The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-04-16
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY
LAND BASINS WITHOUT OUTLETS
 A PAPER PREsERyATIvE.
Loud-Tslking Maehine-Cement Wood Posts-Gfnger Tippling- Age and Cancer-Danger in Canned Meats-Vegeta- rianiam and Energy
 Loads on Hall
 Flo0rs.


 uus--the latter being regions without tny surface flow of water toward the fea--are shown in a hyorographic jhart lately prepared by o. E. lmhof, ] Swiss geographer. The greatest re- tion without a flow seaward extends from the neighborhood of the Baltic Sea through Russia and Central Asia nearly to the Yellow Sea; and a Smaller closed basin embraces part of Asia Minor and Arabia Africa has ihree such basins; Australia has one including its western part North America has four-two east of the continental divide at the latitude of the Gulf of California, and two others more to the north and to the west of the divide. South America has two closed basins in the region of the Cordilleras.
 Zapon. the new preservative of pa per products of Dr. sAhill of Dresden, is a solution of nitrated cellulose in some inexpensive solvent, amyl acct ate seeming to be best adapted for paper in sheets. When dipped In the solution or brushed with it, the paper absorbs the Mquid. and-on evaporation of the solvent becomes coated with a thin film, which resists rain, sweat and various fumes, as well as attacks of mold and bacteria. and hard usage.
  pearance, may still be written on with ink or pencil
 The auxetophone of the Hon. c. A. Parsons is a gramophone whose sounds are conveyed to a distance by blast of compressed air. The air is pumped by a small engine at a pressure which can be adjusted up to eight pounds. and 1t passes into the trumpet through a little valve taking the place of the ordinary diaphragm. The valve consists of a number of small slots covered with a fine comb. The vlbra- tion of this comb by the record plate reproduces the speech or other sounds, and the air current makes the sounds audible at distances estimated to reach three miles.
 Cement covered poles for carrying wires are gaining favor in Europe. As introduced into Zurich, Switzerland, the poles were covered with one ana one half to two inches of cement, which was held in place and reinforced by wire netting wrapped around the wood and kept a little away by iron brack- cts. These poles are 39 to 46 rect long, tapering in diameter from l3 inches at the butt to inches at the top. A test of three years has given very satisfactory results and the poles promise to be as durable as iron, though their cost was much less.
 Gingerism is causing concern among society physicians in England. Begun as relief from the gastric troubles incident to mental and social strain, the use of the tincture of ginger gradually becomes a habit, and the doses are affirmed to increase to pint daily. Though often taken to avoid the risks of using cocaine or morphine, ginger is claimed to arouse an. appe- tite quite as unappeasable as that or the more dreaded drugs, while its cu- initiative effects are quite as danger ous.
 The effects of prolonged use of pre- served meats seem to be little under- stood, notwithstanding the importance of the subject. From his investigation of the records of explorers, Dr. Erlh Ekelof of the Swedish Antarctic Expe- dition of 1901-3, infers that putrefao- tive poisons are developed in preserved animal foods, and that these frequent iy cause disease Scurvy, he believes, Is due to such cause instead of to lack of vegetables. Explorers and Esqui- maux have subsisted for long periods on fresh meat, while retaining pSMect health, and outbreaks of scurvy ap- pear to have been always dtteHuSu py the use of preserved animal food. It Is suggested that another obscure disease-beriberi of India and other rountries-is due to a toxic substance of preserved animal food that is chemi- rally identical with the poisSh of scurvy.
 Just how the national temperament of he Americans will be influenced in time by the change in diet within the last fifty years Is a tempting problem for speculation. With the large decrease In meat consumption there has beSh a corresponding increase in the use of cereals and vegetables, and one of the queries suggested to a British looker- on is, whether this will make hustling A less prominent American character Istic. In 1850 the wheat consumption of the United States was 4.30 bushels ner capita; in 1900 it was 6.23 bushels. The rise of oatmeal grew from O.9O bushel per capita in 1850 to 3.S6 bushels In 1890: and there has been similar increase in the consumption of vege- tables, though the use of potatoes has decreased. The sugar consumption per capita has trebled in fifty years.
 9copolanline, the new anaestheac from a Japanese plant is administered by hypodermic injection. and induces a deep sleep for eight or nine hours. 1t Is claimed to have absolutely no after effects.