The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1906-03-31

C0yrsspondsnes Baltimore County linton.
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.
The Greatest Gold Mine-Electric Skin
Sighting Waste-The New
weather indicsror-Muscle Mastery
Where Music 10 Preecribed-Mach
Rubbering - Non Intoxicating Slim u
lants-American Diamonds.
The recovery Of gold from sea-water is still a
fascinating problem. Liversidge has estimated
that the ocean contains from 100 to 200 tons OF
gold per cubic mile, or total Of 100000, OOO. OO(
tons; but If this he divided by 100 the value
would still be $o97, III 200. 600 600 while NJ. de
Wilde. Of Brussels, finds that all Of the gold
mined up to the present time would not form a
cube more than 30 feet square. representing a
value Of elS.559.0 $4,000. N de Wilde has new
method Of separation. from which he expects
great results. He treats ocean water with a
concentrated solution of salt of TIM which trans
forms the gold into purple Of Cassius. an oxide
Of gold and tin. and this is fixed by hydrate Of
magnesia which is liberated from the sea-water
on adding lime-water. The hydrate of magnesia
has been charged with as much as fifteen per
cent of gold, which is removed with cyanide of
potassium solution.
curious blackening of the faces and hands
of certain persons being treated by electricity
has been noticed. Investigation showed that
this took place only when the patients chair
was electrically positive and the crown of the
head negative, and when oil-heaters were being
used to warm the room. The blackening proved
to be due to invisible carbon particles thrown
or by the burning oil and drawn to the positive
pole.
Inventors still have room for increasing the
economy Of lighting. Sir James Dewar lately
pointed out that Of the energy of the candle. oil
and c0al-gas only per cent. is transformed into
light; of the incandescent lamp. 8 per cent; arc
lamp. 10 per cent. and magnesium lamp, Is per
cent. But 90 per cent. Of the energy of the Cuban
FREELY appears as light, only l per cent. being
wasted.
As rain follows the cooling of an atmosphere
nearly saturated with aqueous vapor. the wealth
or forecaster finds It important to determine the
moisture in approaching winds. The barometer
gives some Indication, but its height depends on
wind pressure and temperature as well as on
moisture. and the old wet and dry-bulb thermom-
eters have proven entirely unreliable. so that
accurate observation has required apparatus
too elaborate for ordinary use. The new "aqua-
meter" simple instrument, therefore fills an
urgent need. The opening and shutting of two
taps and raising and lowering of mercury res
ervoir draw measured quantity Of air into
glass vessel, and as this comes in contact with
anhydrous phosphoric acid the water is quickly
absorbed. causing the Inurcury to rise in a mar
row glass stem to point showing the exact
percentage of aqueous vapor in the air.
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The 'muscle artist" to whom Prof. Won Berg
mann. the famous Berlin surgeon. has drawn
attention, has such mastery of the muscles that
he can move them about as he wishes. He draws
up his abdominal organs, leaving a cavity; then
he presses them down until his abdomen grows
globular; then he divides them into right and
left sections, with hollow between. He makes
the muscles Of any part of his body tremble and
shake like jelly. He stops his pulse beating. and
moves his heartat will. Just how these singular
results are attained is mystery.
~
Vocal or instrumental music as a therapeutic
agent has been found by DIR. F. s. Kennedy to be
useful aid in meIancholia. insomnia, hysteria,
family affection, business reverses, delirium,
pain, and mental or physical fatigue. Alderman
physician has used music to lessen the distress
and after-effects Of applying anesthetics.
~
Sunstroke, it is pointed out, is due to the
chemical and not to the heat rays. The active
rays penetrate anything except color screen,
and an Egyptian army officer has effectively
protected himself by lining his helmet and coat
with yellow.
The erssing machine is designed to tighten the
labors of the draughtsman. A circular ink eraser
is fastened by screw in the place of the usual
drill Of a dental engine, and being rotated by
foot-power, is guided over the lines to be re-
moved. The flexible shaft permits of ready
movement as desired. At good speed and with
light pressure. the eraser works rapidly and
effectively, and on good paper the surface can
be SO smoothed that the erasure is scarcely
noticeable. In changing the details of engineers
maps and in other work great deal of labor can
be saved by this simple device.
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The novel problem of German chemists is that
of producing an agreeable and hygienic bever
age having stimulating properties like beer and
wine, but containing no alcohol or other harm
full substance. The investigation is to be made
through syntheses of wine and beer. The effects
of the different constituents upon the organs of
taste are to be studied and an effort will be
made to produce like agreeable effects with
non alcoholic materials. The achievements al
ready made in synthetic chemistry give hope of
success in this new field.
-.
United States localities that have yielded
diamonds are Shelby county, Alabama; Anna
dor. FL Dorado, Butte. Nevada, Trinity, Del
Norte and Tulare counties, California; Brown
and Morgan counties, Indiana; Russell county,
county, Ohio; Monroe. Roane and Union coun-
ties, Tennessee Pierce. Dane, Washington,
Ozaukee, Waukesha and Racine counties. Wis
consin. A diamond of Cass county, Michigan,
weighed 10X carats and one of Waukesha coun-
ty. Wisconsin. 10 1872 carats.
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The soldierant of Australia builds huge nests,
and overpowers small snakes. Yet it is van
Quished by q small black ant third as large the