Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-02-16
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

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| SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.
An Economical Engine-Though Lo-
Gated by N-Rays-The Suns Ring
Telegraph and Transport In the Body
The School Day-Fleas as Plague
carriers-Stone From MiIk-A Mine
Of EPSON Salt.
The new motor of Peter Thornley,, a
Manchester engineer Is expected to
|revolutionize the use of steam. In ex-
listing engines steam is not admitted
until the piston has moved some dis
ltance, but the new arrangement sup
plies steam at the very start and In
quantity just sufficient to finish the
stroke, thus avoiding waste. The pur-
pose is accomplished by a new rotary
valve fitted to the top Of twin cylin-
Iders. Two slotted discs, revolving in
lopposite directions, permit the steam
to enter the cylinder as the slots pass,
and third disc serves as cutoff for
Regulating speed or reversing. A model
about the size of a typewriter gives
1900 revolutions per minute, develop
ing about 15-horse power under boil
er pressure of 200 pounds. The saving
is estimated at 25 to several hundred
per cent.
The N-rays Of Blondlot are not only
emitted by the nerves and muscles OF
man and animals, but it appears that
they increase with activity in the body.
Continuing his experiments, Augustin
Charpentier has found that the whole
spinal cord increases the phosphore-
scence of the test object Contraction
Of muscles is indicated. and the motor
centers" of the cerebrum are mani
tested when called into activity, even
the center of speech showing its loca-
ton by extra N-rays when the per-
son is speaking.
A reddish ring enclosing a whitish
glare was seen around the sun after
the Krakatoa eruption of 1883, and has
been named Bishops ring. Keen OBJ
servers have noted a similar appear
ance in recent months. This ring had
a diameter Of 10 degrees in August,
l19O2, but had diminished to 20 degrees
in December, 1903, although settlement
of coarser dust was expected to make
it larger.
The messenger service of the body is
one Of the most surprising marvels of
living mechanism. We are familiar
with the impressions telegraphed to
the central station by the nerves of
touch, heat, sight, hearing, taste and
smell, but the work Of the blood's body
guard of thousands Of members is less
we'll known. These white blood cor
puscles-the leucocytes-are intelli-
gent carriers for the system. They
seize, absorb, assimilate, or carry away
germs and poisons, and in health they
transport drugs to the liver or marrow,
centers of irritation. They can be de-
pended upon to convey iron to the
blood making organs, iodoform to tu-
berculous LESSONS, and so on, as recent
research has proven.
Important physiological experiments
have been made in Russia to test the
endurance of school children. The re-
suits prove that in the lower four
classes study may be continued for 2.7
to 3.5 hours daily, or % to q hours per
week, but that excessive fatigue re-
suits from longer continuance of brain
work. This time for teaching these
classes has Been fixed by the latest
; order of the ministry Of public in
struction. 1t is urged, however, that
this should be the outside limit, and
that no lessons should be studied at
; home.
From an investigation Of the Sydney
plague epidemic Of 1902, DR.. A. Thomp-
son concludes that both this and pre-
vious epidemics were undoubtedly
: spread by rats. Just how this was
; done has been a matter Of much doubt.
as to the theory that fleas were the
carriers it has been objected that the
species Of fieas living on rats do not
bite man. The question seems to have
been settled by the discovery that one
species--Pulex serraticeps is common
to man, rats. and other animals
Settlement Of the tropics by Europe
ans is pronounced impracticable by F.
: Hueppe, an eminent authority, who
finds that only the strongest become
acclimatized, and they soon degenerate.
For many years unsuccessful at
tempts have been made to produce a
useful substitute for celluloid from the
casein of SKINNED milk. 1t is claimed
that the difficulties are now overcome
: in the "galalith," or milestone. that
in Germany is being made into many
articles having the appearance of horn.
ebony or marble. The material is made
by rendering the casein insoluble by
acetate of lead or other metallic salt,
then freeing from water and drying,
and finally adding formaldehyd. SCOT
or other substance is used for coloring.
Galalith has the advantages over Gel
luloid Of igniting less easily and being
odorless, and unlike other casein pro-
ducts, it absorbs only a small percen-