Amador ledger., 1909-02-19

| mhIlCdlly Instruments sent
up by M. Tesserenc de Bort and
others have shown that the temper
ature of the air steadily diminishes
up to height of about eight miles.
but that beyond is layer about r. a
mile thick that shows a constant or
rising temperature with increasing
height. As this stratum must vary
the atmospheric density and re-
fraction, it gives a basis for some
interesting speculations. NJ. Durand
Greville thinks TINT it must be faint
ly luminous, and suggests that it
may produce the 'gegenschein" or
midnight glow opposite the sun, that
1t may give the second lighting up of
high peaks in the Alps after the first
twilight glow has faded, that it may
hold the fine dust that gives the bril-
liant skies after volcanic eruptions,
and may explain other puzzling
phenomena.
The earthquake proof building of
Prof Boermel rests in a massive
bowl, and has rocking foundation
with curved bottom surface of some
what less radius than that of the
bowl. A half spherical pivot fits into
a cup bearing at the centre. At eight
points near the outside of the bowl
are spring buffers, which keep the
house or other buildings from being
canted too freely, and lessen the force
of any shocks transmitted. The
structure on this foundation is to
have light steel framework. and is
expected to resist the severest earth
quakes.
The vegetation on the area laid
waste by the Mt. PeIee erpution of
1902 Is gradually reappearing, and the
indigo plant, castor-oi plant, sensi-
tive plant, guinea ferns, silver ferns
and other plants are spreading over
the ground. Roots not killed by the
hot ashes falling above them have
readily penetrated the thin crust. In
other places, the trampling of
animals and water action have been
breaking up the lava, giving a slowly
forming new soil or bringing the old
soil to the surface.
The assumption that both gravita-
tion and repuIsion are results of the
vibration of elastic bodies in an in
aIactio rnodit1Do hoo hoan tho otortipc, r,
poiut of the curious experiments of
Prof. Arthur Korn. In the simple
apparatus constructed. a metallic
globe, with an observation window,
is united by tubes with a cylinder,
one end of which is closed by a |
mem mbrane that can be set into rapid |
pulsationIby the alternate push and |
pull Of an electromotor. The metal |
globe contains two unequal ,air filled |
rubber balls. one fixed to the inner |
side of the globe, the smaller being
free. The apparatus is filled with
water, the motor started, and the
pulsations of the membrane alternate
ly contract and expand the rubber
balls, at a speed that may be made
inconcei7ably great, the motions be-
coming quite invisible to the eye.
At a certain speed of vibration, a
mysterious thing is seen, the smaller
bail beginning slowly to move
through the water toward the larger,
gradually increasing its speed.
Measurements showed that the attrac-
tion increased on approach exactly as
did that which pulled down Newton's
apple, and Prof. Korn considers his
theory proven. graVitation depending
entirely on the fact that ali heavenly |
bodies are surrounded by an ether that
is inelastic. There are oVer,vibra-
tlons in matter, moreover, Just as
there are oVer-tones in the sound of a
violin string. When the attracted
bodies como too near, these over
vibrations come into play, and their
effect in the ineiastio water is i'm
medlatoly repulslve, explaining the
cases Of repulsion seen in the heavens.
The therapeutic value of the elec
trlc light having been recognized in
the Flusen treatment Of certain skin
diseases, the lamp emitting the most
effective rays is now being sought.
DR.. 0. VoRel, a German, points out
that the ultraviolet rays were former
by credited with special healing |
powers, but it ia now known that
their effect is chiefly an etching, with
no deep penetration, Blue and violet,
now claimed to be the curative rays,
nm nII hnnLor1n in five minntne md |