The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1907-09-07
Oorysspondsncs Baltimore County Unson.
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

Cowspondsnes baltimore County linton.
p0IENTrFIC MISCELLANY.
fatigue PoIsons-A New Professional
Gigantic Quartz Cryetal--Measuring by
ton Of Arteries-A Shooting Camera
Light.
Fatigue Il now recognized as q chemical phe-
nomenon. The causes are loss Of substance es-
sssntial to activity-chlefy carbohydrate-and
- s1e accumulation of toxic products. The rela-
s saon OF these two causes is not yet understood.
49, the p0isons, Prof r. s. Lee, Of Column
=. =. university, has found that the muscles are
Infected, and that three normal fatigue
Substances are known-paralactica acid, monopo-
tassium phosphate and carbon dioxide. Other
poisons or autointoxicants accompany the IA
tisue 80 common In disease. Beta xybutyric
acid seems to be the agent in diabetes mellitus,
and paralactic acid in certain diseases of the
liver and poisoning by arsenic and phosphorus.
while substances not acids-such as indol, skatol
and methye mercaptan-seem to be active in
excessive intestinal putrefaction. tits probable
that there are other fatigue producers, yet TO be
discovered.
INC LAobCCbAOu VI DulluiuNo lrOm ll8utulu8
seems to call for a special branch Of engineer
Ing. Mr.. Alfred Hands. a British engineer,
points out that safety cannot be had from any
set rules. as each case must be studied separ
ately and it's system adapted to the complica-
tons OF metal about the structure. The eff
iency Of the conductor depends almost entirely
on the way II is applied. The composition mat
ters little. and choice between copper and iron
IL chiefly question of cost and durability.
"a
Material for crystal balls up to inches or
more in diameter is among Japan's wonderful
Droducts, and new piece of crystal is reported
TO be ~ feet long and 1xfeet thick, weighing
over 1000 Q.Oo0 p pounds. A Milan museum
has quartz crystal Ok feet long and 81 feet in
diameter. its weight being estimated at $40
pounds.
Hitherto the heights Of clouds have been de-
termined by Simultaneous observations. but
this plan IL difacult and uncertain because it is
necessary to make the two observations at ex-
actly the same moment and on the same portion
OF the cloud. An inspiration has come to DIR. J.
Phaden, assistant at the Vienna Observatory,
from noticing that the vertical beam of light
from the new illuminated fountain in the
echwartzenbergplatz produces bright spot on
any cloud passing overhead. Imaginary lines
between the observatory, the fountain and the
spot on the cloud from right angled triangle
whose vertical varies with the height of the cloud
and the height Of this vertical is easily calculated
from the inclination of the line between the OBJ
servatory and the spot the horizontal base line
being Of known length. Clouds have been observ-
cd already at heights varying from one to six
miles. A peculiar thing noted is that the beam
Of light sometimes reveals the presence of an
Invisible stratum Of fine vapor, one of these
clouds in an apparently clear sky having been
OK miles high.
Acknowledgements, the thickening and harden
ing Of the artery walls, is one of the most COM
mon causes OF death. It is indicated by in
er ased or lessened blood tension in the arteries,
and when the sphygmometer reveals such con-
dition, Prof. d'Arsonval, the eminent French
man Of science. applies six baths of q high fire.
quency electric current. Such application, it
d claimed. completely restores the normal
blood pressure. The baths of FIVE or ten min
utes each may be taken three times a week, and
they cause no inconvenience or disagreeable
sensation.
The remarkable nitrogen-absorbing power of
calcium can be utilized, with fxation of oxygen.
70 brodace chemically vacuum in incandescenf
lamps. and also TO eliminate the occluded gases
In molten iron or steel.
A projectile to take photographs. and claimed
10 have been successful at heights up to half
mile. is the idea of Herr Marie, a German photog-
xapher. camera having the form of the
usual c0nidal shell, is thrown into the air by
means OF kind of trap. At predetermined
angle. as the camera turns to make its descent
and Is pointed slightly downward. the shutter is
automatically released, and picture is taken
Of a broad expanse of country. In still air the
flight and spot at which the aerial camera will
fall can be calculated with much precision.
Precautions are taken to avoid damage by con-
cussion, and the results are expected to be Of
great possible value in military operations.
-
Much recent progress in dealing with whoop-
-saB U6ueh Is noted by . French reviewer. The
specific microbe has been isolated and proves to
be small ovoid bacterium that evidently pro-
duces no spores. DR.. ]. de Nittis reports that
arsenic, to which he attributes specific action on
the germ, is most effective remedy against the
disease. DR.. H. de Rothschild has administered
chloroform internally, and had very favorable
results, especially In children, two patients out
Of nine having been cured at once, while three
were Immediately relieved and soon cured, the
four Others being cured only at the end Of fort
night. The Pasteur Institute finds promise ms
serum treatment.
-.
The linolite lamp is a tube with straight-in-
stead Of coiled-hlament. the advantage being
that the semi-cylindrical reflector throws a
larger proportion Of the light rays into the space
TO be Illuminated. Late tests at Manchester,
Eng. show q superiority over the ordinary
incandescent lamp both along the axis of the
light and at right angles to it, the average being
80 per cent. greater lighting by the linolite lamp
than BY the ordinary lamp with opal reflector.
AFrER MANY years of discussion without any
real action. the State Of Florida has at last
commenced the work of draining the great
submerged tract known as the Everglades.
This is to be done by cutting series of canals
leading into rivers on both the Gulf and At
lantic slopes. The section to be drained COM
prises about 5000. 900 acres. upon which there
10 very little timber or brush, consequently
the work Of reclamation will be comparatively
easy, and II is expected to have several thous-
and acres ready for cultivation and settlement
By December Of this year. Owing to the lati-
tude and the great richness of the soil this land
will be Of great value when thoroughly