The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1909-04-17
Baltimore County Union
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

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Correspondence baltimore County Union.
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.
Passing of Another Illusion-Ants in the
Geological Survey-All in the Dose-A
Sanitary Distributing Can-Cracks in
the Air-Anti-Scale Notwithstanding
Fluid Telescope irror-Sawtng with
Paper-Wing Push per HORSEPOWER
A Kite-Flying Regulator.
The general belief that when one or more
senses are lacking the others become more acute
has been shown to be an error by N. Kunz, d.
rector of the Institution for the Blind at Null
hansen, Germany. Comparison Of the blind
with pupils of the same age in the public schools
gave quite surprising results. There was no
difference between the seeing and the blind in
perceiving the direction of sound, no material
difference in the distance at which sounds could
be heard, but the seeing had greater acuteness
of smell and finer perception Of touch as tested
by the minimum distance at which two points
could be distinguished as separate. The average
blind, therefore, not only lack a sense but have
other senses less acute than the seeing. The
necessities of the blind compel them to heed
slight impressions of touch and other sensations
that are usually neglected by others, and this
rious way in which they avoid obstacles.
"a
Localities in Wyoming abound in teeth and
bones of fossil fish, crocodiles, lizards, etc., and
paleontologists of the Geological Survey have
lately discovered that these small fossil bones
not easily found when scattered in the soil-are
quite numerous among the small stones that a
certain species of ant has collected in great
quantities in its nest-building. On sitting these
stones the fossil-hunter separates out good
supply of fish-scales, jaws, vertebre, etc., with
very little trouble. An enterprising collector
even transplanted some of the ants to an antless
region some miles away, and the next year he
was rewarded by finding that they had built
hills, in each of which they had gathered 0Oor 40
teeth, etc.
Two kinds Of action on plants and animals
have been shown by x-rays. The concentrated
rays have a destructive or paralyzing effect, but
in small and oft-repeated doses they stimulate
the tissues to abnormal activity and increased
growth. The large doses have given rise to IL
cases of cancer in x-ray workers in England.
-.
A pneumatic milk can is a novel device to en-
sure that milk reaches the consumer in the con-
dition that it leaves the dairy. The can is filed,
compressed air previously sterilized is pumped
into it, and the cover is locked. On opening
valve the milk is forced out as desired by the
pressure of the confined air. Dust and insects
cannot enter, and it is impossible to change or
adulterate the contents of the can without
breaking the lock and removing the cover.
AFA
Lightning is a huge electric spark following
cracks in the atmosphere, is the interesting
theory of Prof. A. w. Porter, an English physi-
cist. 1t does not take the well-defined zigzag
course in which it has been so often pictured,
and its actual irregular path suggests that the
air must be cracked by blow of sufficient sharp
ness, like that from the powerful electrical dis
charge. Though cobblers' wax, like the air, isan
unlikely thing to crack, it splits easily under
sudden blow.
Boiler scale is prevented, in the process of +.
A. Lart, an English experfmenter, by simply
passing through the working boiler the moder-
ate current of any ordinary dry or wet electro
chemical primary battery. The current hastens
the deposition of solids in mechanical suspen-
sion and the precipitation of those in chemical
solution. and the resulting mud contains only
loose particles of the lime, magnesia or other
impurities from the water. Tests are suggested
"a
The mercury telescope used last summer by
Prof. r. w. Wood of Baltimore is a 2O-inch basin
of mercury that on being rotated by motor be-
comes concave mirrow of variable focus. A
disadvantage is that the mirror must be kept
horizontal. When the irregularities of running
have been overcome SO as to give the necessary
steadiness, it is hoped to have mirror 10 or 20
90 in faro Tod fore
station, where it can be used for photographing
details of the planets they pass directly over
head.
The freight airship of Prof. schuette of Danzig,
Prussia, is to be 310feet long and 80 in diameter,
with askeleton of wood, and car 40 by 12k feet.
Two gas engines of $50 horsepower each are ex-
pected to give speed of 90 miles an hour, carry
ing cargo of two tons or more, besides crew.
-
Centrifugal force is the active agent in some
interesting phenomena, such as keeping bicy-
Gle upright, causing top to return to certain
position after being disturbed, and giving to a
soft iron disc the rutatory tension that enables
it to cut through heavy armor plate A disc of
cardboard revolved rapidly in lathe behaves
like sheet metal. A report of German expert
ments states that the cardboard can no longer
be bent. and if struck with hammer it emits a
sound like that from bronze. Even paper ac-
quires quite unusual properties. An 8 inch disc
of good paper, perfectly circular, was placed on
the shaft of an electric motor. and when rotated
at the motors highest speed 1t easily sawed
through cigar box wood. Centrifugal force may
give many other curious effects. For example
a small chain may be fitted as a closed ring on
rotating drum in such way that 1t can be slip
tel,
and the chain will then roll on table like
solid ring and bounce up like hoop on striking
the ground.
Flapping wings have been tested in small
model by the Aeronautical Society of Great
Britain. 1t was shown, r. f. Moore claims, that
a horizontal thrust Of 20 to n pounds can be OBJ
tained a result far in excess of the to pounds
given by the propeller of Wilbur Wright. In
the view of Mr.. Moore, true iier, with the flap
ping wings of nature, would be far superior to
any power KITE or power gas-bag" for travel
in the air. 1t would be more independent of the
weather conditions, more self-contained, and
more capable of high speed. A demonstration
is promised when the full-sized machine can be
provided.
A kite station, with facilities for daily ascents
of kites or balloons under almost all weather
conditions is the scientific novelty of the Ger
man Government on Lake Constance. vesse
of $50 horsepower, capable of 10 knots provides
the means for making the ascents. To make
light wind effective, the vessel is run againstit;
and when gale is blowing the force on the kite
is reduced to safe working by running with the
wind. The observations made are telegraphed
daily to the chief forecasting offices.
In sawmill on portion of the battlefield
at Spottsylvania Court House, Va. few days
ago the saw came in contact with a solid can
non shot, which had been fired into large
pine tree, evidently on the day of the battle,
May 18th, 1854 The saw was shattered into
atoms and the mill wrecked. The place where
the shot had entered the tree had grown over
smoothly leaving no indication of the pres
ence of the iron substance.
A NEW effort born of the bad weather that
prevailed on the 4th of March to change the
date of Inauguration day has now progressed
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