The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1906-10-19
Es8R0PUEA2s :lCI5L AR


Professor J. ]. Thomson, in re-
cent lecture on the modern theory
of the constitution of matter al the
Royal Institution, said that the atom
is now regarded As being made up or
masses of positive and negative cleo
tricities." The negative electricity,
even when not attached TO a material
particle, is conceived 10 exist as an
extremely small, discreet particle in
itself. Such electric PARTICLES are
called corpuscles. II has been proved
that they are less than a thousandth
of the size of hydrogen atom. Pro-
fessor Thomson spoke Of them as
1.-The bricks of atoms" 1t should
not be inferred, however, that they
are packed together in the atom like
bricks laid immovable in a wall
They move freely, and in a vacuum
their velocity may range between
1000 and 10000 miles per second,
according 10 the degree of exhaustion.
The physiological effects Of feeble
radio-activity have been subject of
investigation in France by +. 5. Lon
don. Using a quarter OF grain OF
radium he applied this 70 the forearm
for brief intervals, and obtained a
distinct reaction after minimum eX-
posure Of fifteen seconds. He sus-
pended four grainsof radium bromide
in a cage about eighteen inches long
by sixteen wide and twelve high.
Three rabbits confined in this cage
showed redness of the ears after six
teen days, while burns soon appeared
on the backs, and after fourteen
months the backs and heads were de-
nuded of fur and covered with ulcers.
Movements had become apathetic and
slow, the hind legs being partially
paralyzed The eyes were affected,
and post-mortem examinations re-
vealed changes and degenerations in
the muscles, liver, spleen, kidneys
and generative organs.
The expansive force of compressed
air is employed in q very interesting
way by the North Carolina Granite
Company. On q sloping hillside, COM
posed of granite which shows no bed
planes, but splits readily in any di-
rection when started, a three-inch
bore is sunk about eight feet deep,
and the bottom is enlarged by eX-
ploding a half-stick of dynamite. A
small charge Of powder is fired in this
hole, which starts a horizontal crack
or cleavage. Charges increasing in
size are exploded until the cleavage
has extended over a radius Of seven
ty-five or 100 feet Then pipe is
cemented into the bore, and air is
forced in, under a pressure OF from
eighty to 100 pounds. The expansion
of the air extends the cleavage until
it comes out at the surface on the
slope of the hill. A horizontal sheet
of granite several acres in extent may
thus be separated.
The thermophi.e fabrics Of c. Herr
gott. Of Valdoie, France, introduce a
novel method OF applying warmth,
and are expected to do much for do
mestic electric heating. The fabrics
are combination of textile and con-
ductive threads, the latter being made
of any required size and combining
with any textile materials. When
woven the electro-thermic wires are
hidden, many electro-thermic wefts
enter into each circuit, and the cir
cults are Joined by collector wires,
of which one pole is placed in each
selvage Of the fabric. There is no
danger of fire or o%her accident. The
temperature may range from seventy
degrees to ninety-five degrees +. for
carpets up to $50 degrees 10 800 de-
grees for hot-air baths, and the pos
sible applications are many, including
use for foot warmers and articles OF
clothing and furniture, drying ap.
paratus, baby incubators and numer.
Gus hospital appliances and most pur-
poses requiring constant moderate
heat.