Science.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 402, 21 January 1904, Page 7

Science.

, SUMMER TBOUBLES. ;"\ the oncoming of that seasonal kil*sl*fr ballaciaat ion associated with a«»Mjy spadey, bnekota, and ruinous bills for the luxuries peculiar to holiday apartments, the ejea of maid and rnutroa fixJhemßelves wherej the more or leas truthful nu>ror reflects thepncky art; of Sols in rMintmgjsthe"' human face. It may be observed by those who have leisure that there are four schemes oficolour., •first there are the genuine honest brown burning, that need only be continued to give one the ap«. pearanoe of a mahogany oarving. This is; arrived at whentheskinis very sensitive; *tffcy&jr gradual to unclouded I raya;—Then-.there is a muddy brown, seen in localities where the .exposure is frequent bug sun has not gseat power. - la the next place wessea '% yividl ■ red an-' accompanied by tenderneso. ted. ness may be combined wiM each tenderness. And, lastly, we may find alight buff coat over., which darker spots—the, hated freckles are scattered. *■ ' A. nut-brown complexion is certainly preferable to one that resembles dough. Hence many girls should rather seek sunburning than Btriye>, to avoid it. r On the other hand, a red Bkin is not appreciated outside the wigwams of American Indians, and if it be' accompanied by skin' irritation, .the annoyance may reach a degree demanding quite solemn deliberation. Before going further let me state certain first principles; |fc is always by the use of suitable agents to guard against sun irritation from sun heatj but if the skin be exposed to'the sua it is not possible io entirely prevent deepefied colouration. One may mitigate this, and that is all; the results will depend on the duration and intensity of the sun's action, and. the character of the remedies employed. One bf the .simplest preventatives is % film of powdered wheat starch placed upon a thin, coating of some emollient, as a twenty per cint solution .of glycerine. This may be applied before going into the sua. On returning within doors one may wash the face with elder-flower water,, and then brush over it, avoiding, the eyes, a lotion made by ridding to two drachms of dilute hydrochloric acid sufficient water to make eight ounces. If the official solution of peichloride of mercury is substituted for the acid the lotion'will be stronger. This treatment is suited for skins that do not become tender. It is immaterial whether the burning be red or brown. ■ v ' „, ~ ~,,.. . ... From many recipes-and 'wrinkleV for \ 'treatio g the skin after sun-baking I select 'the following:. >*' *"§§> '* (8) Cucumber in slices, one ounce; milk, one pint, Boil and strain. The lotion is to be used ..when freshly made, and quite freely. (2) Slices of raw meat, preferably veal, to be bound upon the face by bandages or adhesive strapping, and left in position for some hours. (3) A lotion made by boiling parsley in water, straining and adding either en per cent of juice, or two per cent of citric acid. Persons who suffer from sun-caused tenderness should avoid acid preparations, j Perchloride of mercury will be of no use whatever. If the rather coatty but quite: curative products of the laboratory cannot be afforded, cold cream, or a twenty per cent solution of glycerine, or at wo per cent solution isinglass may be used. A lotion for household purposes consists of one drachm of carbonate of zinc, one draehm of prepared chalk, and sufficient glycerine of -starch to make two ounces. It Bheuld be applied when it can be left on the skin for some hours.

As an emergency application for cooling the skin, vinegar and water may be recommended. Ccld poultices made of starch and bran, or almond water, are soothing. The latter can be prepared by boiling one ounce of either {powdered bitter almonds or bran in half a pint of water for a few minutes.

A REMARKABLE EXPERIMENT. Dr. Le Bon, a well known scientific investigator, of Paris, .has, according-':to: : report, made a discovery fraught with possibilities hitherto only dreamt of. by novelists with a fertile fancy. An experiment which, he has just accidently effected may lead to a terrible deathdealing invention, > which would be re-} markably similar' in its results to the mysterious process by which, in 'The War of the Worlds,' the Martians slay the inhabitants of the earth from a distance without visible weapons. " Dr. Le Bon was experimenting with the Hertzian rajs in hie laboratory. Suddenly he was sui-, rounded by what he describes as a rain of fire falling upon him from all the metallic objects in the room. The experiment baa led him to conclude that it would be possible to construct large-sized metallic _ mirrors capable of reflecting Hertzian' rays, without diminishing their power, to a distance of several mites. ' The rays thus reflected would, while remaining invisible, ignite any explosive* substance they encounted, such powder in magftzinee, shells : n gaas, and even cartridges ina soldierfs!bolt. If an| inventor works out theory in a practical vay, he wiU thusfbsl enabled""to inflict death at a distance al-most-as mysteriously as did the Martians in the story. Notably the doctor points out that warships, would be particularly vulnerable to the reflected Hertzian waves, owing to the extensive use made of electribitv] jajlj.puvpo'Bißa 1 oh'Jjoard, and «- peuoes, while they were being , carried by vessels, could be exploded at a distance; with terrifio effect by the enemy for whose destruction they were intended.