The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1904-03-26

Watching High Temperature Action
The Suns Mysterious Ring-The Fast
est Brain Growth-Sugar From Car
bonic Acid-Color-Blind Artists-Wind-
Power Electricity-A Handy Cement.
Fresh revelations in the phenomena of high
temperatures have been brought by the new
quartz vessels of German makers. These ves-
sells bear great heat without softening and may
be exhausted Of air. while one end Of quartz
tube may be safely cooled and the other end
kept very hot. In such tubes, heated in an
electric furnace. German chemists have been
studying the fusing and vaporization of metals
in vacuum. The varying behavior Of zinc,
selenIum, tellurium, lead, anthony, tin. bis
muth, silver. copper and gold have been watch
ed, the evaporation of cadmium beginning at
32O0C.. while gold-the most refractory metal
tried-distilled but little at 1852.
Sc
The peculiar atmospheric or solar phenome-
non known as Bishops Ring seems to be of
very rare appearance. It was first observed in
Honolulu by Rev. Serene Bishop, few days
after the Krakatoa eruption of 1888. and it has
been seen but few times since. NJ. Forel has
reported noting it on the first three days of last
August from height of $500 feet In the Alps.
1t appeared as double ring around the sun,
the inner portion being of blush silver color,
while the outer part was a band of copper, zoo
wide, shading OF into the blue of space.
sss
Brain development is found by Prof. Seggel.
of Munich, to have two periods of acceleration
from 10 to IL and from II to IS in girls, and
from IL to ID and 10 to 20 In boys. At the period
of most rapid increase In height, from IL to IA
years, the growth of the brain Is less than one
hundredth that of the body, but at II to 10 1t
Roof ox,S ~ ohon
one-seventh of the body growth.
-
Carbon is the basis of all organic products,and
a striking discovery of Julius Walther, st.
Petersburg chemist. is that this element may be
made to enter into various combinations with
oxygen and hydrogen by simple electrolysis of
water charged with carbonic acid gas. the re
suits being several sugars and vegetable acids
from one form of simple apparatus. The water
was charged with the gas evolved on pouring
hydrochloric acid on marble. The anodes of the
electric apparatus were brushes of platinum
and the catholics were preferably of clay or
slicates of aluminium with large surface. The
solutions about the anode and cathode were en-
closed in separate clay receptacles, that of the
anode being kept 5oC. warmer than the ether by
lamp. The current was gradually increased
both in power and in intensity, and at volts
and 0.75 ampere oxalic acid appeared. being
soon followed by tartaric acid and by citric
acid at volts and 2.25 amperes. Fruit sugar
was produced at volts and 3 amperes. then
grape sugar. The richness Of the products in
carbon seems to increase with increase in cur
rent and intensity.
collection of pictures by color-blind per-
sons formed late novel exhibition by DIR. F.
tinct but associated classes. The first consists
of persons with a spectrum shortened at one or
both ends, who consequently cannot see certain
rays; and an individual with a shortening of
the red end would not see red light at dis
lance, although able to pick out all pieces in
mixture of colored woods. The second class
are unable to recognize certain colors. Nor
mal-sighted persons see six colors, some even
seven; the second class of the color-bllnd see
1--WE, four, three, two, or one color, and are
called pentachromic, tetrachromic, etc.
.ts
Sycamore is an exceedingly durable wood, and
a statue from it now in the museum of Gizeh,is
reported sound and natural in appearance, al
though nearly 5000 years old.
.sA
The problem of wind power for electric sta
lions has been studied for several years by Prof.
LaCour, in the interest of the Danish Govern
meut. To overcome the difficulty of irregular
speed, the motor is provided with an intermedi-
ate shaft in connection with balance, and the
belt from the windmill is led vertically on the
disc of this shaft the pressure on the latter be-
ing regulated by the balance bearing convent
emit CONFERENCE.-The. Through this device the
belt slides on the disc soon as the load exceeds
given maximum. A wind power plant, supply
ing about 80 amperes of current at ITO volts, has
been in operation about year at Askov. Dem
mark, and feeds about $50 incandescent lamps.
It has given excellent results, with little atten-
ton, Gains OF several days being bridged over
by reserve of petroleum motors.
aFA
A German chemist describes a new cement,
composed of casein and some tannic acid COM
pound, that becomes very hard when dry, and is
then insouble in water, oils, petroleum, etc. In
preparing it, calcium tannate may be obtained
by adding clear lime water to a tannin solution
until no further precipitation occurs, then pour
ing OF the liquid and drying the precipitate.
The calcium tannate is mixed with casein in
proportions ranging from to 1 up to to 10.
The dried mixture is reduced to powder, which
is ready for use on adding water to any desired
consistency.
The serum obtained by inoculating horses with
cobra venom, so effective in the practice of CAL
mette has been found by DIR. Tidswell to have
no power In counteracting the venom of Austria
liam snakes. Other experiments seem to prove
that the anti-venomous serum is only active
against poison of snakes of the same species as
that supplying the venom of the serum.
80
From the latest measurements by Curie, it is
estimated that the energy of Is pounds of radi-
um, fully utilized, would run one-horse power
an r;ra MANY oonfurfoa