The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-06-17
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

Unexplained Radiation-The Airship In
France-Color and Temperature-P0et
Observation-Disclosures emedy--The Elec-
trolytic Telephone-A Novel Test of
Death-No Fat from Water-Extraor
binary Number Memory.
Not least perplexing of the new discoveries IN
radiation has proven to be that which a few
years ago gave DIR. w. ]. Russell photographs Of
metals in the dark. This radiation seemed to
pass through paper, gelatine, celluloid and ebon-
lite, and to be connected in some way with by
drogen peroxide. The matter has been lately
taken up by L. Graetz, of Munich. He finds
that the rays also penetrate thin foils of gold.
silver and aluminium, that metals give bright
pictures on dark ground and liquids dark pictures
on bright ground, and that warm and cold por-
tions turn out bright and dark respectively. A
temperature difference as small as .0eo Cent. can
be distinguished. The radiation seems to have
polarity, and Graetz thinks that both heat and
hydrogen peroxide play some part, while ozone
is suggested cause. When not too dry, ozone
will affect the Photographic plate and produce
electric discharge and phosphorescence.
~
The French airship Lebaudy 1 is an interest
ing pioneer. 1t is about 200 feet long, has
regular crew Of three persons but often carries
six, and in the closing months of last year it
made thirty successful accents returning each
time to its shed at Moissan after "Trip of five or
ten miles. 1t was taken out in winds of three
or four miles an hour and in rain. It reached
height Of about third of mile, was propelled
about Is miles an hour, and remained inflated
for "a days.
Some curious causes of idiosyncrasy to eggs
are on record. A German doctor now reports
that Of woman who has nettle-rash If she eats
either the white or yolk of raw egg or the
yolk Of a cooked egg.
-.
A laboratory for the study of diseases of fish
is the experiment Of the Veterinary Institute
Of Vienna.
Some substances darken on being heated,
while some lose color at low temperatures. and
the hypothesis that all colors would fade to
wilderness at the absolute zero of temperature
has met with considerable favor. An investiga-
ton Of the effect of liquid air freezing has been
made in France by Jules Schmedlin. It appears
that in solid state or fixed on textile ihers, like
silk and wool. coloring matters change but
slightly, but in alcoholic solution some of them
especially some of the rosanilines- much
altered. Even in solution. however, other dyes
such as methylene blue and malachite green
are not altered in color by the cold Of liquid air.
The ordinary color and that due to fiuorescence
are affected differently. and Carbohydrate of
rosanfline shows diminishing of its red color
and development of fine yellow-green fiuor-
escence, while the red of eosine is lessened and
the fiuorescence remains constant.
~
Concrete is finding an important new applica-
ton as setting for posts, both wood and iron.
When the wood post is treated with tar and the
hole around it is filed with we'll tamped con-
crete, cheap and practicable indestructible
foundation is secured; and similar bedding gives
to iron posts for telephone lines and other pur-
poses the stability hitherto lacking. The con-
crete protects the iron from rust as it does the
wood from rot.
Inhaling steam charged with camphor and
naphthalin is the new remedy for whooping
cough Of DIR. Alois Monti. The child sits in the
vapor for three-quarters of an hour daily and
immediate relief follows, while mild cases are
cured in three to four weeks and severe cases in
four to six weeks. The early trials are reported
to have shown no unfavorable or harmful re-
suits. -
The novel telephone of e. RUNNER, which has
excited much interest in Berlin, consists essen
tAul44 VI LAiCEOpuOuc bEduclllbtcE Win al eloC-
trolytic cell, having two hearing tubes. as re-
ceiver. The cell is claimed to give great dis
tinctness to any speech transmitted.
A*s
While there is really little risk of premature
burial absolute proof of death may add much to
the peace of mind of relatives and others. Nu-
merous signs have been given. butt the beginning
of decomposition seems to have been the only
sure one. Now, however, DIR. Icard believes he
has discovered test that is absolutely positive
and reliable. A solution of iuorescin is injected
deeply into the cellular tissue. when if the cir
culation still continues, intense jaundice of the
skin and greenness of the eyes is produced by
absorption Of the dye, but If the circulation has
completely stopped there is nothing of the kind.
1t is suggested that in time of epidemic when
hasty burial may be necessary-this test be ap-
piled at least two hours before the body is placed
in the coffin. If the person is dead there is no
designation, and if alive the discoloration soon
passes away.
That drinking much water lessons weight in
stead Of increasing it-causIng one to grow thin
instead of fats the surprising result of late
French experiments. M. Maurel fed guinea
pig with bran, carrots and carrot stalks, with
two injections of water each day, when the an
imal steadily lost weight, but on continuing the
same dIetin smaller quantity and without water.
continuous gain was apparent. Variations Of
the experiment confirmed the result. Tried on
human subjects, other experimenters gave an
amount of water daily for a month without in
creasing weight, and trebling for seven days
the water taken by another man had no effect.
.t*
physician reported by Prof. Mueller, Of
Goetingen, has been able to work out in few
seconds the squares of any numbers of five fig
ures, and to learn and repeat in twelve and one
half minutes a row Of 204 figures. The greatest
earlier feat in memory for numbers was the
learning of 2Ol figures in rs minutes