Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-03-02
Science Notes,

Science Notes.
Some interesting facts concerning
the mineral adulteration of textiles
in everyday utility have been publish.
ed by the Lancet. of London. Accord
ing to this authority, whereas one
hundred years ago the rustling of
lady's silk dress was attributable to
the high quality of the silk, it now
rustles owing to the impregnation of
sc per cent of salts of tin. Epson
ly employed for medicinal purposes,
are widely adopted for giving weight
to flannel. Similarly. the old-fashion-
ed pure linen used for table cloths is
now largely substituted by cotton fill.
ed with china clay. starch. and size.
while our linen collars are also found
ed upon base materials with simply
linen facing.
The process of slow distillation of
metals readily fusible in a perfect
vacuum elaborated especially by Herr
karlbohm, has for some years led to
results so favorable that it was de-
sirable to see these processes extend
ed to metals less fusible. Vessels of
quartz are now coming into more gen.
eral use with the result that much
progress mas been made in their manu-
facture as described by Herr Kraft
in the Chemischs Berichte. When
the quartz reservoirs are not too thin
they may be raised to the temperature
of 1852 deg. F., while sustaining a
perfect vacuum, without fear that they
will be crushed by the effect of atmos-
pheric pressure. At this temperature
he has obtained the rapid distillation
of a series of metals, among which
are zinc, cadmium, silicium, tellurium,
anthony lead. bismuth and silver.
Copper and gold also distill at the
maximum temperature of the expert
ments, but more slowly; their rapid
,listillation would require a higher
temperature. The experiments have
been confined to the laboratory. but
the results nave been so decided and
encouraging that their application to
the industrial rectification of metals
is expected
A series of interesting experiments
TO investigate by means of kites the
relationship between the circulation
of the upper and the lower strata of
the atmosphere, in order to know what
winds to expect. are to be carried out
by the British Meteorological Society
which has devoted a portion of the
government appropriation to this work.
An experimental station is to be es-
| tablished in England, and instruments
provided for kite ascents and other
methods of Investigations. The re.
searches are to be international in
character, for on certain days kites
will be sent up simultaneously in Eng
land, France, Germany and Russia
Mr.. w. H. Dimes, FRS, who is the
leading authority upon this subject in
ments, and he will be assisted by Col
Capper of the military balloon section
at Aldershot. and Capt. Simpson Of the
steamship "Moravian," during his pas
sages between Plymouth and Austria
liza. The vessel will be provided with
suitable kites, wire, winch and the in
genious meteorograph, the invention
of Mr.. w. H. Dimes, who has carried
out important work in this branch OF
meteorological investigation on a gov
eminent vessel off the west coast Of
| Scotland. In these researches string
of kites was used, the largest OF which
was 12 feet high, with an area OF 15t
feet, and a weight of 20 pounds. The
kites were flown on steel wire hawsers
! attached to a winch, wound by steam
A height of 10000 feet was reachet
and recorded. The greatest dangel
attending these investigations is thu
liability of the steel wire being fuset
by lightning during thunderstorms.-
Scientific American.