Amador ledger., 1910-05-27

The tides, rainfall, annual SHOWS and
varying air pressure are constantly
shifting enormous weights, and the
earth's crust is bent and deformed under
the strain to a degree that is just be-
ginning to be appreciated. Some years
ago Prof John Milne, the veteran seis-
mologist showed that valleys are made
wider by day than at night through the
expansive action of the suns heat. BY
seismographic records of the Shide OBJ
servatory, he also proved that the Isle of
Wight is alternately moved forward and
backward by the tides, and that it is
tilted up from the English Channel side
at high water by the greater pressure on
that side. His latest observations have
been made with all extra sensitive
seismograph placed underground at
Bidston Observatory near Liverpool,
about two miles from the water The
records obtained with Photographic re-
corder prove that the sides of tile basin
are drawn closer together at every high
tide by the sagging OF the bed of the
Irish Sea, and The action can actually
be watched in the movement of the
seismograph pendulum. A detection of
about one inch in 16 miles is produced
by the weight of the tide off the mouth
of the Mersey.
There is discord in the bells of the
British houses of Parliament and it
is protested that this is not in keeping
with the progress of science. In a
late Royal Institution discussion, it was
stated that taking the nominal tones
only. Big Ben and the third quarter
bell are perfect octaves, as they should
be. The first-quarter bell is 20 vibrations
sharp; the second-quarter bell, 8 vibra
tions sharp; and the fourth quarter bell
is slightly flat, not more than 3 vibra
tions. The hunming and the striking
notes in all the bells are never less than
sometimes a whole tone
sharp or flat In the last ten wears
England has made great improvement in
the tuning of bells, and it is urged
that the national bells--which could be
tuned for G, ,O0O-should be the very
best.
The projectile of the l2-inch gun
penetrates 22-inches of armor plate,
and has pierced 20-foot concrete wall
heavily reinforced with steel beams.
The feeble sounds made by our body
engine at work have much significance,
and new Importance has been given to
them by the telephone stethoscope,
which the other day enabled a number
of physicians in the Isle of Wight to
listen to the heart beats ,of a lady in
London. In ordinary practice, tapping
over the region and other nearat hand
observations are depended upon in ad-
dition to the indicati 3ns of the stethos
COPE The intensified SOUNDS are made
very distinctly, audible in the tele-
phone, however, so that any irregulari-
ties are easily detected and medical
men have expressed the belief that with
proper training of the ear it will become
practical to diagnose heart disease at
distance. There is very little inter
ference from eXtraneous noises. Other
sounds can lie transmitted, and it is
probable that examinations of the lungs
can be made as we'll as those of the
heart. The new instrument gives the
busy physician a means Of watching a
serious pneumonia or typhoid case
without leaving his home, while country
patients may be enabled to consult the
heart specialists without the expense of
a trip to the city.
The chilled iron produced by the pro-
cess of E. A. Custer is reported TO be
greyish iron and not the usual white
chilled iron. 1t is made from common
foundry iron-fairly high in silicon
and low in sulphur and phosphorus
which is run direct from the foundry
cupoa into a chilled mold In a few
moments, as soon as soldihed, it is
quenched in water or other suitable
bath. 1t is claimed that the casting
makes a cutting tool of excellent
quality, 1t is suggested that the chilling
produces fine and uniform structure.
and that the quenchng fixes it.
BY means of box divided by a par.
Itition of porous porcelain, DR.. A. Di
Legge, an Italian physicist, indicates
the presence of light or heavy gases in
the air of mines. chemical works OF