Science Siftings

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3, 18 January 1906, Page 29

Science Siftings

By 'Volt'

A Great World Map. The projected map of the whole world on a scale of 1 to 1,000,01)0, or about one-sixteenth of an inch to a mile, will embrace 437 sheets, of which (39 are reported to have been finished up to last March. On this map the United States will ha\e a length of Hi feet. Climate Cure. Medical climatology, a medical writer tells us, is developing into a science, for it is in America, where the many] types of men are out of their natural habitat, that the habit of seeking a change of climate as a general cure-all has become almost universal. The kind of change needed is gradually becoming understood. A dry and bracing climate is not adapted to all persons, and sunshine is too stimulating for many, while damp and fog seem to be necessary for certain nervous people and perhaps all blondes. An equable, relaxing climate acts as a sedative in disease of heart and kidneys. How it Feels to Fall. The sensation of falling down a precipice is one that few persons have had an opportunity of recoiding. Professor Albert lieim, a well known geologist, has been able to 1 describe the experience to the Swiss Alpine (Jlub, and relates that he was not troubled m'brcathmg and felt none of the paralyzing terror that so often overwhelms victims oL sudden cat-astrophe. He felt perfect tranquilily, though remarkably quickened mental activity. Old memories were revived pleasantly, much of life was lhed over, and then his ears were filled with .sott, musical sounds, and consciousness was lost as the giound was stiuck. Ihere was no pain nor sensation ol shock. Local Meteoiites. Meteontes aie usually legaided as stones horn space, dinermg im composition, but all having a similar origin and belonging to one geneial class, i/iom 25 yeais of observation, the Director ot the Geological Survey ot Mexico reaches a no\L'l conclusion. Mexico is a region of many meteorites, which range in size liom a monster of 2i7 tons, downwaid, and a study of these stones gUves evidence that there are three zones in the country — northern, cenUal, and southern — marked by a diilerenl class ol meleoiues for each zone. This opens a remark/able held lor speculation. Why ceitaui localities should attract certain mcteoiites, or why the meteorites select certain places to iall upon, is dilhcult to guess, and a solution 01 1 the problem may show that some meteorites ha\e a terrestrial or local origin. How Camphor is Made. Wherever camphor trees grow you will find camphor distilleries. They are low buildings of mud brick, and their odor is so aromatic that it can be detected two miles oK. in each building there are a dozen lires. On each lire is a kettle' ot hojling water with a perforated lid. Fitted to the top ot this kettle is an iron cylinder, filled with camphor chips of the size of your little finger. Fitted to the top of the cylinder is an empty inverted jar. There is the whole apparatus— a simple thing which works simply. The steam of the boiling water, passing up through the cylinder, extracts from the camphor wood its oil. This oil, mounting still upward with the steam, settles like brine on the sides of the inverted jai' at the top. This brine, when the fire goes out, dries into sub'stanee like frost or snow. White and aromatic, the frost-hke .substance is the crude camphor. It is scraped ofi the sides of the jar, and refined and pressed into those attractive balls and cubes that you buy at a high price everywhere.