Amador ledger., 1910-06-10


rds-Physiological Effect of Mag
netism-A Boiler Furnace Without
Chimney-Chile's Earthquakes-wine
Without Alcohol--Metal Infection
Alcohol for Emergency Only--A Giant
Tool
OF late the idea has been growing that
the curative effects Of mineral waters
are due chiefly to radioactivity, which
may be lost in bottled natural waters
and is not usually present in artificial
waters. This theory has led to the es
tabishng of a novel industry at Kreuz-
mach, Germany. The place has mines
that produce radium salts, and the pro-
duct is being used for making radio
active baths and beverages, which are
credited with great power of curing
rheumatism, gout, tumors, and other
maladies. Various sizes of cylindrical
brass charging tanks, called ''actva-
tors" are employed. These contain
small amounts of the nsoluble radium
compounds, and when water introduced
at the top has become sufficiently
charged with emanation, the liquid is
drawn off through faucet While the
small apparatus for beverages may deal
with only one to five quarts of water
daily, the larger sizes may Weld emana
tion enough to charge 40 or so baths.
BY this method, radioactivity may be
impaired to any kind of mineral water
desired, and the degree may be regu
lated. The product must be kept at rest
until wanted, as it loses activity very
rapidly OIL agitation.
Whether birds-especially migratory
ones-return to the same nests year
after year is a question of much interest
to the naturalist. Swallows that summer
in England do not winter north OF
Africa, but an observer at High Halden,
Kent, has recorded that one returned
on April II to a nest it occupied last
year. 1t was recognized by a ring
placed on its leg May 8, 1909. To gain
a better knowledge of birds habits,
more than 1000 British birds we're last
year marked with inscribed aluminium
rings, and twice as many more will be
similarly tagged this year.
The magnetism with which Prof. S.
P. Thompson lately showed perceptible
effect on the senses was produced by a
powerful alternating current in nine
inch coil OF 81 turns OF copper wire.
With his head in the coil, the observer
in the dark perceived tlickering blush
light, and in broad daylight the Kicker
ing persisted.
The chimneyless steam-boiler and
furnace now in operation on a Russian
torpedo boat, the invention OF Russian
naval engineer named Schmidt, dis
poses of its combustion gases by pass
ing them into the steam of the engines
cylinders. Liquid fuel, easily Welding
combustion without smoke, is essential.
The combustion gases are cooled from
about $500 degrees to 1901 degrees F. on
leaving the heating surfaces of the
boiler, and they are then passed into a
tube into which a fine spray of cold
water is injected under pressure. This
cools the gases to between GEO degrees
and 900 degrees F., converting the water
into superheated steam of the same
The mixture OF steam and
combustion gases is led to the upper
part of the boiler, where it is mingled
with the boilers ordinary supply of
steam, and is sent into the cylinders.
The boiler, besides requiring no Chin
ney is claimed to have the further ad-
vantage Of very high efficiency, utilizing
90 and even as high as 81 per cent of
the heat of the fuel.
Chile recently Joined the countries
having a Seismological service, which
now include Japan, Italy, Austria, Ger
many, France, Russia, and the United
States. Stations for observing earth
quakes have been established from
Tacna to the South Shetlands, along a
meridian nearly 5000 miles long, and
$50 observers note the shocks at 43O
different localities. In six months TAO
different earthquakes have been re-
corded, making Chile a rival of Japan
as the most shaken country. A novel
instrument at Santiago, the first of lis
kind, is one by P. Maccioni that is
claimed to give warning of approaching