Amador ledger., 1907-12-27

Experiments show that while the
sedimentary rocks may absorb several
per cent of their volume of water
sandstones 10 per cent, Iimestones 5
per cent and shales per cent
GRANTEES and other crystalline rocks
seldom absorb more than one-half of
one per cent of their volume; and
until within a few years it was
thought to be absurd to sink a we'll
in the harder rocks. Frederick G.
Clapp, of the U. S. Geological Sur
vey, has now reported that about 81
per cent of the wells in granite in
southern Maine supply water enough
for domestic use. Water percoIates
very slowly through the rock but
more sinks into the vertical Joints,
and a moderate quantity is stored in
the horizontal joints and crevices
down to a depth of 200 feet, the
amount being so limited that only
two out of u successful wells yielded
more than 80 GALLONS per minute.
The wells are drilled only in the
surface rocks. two-thirds being not
over 100 feet deep.
A novel apparatus to enable per-
son to study the internal structure
of his own eye is the device of
French oculist, DR.. Forth. The
light of mercury vapor tube is re-
Elected by highly polished mirror
through two thicknesses of blue glass
to lens, and this concentrates the
ray upon the eye. From a suitable
point behind the lens, the observer
sees the circulation of the blood in
the minute vessels of the eye, with
other details. When a card pierced
with pinhole is moved rapidly to
and fro in front of the eye, the fovea,
the little depression at the most
sensitive part of the retina, is made
visible.
The use of the microscope in the
upright position causing much
fatigue, a. "A. G. E. Merlin, an Eng
lish microscopic, has designed new
eyepiece, which has a prism enabling
the observer to look through the tube
from the side instead of the top.
The water in slaked or hydrated
lime is given off on moderate heating,
and by causing the vapor to expel the
residual air in the receiver of an
air-pump and then cooling the lime
so that it reabsorbs the moisture.
an excellent high vacuum-which
may be greatly varied by gently
heating the lime-may he cheaply
and quickly obtained. Prof. A.
Henry, the French physicist, be-
lfeves that this simple process will
prove valuable for industrial pur-
poses as we'll as in the laboratory.
In his experiments the receiver was
connected on one side with a glass
bulb containing about 80 grammes of
slaked lime and on the other side it
was connected by water absorbing
tube with, an ordinary air-pump.
and after the air had been partially
pumped out the temperature of the
lime was raised to $50 degrees &. by
an alcohol lamp. After about four
minutes the receiver was sealed on
the air-pump side. The lime soon
absorbs the water vapor left in the
receiver, and if the electrodes of an
induction coil have been attached to
the receiver the vacuum is found to
be sufficiently high to produce cath
ode rays, while slightly heating the
bulb to lessen the tension will give
various other phenomena, including
those of Geissler tubes.
A new detergent, known as ''Tetra-
pol" has been attracting favorable
attention in Europe. and is claimed
to have advantages in securing
woolens and all kinds of textile
goods. The household soaps claim
ing increased efficiency through the
presence of Hydrocarbons usually
contain petroleum naphtha not ex-
ceeding five per cent. Tetrapol, is
yellowish liquid, and is found to
contain 30 per cent of water, % OF
"Monopol soap" IN place of ordinary
soap. and 20 of carbon tetrachloride,
the special solvent. ''MonopoI soap,''
the fatty base, is a red oil having the
popularity of solubility in hard
water.
Phyocyanase serum. the discovery
OF Prof. Emmerich, of Munich, is