Amador ledger., 1907-08-30

Curious twists are observed in
many tree trunks, and the inquiry
just begun in Europe suggests the
surprising conclusion that they are
produced by the earth's rotationS
like the twists of storms and the
whlrIs seen in water. Van den
Brock, the Belgian geologist, points
out that if conditions of growth were
the cause the torsIon should follow
the SUMS apparent path. In at least
800 out of 1000 trees the reverse is
true, and it may be that the twist Is
usually to the left in the northern
hemisphere and to the right or with
the clock-in the southern hemi
sphere, like the turn of the cyclonic
storms and water worthless. This
difference is due to the earth's rota-
ton. Jean Brunhes notes that it was
shown some years ago that the winds
due to the earth's motion blow stead
lily at season when vegetation is
active and sensitive, and slight con-
tinuous bending and turning then
would be likely to affect the tree per-
manently.
AT least 80 per cent of all cases Of
neuralgia headache are attributed by
DR.. Toms, an American oculist, to
defects of the eyes. These were
mostly slight errors of refraction or
muscular derangemnt, entirely unsus-
pected IN 600 patients, and most cases
required no treatment except proper
.ly adjusted glasses. A much neglect
ed condition of the young is pre-
mature long sightedness, which may
cause alarming headaches and in
somnIa.
The rare phenomenon of "snow gar
lands'' was first described by He'll
mann III March, 1882 AS seen last
January by DR.. Kassner of Berlin,
the garland is a rope like roll of
melting snow hanging pendant from
the edge of the roof, in the shape of
very fiat U.
One of the marveIs of modern re-
search is the photographing of minute
unseen objects by means OF invisible
light. The details shown by a micro
scope are increased not only by using
higher magnIfying power, but also by
employing light of shorter wave
length, and nearly twenty years ago it
was suggested that ultraviolet light
should bring out in photographs
many minute features that cannot be
revealed by the much longer waves of
ordinary light. The suggestion prov
ed impracticabIe on account of the
difficulty of focusing invisible images
and because the glass lenses were al
most completely Opaque to ultra
violet light. The perfected ultra
violet microscope brought out by
Kohler uses fused quartz for the pro-
perly corrected lenses and also for
the prisms of the spectrosoope yield
ing the ultra violet rays from the
spark of cadmium, and a huorescent
screen over the eyeplece lights up
under these rays, supplying a focus
ing finder. With this apparatus very
remarkable pictures have been obtain
ed. A further improvement has now
been made by W. 7. SwingIe and L..
j. Briggs, of the U. S. Depa1tmen of
Agriculture, who obtain more exact
focus of just the details wanted by
the visible image given by the cad
MUM spark, pure blue light, then
turn on the ultraviolet rays to give
the impression on the sensitive plate.
In this way minute details are pictur-
ed very distinctly.
The great ship-elevator just COM
pIeted at Henrichenburg, Germany,
connects two canals having a differ
ence in level OF 50 feet. The vessel is
transported in movable tank, which
is balanced by five submerged floats
connected with the tank by five
columns, and the load is regulated by
adding or letting out water. The ele-
vator movements are controlled by
four electrically screw spin
dies, each 80 feet long and II inches
In diameter The gates of tank and
canals are locked until accurate con.
nection is made, and as they are rails.
ed all leakage is prevented by rubber
jointing.
Removed attention has been called
to the probable explanation of many
cases of drowning that was some year!
ago advanced by DIR. Lowrie, British
physician, as a result of his own ex
perience. After cycling on hot day
took a swim in cold water, and was
soon seized with headache, diZzines!
and drowsiness while muscular efor
became feeble and sluggish. In man!
similar cases, he believes, the swim
mer loses consciousness OF faints-
from CEREBRAL anemia. If there is nj
help near, the result is anothe
drowning accident, and the report o
it will probably state that the victim
Twas seized with cramps and sank. ;
Swimming in cold water is dangerou
if the circulation is weakened from
any cause, especially after fast o
several hours, or if there is any hear
trouble.