Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-25

has dealt death to more than three
score residents of a district above
Iiege in the Valley Of the Mouse River, de-
stroyed scores Of cattle in England and spread
its Ominous blanket from day to day over most
of Western Europe.
what is this strange phenomenon and
whence did it come? These are the questions
on the lips of scientist and layman throughout
the globe
Fantastic, to say the least, are some Of the
explanations which have been offered in many
quarters for the mysterious maladies occurring
in the region of this strange fog, malad1es
which have been characterized by chronic
bronchial trouble and heart ailments Some
simple folk, watching their neighbors dying in
alarming numbers. have persisted in the belief
that the fog itself was perhaps screen Tor
poison-eas attack from an unknown human
enemy Others recall the influenza epidemic
of 1918, which swept the same general region
of Belgium, while still others see parallel IN
the current malady to the strange white
death Of the early American Indians, which
likewise was supposed to have resulted from
mist Of unknown cause.
On the other hand. two Of Americas dis
tinguished scientists, one from the United
States weather Bureau and the other from the
Smithsonian Institution, believe they possess
reasonable scientific explanations for the
shower Of blood" as well as for most Of the
other outstanding poison clouds" which from
the world.
CHARLES FTTzHUGH TALMAN Of the
~ Weather Bureau expresses the conviction
that the great fog Of Western Europe Is OF q
type commonly found in that general region
from time to time. He points out that It Is
probably akin to the dry fogs" resulting from
terrific wfndstorms in the region Of the Sahara
Under certain conditions of wind circulation,
vast amounts of the desert dust are swept high
into the heavens and borne far northwafd as
Europe.
Mr. Talman scorns the theory that the fog
could be "the screen for a poison-gas attack
from an unknown human enemy" for the very
good reason that fogs causing severe bronchial
and asthmatic n1aladies, though not fatal, have
existed in the same general region Of Europe
for scores Of years-long before poison gas Of
the wartime variety was even known let alone
utilized by man.
It is far more probable, Mr.. Talman goes on
to explain, that one of these dry fogs Of the
Sahara has mixed In the Meuse region with
poisonous gases arising from Industrial processes
in the region. For instance, zinc materials.
well known for their irritating effect on sensi-
tive throats might well have mixed with the
fog, for there are zinc smelters in the Meuse
district
IN science at Kings College London. offers
many interesting scientific and historical facts
about these dry fogs. He points out:
Conditions under which fog or mist ID
formed are the reverse Of those by which a dew
is produced. Dew is vapor condensed from
comparatively warm air by the surface Of the
cold ground.
Mist or fog Is vapor rising from q moist or
liquid surface which is comparatively warmer
than the air. The greater the excess Of tenn
perature of the vaporating surface over that
of the superintendent saturated air the denser
win be the fog.
Certain fogs have a peculiar taste and cause
q smartiAg Of the eyes, probably due 70 gases
and vapors produced by the combination Of
fuel Prom this source the air may be supplied
with vapor Of water, sulphur, carbon, sulphurous
and nitrous acids.
Dry fogs which do not adhere to any surface
are probably charged more or less with elee-
TRICKY Of the same kind with the earth itself,
and thus the particles Of the fog repeiling each