Marvels Of Ultrasonic Waves

Chronicle (Levin), 3 February 1949, Page 5

Marvels Of Ultrasonic Waves

LONDON, Feb. 2. British 'scientists have demon•strated how to light a cigarette or boil a cup of tea at a distaiice, using oiily rdtrasonic waves, accordiug to the British medical journal Lancet. Ultrasonic waves — sound waves of too high a frequeilcy to be audible. to the human ear — can develop enormous energy. An ultrasonic gun devised in.Austria in the late war, was saxci to Kiil at a range of 65 yards and disable at 300 yards. In a gas Ultrasonic vibrations will precipitate all solid impurfcies. Itt this way smoke and deleterious fumes can be abated and fog disi persed. The Lancet says the waves have been used in various ways in medicine — in deafness, asthma, sciatica and other neuraigias. The Lancet listed other suggested uses of ultrasonic waves: Fir'stly, to destroy bacteria viruses and' mosquito larvae in the control of malaria; secondly, to clean clothes in laundry work; thirdly, to make emiilsions eSpecially for photography but also for cosmeticS, paints and food preparations; fourthly, to perform a delicate operation to i destroy brain tissue without the need for surgery. This so far has been demonstrated only experimentally on dogs.