Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-03-18
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

Puff BaIls-The Airs Argon.
The mysterious ether that is sup
posed to fill all space Is the subject
of a new theory by Mendeleen, the
Russian chemist. He would regard II
as a definite chemical substance so
light that it's molecular velocity over
comes gravitation, a substance with
out chemical affinity, and with a pow
Ell Of diffusion so great that 1t can
penetrate all bodies. He finds that
there Is probably lighter element
than hydrogen, with an atomic weight
of about O.4. that may be the coronium
of the suns atmosphere and volcanic
gases. The ether must have still
smaller atomic weight, certainly not
over OF, and probably about one-mil-
lionth that Of hydrogen, as the MOLE
cule must have velocity of Mt least
14OO miles a second to escape the
gravitation of the largest bodies OF the
universe. This hypothetical element
aIrnost without weight, is na.',a1 NV
tonium.
and balloons carrying registering ap-
paratus, are now made in the United
States. Germany and Denmark, for
gaining a better knowledge of the at
mosphere and its problems. On a hill
near Viborg. in Jutland, two story
tower, about 30 feet high, Is mounted
on rails so as to be revolved, one side
being open and kept away from the
wind. It is equipped with registering
instruments, electric motor, two wind
lasses, ETC.. for starting kites, while
other buildings contain workshops.
small balloons. steam engine and ac-
commodations for the director and
five assistants. Kites are flown with
steel wire of O.6 to 1.3 millimetre, and
easily reach 200 yards in height. but
attain 5000 or 1000 yards with diff
Guilty and only by the use ofauxiliary
kites. After a recent break OF wire
one kite was recovered at a distance
of $50 miles.
The origin of leprosy is becoming a
matter of dispute. The theory that
eating decomposing or imperfectly
cured fish is the sole cause is strongly
supported by Mr.. Jonathan Hutchin-
son, F. R. s., and he has been making
trips to distant parts of the world to
gain evidence on the subject. He has
learned, among other things that In
dia has about or A cases of leprosy
per 10000 of the population, While the
fishing island of Minicoy has $50 and
fish curing Kaligoan has 500. An op-
ponent of this view, Prof. R. T. Hew-
lett, points out that leprous tissues
contain enormous numbers Of microbes
resembling the tubercle bacillus which
are never present in fish. and that
many facts, such as the decline OF
leprosy in Norway since segregation OF
the victims was begun, tend to snow
that the disease Is spread by personal
contagion. He suggests that the eat
| ing of bad fish may be mark or a
low civilization favorable to personal
contagion.
The fact that compression or bend
ing causes a substance to emit N-rays
has suggested to M. d. Lepinay that
vibrations producing sound should have
the same effect, as the sounding body
undergoes slight but rapidly repeated
strains. Experiments with tuning
fork, a bronze bell, large steel CYL
inder and a siren proved this to be
true. and the phosphorescent screen
showed that the air also produces as
we'll as transmits the rays. Another
investigator, M. Meyer, has discovered
q similar radiation in vegetable TISSUE
the green parts of the plant giving the
most intense effect.
The climate summary Of the British
empire for 1902 presents some inter-
esting facts. The highest mean an
nual temperature was S3.20 at Madras,
the lowest being 37.60 at Winnipeg,
the greatest mean daily range was
25.5o at Coolgardie (West Australia),
and the least was So at Hong Kong.
The highest shade temperature was
111.4o at Adelaide in February, and the
lowest was 36.1o below zero at Wlnnl-
peg in January. The highest temper
allure in the sun was 177' at Trini-
dad. Colombo had III inches OF rain'
and Coolgardie only 14.7.
For eighteen years Baron Fridland
Won Nowack has been studying the
tropical weather plant" Abrus Pre-
catorius Nobilis, as an instrument OF
long distance weather forecasting. he
finds that the twigs and leaves re-
spond in movement and even In color
TO electric and magnetic forces of the
atmosphere. and that familiarity with
the effects of sun-spots gives means
of predicting barometric and earth
quake conditions "a or 2S days in ad-
vance. He believes that he can indl-
cate areas Of rainy fine and foggy
weather for 2 to Z days In advance.
He contends, moreover. that very high
or very low pressures affect the COM
pass sufficiently to cause vessels 10
go out of their course, and he claims
that these extremes of the barometer
and the degree of their effects upon
the compass can be foretold "a or 20
days in advance.
The new cancer treatment of Prof.
Doyen. of Paris. depends upon injec-
tions of a toxin produced from micro
coccus neoformans, a microbe for some
years past observed in rapid growing
tumors from wounds. In cases where
debility is not too great. and no vital