks into the
zinc and disappears in a few weeks.
The best temperature for brain
work has been shown by the prolong-
ed experiments of Sir B. w. Richard
son lO De OF L. IL lie lSiHPei iaSuiS 10
lower the mind becomes drowsy and
inactive; and if higher, both mind and
body are relaxed and soon fatigued.
Horses, dogs, cats and other animals
are known to have characteristic odors,
and it appears that man has very
variable odor. DR.. Burtaro Adacki, a
Japanese physician, states that Euro
peans have an emanation that Is not
noticed by themselves, but Is very
perceptible to Japanese and Chinese.
To these races it is intolerable at first,
but gradually becomes endurable, and
it is probably due in part to the meat
eating habits Of the western peoples.
The perspiration Of vegetarians has no
odor A German writer afflrms that
there are provincial odors, that Of
Brunswick being different from that
of Bavaria, and that of Savoy different
from that of Normandy. Brunettes,
blondes and red-haired people have
different odors, while individuals have
odors peculiar to themselves.
The actinic rays Of the sun not only
have a stimulant and beneficial action
but they may produce unpleasant ac-
ton. Prof. Fermi has been expert
menting by exposing many persons to
direct sunlight for varying periods, and
has produced many cases-often per-
sisting for many days-of headache,
dryness of the nose, snuffing, cold in
the head. pharyngitis, weariness. slight
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