The Washington times., 1914-11-09

1t is usually imagined that glow
worms and firefiies alone have the power
of emitting refulgent flashes Of light.
AS a matter Of fact. bacteria produce
this living illuminant in greater guam
titles and ever-growing amounts, be-
cause with each fraction Of second
they inevitably multiply and increase
In numbers. Fireflies and 3lowworms
naturally cannot do SO.
The human race. however, lacks in
its tissues this wonderful capacity to
generate light. Many marine creatures
animals with it are few and far be-
tween. Fish and reptiles of the deep
that produce light seem to have special
organs for this purpose.
In the matter of the bacteria, their
every particle of life stuff seems to
have the power OF illuminant forma-
ton.
Phosphorescent chemicals have the
nature to absorb and then expel light,
but the bhosphorescent light which
springs from microbic light Is made
within the living structures of these
creatures. They are independent Of
all outside scources of light. Placing
these germs in the darkest of dungeon
cells would not prevent them sending
forth brilliant rays.
As a rule, light is obtained by rails
ing the temperature of dark objects to
the luminous points. Much of the
energy of such substances is then lost
as heat. Even the most efficient cleo
trio or gas lights lose 95 per cent or
more of their energy in heat, but 9
to per cent goes to make light.
On the other hand, the light which
comes from the vital parts Of bacteria,
marine animals and plants. and the
like, Is 100 per cent perfect, none OF
it Is lost in heat. Nature thus manu-
factures an ideal cold light-a fire that
II;
The bacteria which give forth light
require oxygen just as man does. There
are however. forms of life which do
grow in atmospheres Of nitrogen. hydro
gen. and other gases. Oxygen kills
these. This proves that life may exist
in certain moons and planets which
wholly lack oxygen.
Other light producing animalcules and
Germs require both oxygen and certain
salty waters. These live in bays and
saline estuaries. They are grown in
laboratories on gelatine or beef broth.
but the addition of sea water to 1t will
greatly help their growth.
One of these microbes. called the
"photobacterium phosphorescens." may
be seen on and captured from defunct
nearly related fish is caught and not
washed but placed between two closed
dishes in the pantry for day or so a
few illuminated spots will be seen II 1t
is placed in the dark. Under the micro
scope these areas can be seen teeming
with the photobacteriu-, which create
light.
II picture of some eminent bacteri-
ologist, such as Prof. William II. Welch.
is sprinkled with broth in which these
germs have been planted. the portrait
will stand out brightly in the dingfest
darkest ot rooms.
There are from fifty to 100 kinds of
bacteria which produce this 100 per cent
perfect light. DR.. Hyde. the eminent
authority on iluminants, DIR. Knight
Dunlap, and the illuminating engineer.
Mr. Luckiesch, have studied these light
makers in an effort to obtain an eff
but no man has as yet been able to
make anything like a cold light. al
though a recent French invention with
rapidly interrupted electric currents is
in that direcfinr