SCIENCE SIFTINGS

New Zealand Tablet, 24 April 1919, Page 46

SCIENCE SIFTINGS

Paper, Bandages for Wounded. 110,11 auu important use to which paper is being put at the present time is in the manufacture of paper bandages for the -'wounded. Inquiries at two London hospitals show that a quantity of the" new material has been ordered for experimental purposes, and is expected to supplement the ordinary supply of gauze and muslin bandages. This serviceable discovery in the world of practical ideas is all the more welcome because the pronounced shortage of cotton fabrics due to the continuance of the war has for some time pointed to the necessity of looking to some other source of supply in case of a shortage of linen material. A year ago there was no substitute for cotton that could be relied upon. America, whence our principal supply of cotton comes, was the first of the Allied countries to perceive the advantage of paper for the purpose of bandages and crepe paper, as distinct from ordinary paper, is now being utilised with the American armies after exhaustive tests of its usefulness under service conditions. As the result of these tests it is claimed that crepe paper will successfully take the place of cotton in more than half the cases where bandages are used. The paper is both strong and hygienic. Its absolute cleanliness is obtained by sterilisation by dry heat process, and it is then made up in all the standard widths. The length is two and a-half times that of gauze bandages to avoid the handling of so many smaller lengths. Apart from their use for the wounded, the new discovery, if generally adopted, embraces a considerable economy in the employment of cotton. The Germans have for a long time past turned to paper for the manufacture of articles of. clothing ordinarily made of cloth, and some time ago it was noted that some of our fighting men repatriated from Germany had had their wounds dressed with paper bandages. How Ships Were Saved From Mines. The paravane saved us approximately £40,000,000 worth, of war ships, besides merchant tonnage to .an unknown, though enormous, amount. Like many other great conceptions, the paravane seems a quite simple thing. Hawsers with kites at the end of them are put into the water —on each side of a ship. As-the. ship moves along the pull on the kites tightens the hawsers, which stand out in a straight line on either beam and sweep up any mines, that may be met with. On one occasion last year a flotilla of light cruisers found themselves in a minefield, and by using the paravane they were able to cut their way safely through it. The German submarines were continuously laying minefields which could not be detected until vessels were in them. But with paravanes out there was no danger. The mines were cut away and destroyed, and often it was not until this began to happen that the men in the ships knew they were in a mined area. Different types of this invention were developed. One kind was used with much success against U-boats. There was also a special one that could be easily handled fitted to merchant vessels. The paravane was invented by Lieutenant Dennis Burney, R.N., son of Admiral Sir Cecil Burney, Commander-in-Chief at Rosyth. Lieutenant Burney comes of an old naval family. He is a very young officer who looks the clever man he is, and, like , many other naval officers, has a distinct bent for science and mechanics. He conceived the idea of a paravane while running a destroyer to and fro across Channel on escort duty. Having got the plan, he worked it out by means of drawings and models, and persisted in this until finally the Admiralty agreed to give this thing a trial. Results were so good that a special department was established for it and paravanes manufactured by the thousand. Under official regulations a naval officer who invents anything must offer it to the Admiralty, who, if they accept the device, may give him whatever reward they please. Lieutenant Burney was made acting commander and awarded the c.m;g. : ‘ - • ■ ' - i .: :