The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1907-03-30
C0rTsspondsncs Baltimore County linton.
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.
Variation In Chlorine-Plants in Fish
ponds-Flying-Ma Machine Types-T ne
Tree of Hiupocrafes-Whero Improve
ment Lags-Moth- Fighting by Music
Banded Sunshine-A Heat Alarm
Another Drug Habit.
Evidence is accommodating to show that the
chemical elements in general are not as nxed
and unalterable as was supposed as few years
ago. In Germany. r. Fabinyi has prepared
chlorine by adding sulphuric acid to mixture
Of potassium perchromate and sodium chloride,
and in another experiment by adding sodium
chloride drop by drop to potassium perchromate
mixed with sulphuric acid. The two specimens
OF chlorine differed materially. although pre-
pared from the same materials and neither
showed any impurity on being tested. The
second specimen was much darker and more
greenish than the first. and in aqueous solution
IL was much more rapidly transformed by light
into hydrochloric acid. The experimenter
thinks the chlorine atom may vary in structure
Is radioactive bodies seem to do.
sss
The aquatic plants of pond have an import
ant influence upon the fishes in the water. The
investigations Of r. H. Pearl, the American
UU6aUIbts prove Lu0t LuObJ LOUbcu WdLOE p4nAbo
extract mineral food from the ground. and such
vegetation as the pondweed (Potamogeton)
aids fishes by adding mineral substances to the
water: On the other hand. the hornwort (Cera-
sophyllum) units lake for fish life, as it takes
its own food from the salts in the water.
sts
French aeronautic authorities have given the
name ''aeronef." or aviation apparatus, to
flying machine that is heavier than the air. The
varieties include: ID the helicopter, sustained
and driven by ono or several propellers; ca the
aeroplane, chiefly sustained by one or more fat
or curved surfaces; and 90 the orthopter or
mechanical bird, sustained and propelled by
beating wings.
One Of the earth's plant wonders is the huge
plane tree, nearly eighteen yards in circumfer-
encs, Of the island of Cos. In the Egean Sea. A
breast-high platform around its seems to have
been built to support the hollow and weakened
trunk. and the well preserved lower branches
are held up by pieces of antique columns over
whose tops the branches have grown like caps.
On the marble seal In the shade of the tree
Hippocrates. the father of medicine. issupposed
to have taught the healing art four centuries
before Christ. The tree, therefore, must be
considerably more than 1000 years old and the
Sultan holds it in such generation that it is
closely guarded day and night. With much
difficulty. q British surgeon lately secured few
twfgg, leaves and catkins as museum specimens.
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The incandescent lamp fed by steam generated
current is the greatest industrial extravaganza
OF the age. DIR. Feuerback, European lamp
factory superintendent cites the Cuban firefly's
phosph0rescence, which contains 90 per cent of
light and only l per cent. Of heat, and contrasts
this with the luminous efficiency Of the incan-
descent lamp which he finds to be only per
cent. Another electrician shows that the in
caneescent lamp consumes one tenth horse
power for light of 18candles. which is ten times
the consumption of the electric arc for an equal
effect. The energy of coal being 100 per cent. it
is continued, first class engine RECEIVERS ID per
cent. the electric generator of % per cent. eff
cheney makes available 1235 per cent and the
incandescent lamp utilities 90 per cent. of this
or ILL per cent. of the whole. The luminous
rays Of the lamp being per cent the light re-
presents about one-tenth Of per cent. of the
energy stored in coal.
-.
Caterpillars have been found to be greatly
agitated by musical vibrations. descending from
q tree in shower at the sound of a cornet.
This should suggest an effective means of fight
ing the gypsy moth and other caterpillar plaques.
-.
Curious bands of light and shadow have been
noted momentarily as the sun rises and sets.
Fora special study of the phenomenon, G. Rozet
French observer, has arranged white screen
to receive the rays on the rising of the sun from
behind hill, and has found the bands very dis
tinct,usually straight but sometimes undulating.
They seem to be parallel to the part of the suns
edge that Is Just visible. They may be seen for
two or three seconds or more after sunrise or
before sunset, are about an inch or an inch and
q half wide, and travel sideways at greatly vary
ing velocity-one TO two yards and six to nine
yards per second being the extremes. The We
locity seems to bear some relation to that of the
wind.
A new French automatic alarm is adjustable
for small or large rises of temperature, and
may be used to give warning of fire or to signal
too much heating of any substances, as coal,
fats, etc. 1t depends upon the expansion of the
air in a closed compartment of a metallic vessel.
The increased pressure forces diaphragm up
ward, and this touches the adjusting screw,
closing an electric circuit. One beli-circuit
may be made to serve for several of these simple
pieces of apparatus which may be distributed in
the danger spots of any establishment.
s+s
A growing evil reported by DIR. Aba Sztankay
among the Slovaks of Upper Hungary is the
hahitual use of camphor internally. For four
teen years he has persistently questioned buyers
Of the drug, and he concludes that at least rs
per cent of the large and increasing amount
sold is used by the camphor- eaters. An increase
in espilepsy seems to be result of this indul-
gence.
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The London physicians discovery that scars
may be prevented or removed by cutting the
skin slantwise instead of vertically is pronoun-
ced one of the most important of recent advances
In aurnerv