SCIENCE NOTES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8349, 8 February 1913, Page 9

SCIENCE NOTES

" While bright-eyed Science watches round.”

By the use of a new German instrument, which takes the Index of retraction of mixed gases, llabor and Bow© aro able to find the amount of carbon dioxide and methane contained in mine gases. Tho method is also useful in many other cases, such as for bezel vapours in the gas distilled by gas or coke plants, also sulphurous anhydride in the gases coming Hum pyrites roasting, as well as percentages of ozone in the air. They are also able to check the purity of hydrogen made by the electrolytic process, observe the gases in human breath, and carry out other very useful tests. Recently O. Mohr applied the method 'ot analysing tho products of combustion of furnaces so as to have a useful check upon the way the fuel is being burned. Dr Lyman J. Briggs, head of the experiment section of the bureau of plant industry, is stringing electric wires over a Government garden on the Potomac River* Washington (U.S.A.), for the purpose of growing plants by aid of electricity. He will electrify onions and snap beans, potatoes, and hops. For some time Ur Briggs has been experimenting with electricity in the improved cultivation of various plants, but hie apparatus was not of the best type until now. A few new wires from England were imported for Use in the Potomac fields. Tho wires are a'bout sixteen feet above the ground. Di Briggs will not tell just how ho is going to apply electricity to the onion and the bean, but he thinks that he will produce bettor onions and beans at a lower cost than the farmer of to-day produces them. Mr Henry Sturmey, F.R.P.S., inventor of the Sturmey-Arcber three-speed gear, gave an interesting address to the members of tho Institute of Inventors iu London Mast month, which was formed early in 1912 to strengthen the position of the patentee in obtaining bis monopolies, and in dealing with them, so as to get a proper return for his skill and ingenuity, and to advise him on the best markets and terms, and, further, in settling reasonable contracts. Mr Kturmoy dealt with the subject of inventors and the difficulty they experienced in getting their inventions placed on the market. lie considered that a great drawback to inventors was that they were apt to overestimate the importance of their ideas, without considering whether their inventions would do the work better, or be cheaper to make, buy, or use. They should study the state of the market to which their inventions applied, and should consult someone who was familiar with that art. j-*.e also spoke on the question of royalties, which, he said, should be fair to both parties, and' was of opinion that the thing inventors wanted was not only improvement in '-‘-the patent laws, but more the bringing of the inventor and capitalist together, and that there were always a number of capitalists and manufacturers ready to look into good- inventions. Dr Keen’s list of what "the friends of research” have accomplished is the most useful one recalls having seen from u authoritative source. Condensing from Dr Keen’s own condensed Catalogue, we have the following record-: —The : ante septic method discovered and developed. Modern abdominal surgery; made practicable, including operations on the stomach, intestines, appendix, liver, gallstones, pancreas, spleen and kidneys. Modern brain surgery made possible. New surgery of tho chest developed, including surgery of tho heart, lungs, aorta, aesophagus, etc. Tho virtual elimination of lockjaw after operations and accidents. Deam rate after compound fractures reduced from 66 per cent, to 1 per cent. These are surgical achievements proper. For the broader field of medicine vve Have the following record: Yellow fever abolished—"a wonderful triumph.” Ravages of deadly. malaria reduced. Death rate of hydrophobia reduced from 12 or 14 per cent, of persons bitten to four-fifths of 1 per cent. Death rate ol dihptheria reduced in nineteen European and American cities from 79.9 per hundred thousand' of population in 1894 to 19 per hundred thousand of population in 1905. Death rate of cerebro-spinal meningitis reduced from 80 or even 90 per cent, to 20 per cent, and less. Malta fever abolished in British army and navy —in 1905 there were nearly 1390 cases, in 1997 there were 11 cases, in 1909 there was one case. Death rate of child-bed fever reduced from 5 to 10 per cent, to less than 1 per cent. The discovery of a vaccine against typhoid fever. Death rate of tuberculosis reduced by 30 to 60 per cent. In addition. Dr Keen asserts that we aro nearing tho discovery of the cause and the cure of cancer and infant paralysis and the “sleeping sickness." And the animal world has profited by our researches in tuberculosis, anthrax, glanders, hog cholera, chicken cholera, lumpy jaw, and other diseases, some of which can be transmitted to men.

Paris baa been feting Roald Amundsen. Tho Norwegian Minister took him to the Elysee and presented him to M. Pallieres, who handed him the Legion of Honour. Then with the Norwegian Minister they all went to tho Hotel de Ville, where tho councillors were gathered, and where speech followd speecn, winding up with the following masterpiece by M. Delaunay, Prefect of the Seine: “ Your success is the proof of what one may dare do when one adds to the flame of the ideal which essays, all the indomitable energy that is ali-conquer-lag.'’