The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1906-07-14
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

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SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.
Electricity as an Artist-How Hunger Is
Caused-A Quick Emptied Theater-
Who should be Chloroformed-Dust
less NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF the Out
or Plants-Strenuous zoology-Reaiity
of the Haio-Baby Sailing.
Ornamental designs in infinite variety are now
drawn by the electric spark upon Photographic
plates In an excellent process described BY a
French writer, thin sheet of lead is fastened to
piece Of cork by eight pins arranged In circle,
the pins are set upon sensitized plate sprinkled
with starch power, and metal sheet under the
phofograp hic plate Is connected to the external
armature of the Leyden jar of Wimshurst
machine, the sheet OF lead being similarly con-
nected to another Jar. Passage of the spark and
development of the plate complete the opera
tfon. In another method. an insulating powder
like starch or sulphur is sprinkled upon the
sensitive plate through design cut in cardboard,
and the effects are varied not only by changing
the designs but also by laying upon the sensitive
surface bits of different metals In various shapes
Different powders add to the variety. the most
compact yielding the finest lines.
sts
Hunger. as recently defined by NJ. 1. Knapp,
is the sensation due to the contraction of the
muscles of tho pylorus, or possibly Of the enter
stomach, or of the duodenum, or of all these
structures. Hunger is painful or slight, accord
ing to the intensity of contraction. It is lesser
degree of pain, and, being due to muscular con-
traction. 1t passes of from firing or relaxing Of
the muscles even IL no food is taken. Inability
to contract relaxation and distension result in
anorexia, the opposite of appetite. produced by
non-irritating gases.
-.
The novel theater fire escape under test in
Germany is so arranged that not only the pit
but the boxes. balconies and stage can be drawn
bodily into the street on rails and by levers,
emptying building of 1000 people in 30 seconds.
-
The humane suggestion that the physician be
given some right to end suffering by killing-to
bring painless death with the same mercifulness
that man shows to dumb brutes-seems to be
growing in favor. A difficulty mentioned is
that of deciding when restoration to health or
comfort has become impossible Signor Agresti,
an Italian, urges that this question be left en-
tirely with the physician, and that the medical
attendant be given full power to put the hope
less patient into eternal sleep without notice to
anybody. So summary an ending of life how
ever, Is sure to arouse doubt and suspicion even
in cases Of mutilation where death is certain
Still more unsatisfactory would it be in cases of
helpless old age or of chronic suffering, as in
that of a woman who recently died after being
bed-ridden and in constant-often excruciating
pain for more than thirty years. and where
practicable it should be essential to have the
request or consent of the patient to end miser-
able and hopeless existence. AS a safeguard, it
should be necessary to have such acquiescence
made in the presence of at least the physician
and notary, the sworn report of these witness
ses to be filed with the town records.
The carriage that shall be dustless as well as
horseless is claimed to be a possibility. Oiling
roads has proven successful remedy for dust
but It gives annoyance almost as great as the
nuisance prevented. This has led Mr. W. r.
Cooper. an English investigator, to work in a
new direction. The amount of dust seems to
depend upon the shape of the tire and the shape
and position of the automobile body. and by
altering these it is believed that the dust raised
may be greatly lessened.
~
From photographs of the spectra of Uranus
and Neptune, the outermcst of the Suns family
OF planets it is inferred that free hydrogen is
abundant, especially on Neptune, and that
helium exists on Uranus Water vapor is in
dictated, and possibly gases yet unknown.
new insight into zoology has been given by
G. G. Schillings. the German naturalist whose
work on the animals of Africa has made such
sensation. In ten years he has brought to Eu-
rope specimens of 1855 species and varieties of
these animals, including several new to science
and as many as 40 specimens of lions and 36
leopards; but his greatest service to science
has been rendered since February. 1903. in the
taking of more than 2 600 photographs. In Sc
curing these remarkable pictures, 135 men have
been sent out, using special cameras, with tele-
Photographic lenses. flash lights, and other
modern appliances. The usual views show wild
animals in unnatural captivity, but these rep
resent the creatures in their natural surround
ipgs. inducing in their characteristic activities
and giving hitherto undreamed-of details of life
in the jungle, swamp. stream and other haunts,
by day and by night.
The pictured hao of the saints is claimed as
an occasional phenomenon of everyday life.
NJ. Fere reports having observed it in three
cases. but he has found nobody else who has
seen it. Two of the subjects were women af-
fected with migraine. the halo showing only
during the paroxysm. The phenomenon lasted
for hours in one case but only few minutes
in the other. In one subject the orange cclored
luminosity left the skin of the same color The
third subject was a woman who sometimes
awoke in agony from deep sleep. the halo ac-
complaining these attacks.
~
The sailing of newborn babies seems to be q
practice of certain European nurses A tribe
Of Asia Minor keep the skin covered with salt
for twenty four hours. and the modern Greeks
sprinkle salt over the bodies The practice is
traced to a superstition that the salt ensures
health and strength, and keeps away all evil
spirits.
CAS- ORA
For Infants and Children.