Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-01-15

was good enough for him. He was the
idol of the people, and all kinds OF
honors were showered upon him.
General Katsura believes tina. the
Japanese soldiers are the best In the
world, and says that he would not
fear the result If he had to lead them
against any white troops.-New York
Press.
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.
Engineering In 'BioIogy-The Natural
Soap Tree-Lisht Rays to Favor tho
Eye-A Creature That Smells All
over-A New Battery-Heat Radi:
) atina -carpsts-An UpIoeked5 For
Observation-Disclosures For tho Deaf.
Illustrations of the mastery use OF
engineering principles by living struc-
lures were pointed out by a recent ad-
dress in Philadelphia by Mr.. Henry
Lehman. Numerous bones represent
the hollow column with its. greatest
strength for the least material; the
articulation. Of the bones gives joints,
which have lubricating membranes,
and a tough intermediate structure IN
the case Of the knee-joint. The eloow
exhibits several forms Of motion, with
an apparent defect in the exposed po-
sition of the nerve-trunk-the crazy
bone"-where it Is likely to receive a
blow. Hydraulic engineering Is dem
onstrated in the circulatory system,
the heart being a pair Of double pumps,
with its system Of chambers ana
valves, and an action very similar to
that of the pistonless pumps OF the
pulsometer. The large trunk artery
with it's divisions and subdivisions,
bears a close analogy to a large gas
or water main.
The tree Sapindus utilis, which is to
be cultivated in Algeria as source or
natural soap, has fruit about as large
as a chestnut, with dark-colored oily
kernel. A cutting from the tree reach
es a height Of six feet In two years.
and attains maturity in six years. when
it bears from so to 200 pounds Of fruit.
Water or alcohol is used to extract the
soap. which Is claimed to be very su-
perior.
Fatigue of the eye In light Of differ
ent colors has been studied in France
by A. Broca and D. Sulzer. Light very
rich In blue rays, such as that from
the electric arc or powerful incandes-
cent burners, proved injurious. the
most desirable light being that from
radiations near the middle of the spec
trum.
Catarrh, bronchitis and various ear
and nervous troubles are already rec
ognized as effects of automobiling.
A good sense of smell in snails has
been recorded by Moquin Tandon, and
he concluded that the organ Is the ter
minal button at the end OF the large
feelers. The interesting discovery Is
now announced by M. Emile uhg
that the sense OF smell Is located not
only in the feeling organs but over
the entire body. A camers hair brush
dipped in odorous essence proved that
every part of the body not covered by
shell perceived odors, and when the
four feelers were amputated the snail
could still smell food, while 1t fitd
from disagreeable odors. Microscopic
examination seemed to indicate that
the nerve cells are all capable Of re-
ceiving different sensations, such as
shock, heat, odors, etc. The strongest
odors of food-such as that OF very
ripe melon-are perceived by snails
not more than 16 inches away, and
most odors attract little more than an
inch.
A convenient dry battery, so improv-
ed that it may be transported IN dry
condition and quickly put to work, Is
the subject of a late German patent.
The dry cells consist each Of cylin-
der Of zinc or other metal enclosing a
cylinder or prism of carbon, the space
between these two electrodes being
filled up with blotting paper or other
suitable absorbent. These cells In the
desired number are arranged In a
suitable casing, with asphalt insulation.
When needed, the covers are removed
from the cells, filled with blotting pa
per soaked in ammoniac solution or
other convenient electrolyte: then re-
placed, and the battery Is ready.
Over fatigue is. regarded by DR.. Bur-
ton Tanning as the determining cause
of ten per cent Of his cases Of pulmo-
nary consumption. Even a single ex-
cess-as unusual bicycling. climbing,
hunting, or even dancing, or tennis
may bring into activity unsuspected
latent tuberculosis.
The self-lighting Bunsen burner Of
a German chemist depends upon the
igniting effect of a pellet of palladium
sponge, which Is passed over the escap-
ing gas as the tap Is opened.
The curious electric heater Of M.
Camille Herrgott consists Of conduct
ing wires woven into carpets and other
fabrics, and It Is designed to give a
moderately high temperature to the
fiber-hemp, cotton. linen or silk. 1t
does not affect the piiability or appear
ance Of the material. It Is claimed that
the heater is perfectly safe, and that
the wires cannot be raised above a GER
tain temperature. The arrangement
can be applied to many purposes. Car
pets, rugs, etc.. can be kept at the
temperature Of the body or higher and
dry or wet medical applications can be
kept easily at $50 deg. C. In the in
dustries numerous uses are suggested,
as in filters for fatty or. gelatinous
matters. and for warming carriages or
trains, etc.
A rather unexpected advantage of
electric railways has been discovered
by an Italian electrician. He believes
that the cars aid the health author
tiles by serving as antiseptic agents
for the electric sparks. from the over
head trolley, and from the car wheel
when the rail is used for the return
current, transform the oxygen Of the