The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-07-29

ton OF Fog-lB the Water-Findere Cnar-
iatanf-PIants Beyond the Earth.
The cavities left in bones after surgical opera
tons have been q source Of much trouble, dis
charges Of pus usually continuing for months.
Acting on the hint given by dentists operations
on decaying teeth. Prof. Moorhol, Of Vienna,
about Eve years ago began seeking means OF
artfncially filling the bone cavities. and for
time experimental with putty-like paste Of
iodoform. This failed to reach all parts Of the
cavity. A new filing has been adopted there
fore. consisting Of iodoform. spermaceH and oil
Of sesame and as this melts at 1922 f., 1t is pour
ed into the cavity in liquid state. when 1t PEN
etrates to every part. The filling is absolved
and replaced by granulation tissue so slowly
that no poisoning occurs. This method has been
applied In about 20 cases. and it is claimed that
there has been no failure
Radium argentiferum, the new metal of two
Tuscan engineers. is now known TO consist Of
copper. iron, and minute portions of silver, ra-
dunn and phosphorus. The remarkable proper
ties are attributed chiefly to the phosphorus.
The metal is claimed to be stronger than steel,
to resist oxidation to equal copper as an electri-
cal conductor, and to cost In large quantities
only tenth as much as bronze.
sss
The chemical factories Of Japan, including
paper and ceramic mills, are stated in govern
ment report to number $40. Salt is made in Is !:
pharmaceutical products in 43; illuminating
oils in 95; matches in 40; colors In So; gas in
incense in g. The employees number 1851, of
whom 1858 are women.
sss
Painting the hands with q solution Of gutta
percha in benzene or acetone Is recommended
for surgeons instead of rubber gloves. It does
not impair touch or fexibility Of the skin.
&c
A new and rapidly developing industry OF
Algeria is the cultivation Of the soap-tree which
has been named Sdpindss Hfilis, and which has
proven superior TO similar plants of India,
Japan. China and Central America. The tree
grows to a height Of 40 or 80 feet. reaching 10
feet In the first two years. It begins 20 bear in
SIX years. and at full maturity yields annually
200 pounds Of yellowish-green to brown berries.
varying from half an inch to an inch in diameter.
Tho tree has been successfully propagated only
from cuttings. though seeds form third of the
weight Of fruit. Cultivation has been confined
70 low-lying lands near the coast and planta-
ton near the city Of Algiers covers l5O acres.
while smaller ones are rapidly sprineing up.
The dried fruit Is shipped to Germany. Some Of
Unemployed In the natural state. and chemists
use much ofitfor washing powder called ''sapo-
nine,' hair-wash known as ''sapondine," and
various toilet spccialties. The hne-grained
wood Of the tree is suitable for furniture.
ass
The artificial gutta percha of Herr Gentssh, Of
Vienna. is composed OF caoutchonc and the resin
Of the palm tree. and is claimed to rival the
natural product at less than wo-thirds Of the
cost. A test in special cables fifteen miles long
has given excellent results. The ne material
softens less quickly than the real gutta percha,
while its electrical resistance slightly superior,
but it has the single disadvantage of being more
glutinous so that coating of rubber is neces-
sary for welding pieces together.
"a
Air drawn by huge fans into the School of
Technology at Manchester. England, is washed
by spray of water and filtered through screen
of corrugated sheets of galvanized iron. After
the recent fogs the wash water was found to be
inky black. The proportion of solid matter was
large but analysis showed little SCOT, but con-
siderable iron probably from the screen.) with
ammonia, lime. magnesia, a trace of arsenic and
much sulphuric and hydrochloric acids.
aSA
A matter of much current interest that de-
mands careful scientific Investigation is the art
Of the "dowser,' or person claiming to have q
special gift enabling him to locate underground
water by means of divining rod or forked twig.
The water-inders have been busy OF late. es-
pecially in England, with varying success. Prob
ably the most common conviction is that these
persons are victims of illusion, but so eminent
scientific man as Sir william Preece concludes
that the hidden water falling over pebbles. etc.
may set up vibrations that act upon the sensi-
tive abdominal diaphragm Of certain individuals
Of exceptionally delicate frame. In illustration
he mentions that though q good sailor and q
strong man. he has himself had feeling Of sea-
sickness when standing on q temporary bridge
over which cab was rapidly driven.
=.
A curious vegetation-called "supraterres-
triaI"-because it does not grow on the earth's
surface-has been studied by virsile Brandt
court, a French botanist. The Oldest of the
plants are those that grow on stone and brick
walls, and of these 81 per cent. have fine seeds,
10 per cent winged seeds, per cent hooked
seeds. per cent. have an explosive mechanism
for discharging the seeds, and per cent. are
with feshy fruits. Thatched roofs also have
numerous plants, older roofs sheltering 10 or 16
species, while the general average is 8. A spe-
cial fora is characteristic of the tops of pollard
willows, and this embraces as many as SO species.
80
stream of water varies in velocity at differ
emit depths. In the recent work of the q. s.
Geological Survey the mean velocity has been
found at point ranging from So to 70 per cent.
of the depth. the degree of roughness of the
bottom having effect. The engineers have adop-
ted six-tenths as the depth of mean velocity.
"a
Rapid driving on asphalt pavement proves
dangerous to the horse from q curious source.
A shoe thrown by horse after mile trot was
found to be so hot that it could not be handled.