The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1907-05-25

Disease Ia 9toutness-Return Of an Old
Woapon-The German Secret-The Eie-
ment NIeotron-Tough Harthenware-
Peat Cement Ooncrete--A Radium Medi.
cal School-A Hot Gas Flame-The Elec.
obesity has been q subject of recent study by
French physicians, who ind that growing fai
may be &c much mark Of disease as CROWNS
thin. The shortness of breath and other trou
bles Of the very fat are of toxic character, and
usually indicate that the normal toxins Of the
body are imperfectly oxidized and eliminated
In some maladies accompanying obesity the
toxins are microbian, animals inoculated with
the bacilli having gained in weight as much Al
100 per cent. Other poisons, however, may bt
concerned. the fat-forming effects of alcohol
arsenic and PHOSPHORUS being well known
while Carmot has lately increased weight with
such substance as lead. strychnine and NOR
phine. A rabbit treated with preparation Of
lead more than doubled in weight in six monthe
~
A military result of the japanese fighting at
Port Arthur, It is predicted, will be wide
spread discarding of the bayonet for the hand
grenade or bomb. A modern London-made
grenade is inches long by TX inches in diane
ter, weighs pound and quarter, is safely car
ried on q belt, and can be thrown 90 or 40
yards By an 1e-inch tail-rope. The detonator,
carried separately, is screwed into the grenade
just before throwing. The charge is tonite.
but any high explosive can be used. and this
gives much greater effectiveness than that of
the old-time grenades.
sss
Last winters attendance at the ten higher
institutions for technical education in Germany
was 1850, and the many smaller trade schools
had large number Of students. While this re-
markable development Of thorough training
has the effect Of cheapening scientific service,
it IL undoubtedly the secret Of Germany's great
industrial progress.
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The electron seems to be looked upon by
Prof. J. r. Rydberg, Of Lund, Sweden. as the
original form of matter. His work on the
chemical elements has convinced him that
there must be a lighter substance than any
hitherto known, and he finds this by assuming
that the electron is an element, with an atomic
weight only q fraction of that Of hydrogen.
This new element--to be known as electron-is
not separate kind Of material. The evidence
ct hand suggests that it makes up the metals,
and IL q universal gas, or at least forms an at
mosphere throughout the solar system. This
new discovery or theory is expected to explain
magnetic storms, northern lights, terrestrial
magnetism. and other mystifying phenomena.
A new earthenware or porcelain differs from
others in being tough as well as hard, so that it
can Be bored, sowed, planed and polished. 1t is
made By baking paste of feldspar, sand and
line; it, specific gravity is 33; it has great hard
ness and durability, resisting corrosion by acids
and the atmosphere and it is poor conductor
Of heat and electricity. Its yellowish white
color can be changed by adding metallic OK
ides a. desired. This cheap new material seems
to be suitable for many purposes, but it is
specially recommended for pipes for water. gas,
chemicals, etc.
Peat contains much water, and in newly
patented process 1t is pressed with dry cement
TO form such materials as pipes, building blocks,
etc. The water necessary for the hardening of
the cement Is drawn from the peat. This re-
suits IN close union Of the constituent parts.
and the product is given great strength and re-
distance to atmospheric action.
srs
The biological radium laboratory lately opened
in Paris is lavishly equipped. 1t has sections Of
physics. chemistry, and experimental medicine,
pathology and bacteriology, with clinical de-
partment. Suggestive results in the treatment
Of disease have been already obtained.
81
A handy laboratory flame, giving an intense
heat and adaptable to many uses is obtained by
g. Mecker, German, through an Improvement
Of the Bunsen burner for the ordinary gas jet.
The new burner ensures complete combustion
By double row Of openings to admit the air.
Above this the pipe is widened. thus diminish
ing the rate of escape of gas and air, and pro-
ducing perfectly homogeneous mixture. The
burner tube has on its top perforated nickel
cap dividing the opening into small quadrants
This device breaks up the large blue cone Of
the ordinary Bunsen burner, and its place by
he nnmerons small flames from the openings
De cap. which unite to form large homo
heous flame Of even heat throughout. It is
aimed that the same amount of gas yields
temperature at least 100 degrees higher than in
he ordinary Bunsen burner.
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The electric horn for automobiles, an Eng
lish DEVICE Is an electric buzzer fitted to COM
mon brass horn. A brass cylindrical case con-
tains steel vibrating disc held at its periphery
By two ianges and two electromagnetic, and the
rapid vibration of the disc caused by the mag
netization and demagnetization of the magnets
yields q sound which is magnified in volume
and effectiveness by the horn. The current is
provided by an s-volt accumulation. The signal
can be maintained as long as is necessary or de-
sired, the blast being louder and more continu-
Gus than that Of the ordinary wind horn, and
with the switch on the steering wheel the
driver can give his warning without removing
his hand from the wheel.
-
The tests OF the German government have
shown great variations in the durability of
typewritten documents. but with the best rib
bons the work seems as lasting as that written by
hand with the best writing ink. While some
German ribbons proved good. those of Ameri-
can manufacture showed higher general aver
age In quality.