SCIENCE NOTES.

Lake County Press, Issue 2636, 15 June 1916, Page 7

SCIENCE NOTES.

LINOLEUM LEATHER The "Wilhelmshafener Zeitung" states that a bootmaker of Wilhelmshaven has produced a specially prepared linoleum boot sole, which has been adopted by the military authorities. Exhaustive tests have proved that the soles are capable of standing six weeks of the hardest wear. The cost is 20 pfennigs a pair, and one mark to sow them. The only drawback is that the wearer must be careful "not to walk with bent knees,"' as this results in tho soles cracking. VARNISH POISON. The enormously increased production of aeroplanes during the war lends point to a warning regarding tho varnish employed. At the aeroplane works in Johannisfhal a number of workmen employed in the varnishing department were taken seriously ill, and two deaths resulted. The most important symptom was jaundice, due .to decomposition of the blood. On' investigation the cause was found to be poisoning by tetraehlorethane, the only solvent known for the highly combustible acetylcellulose. These accidents led to an order forbidding- the use of solvents containing a high percentage of tetraehlorethane. WOOD AND WATER. All wood contains more or less water; even tho driest wood known contains two or three pounds of water to every 100 pounds of weight. Absolutely dry wood is unknown, for the heat needed to obtain it would dissolve the wood and convert it into gas and charcoal. An eminent Swiss authority on the characteristics of wood believes that a sufficiently powerful and perfect microscope, could it be made, would showthat the ultimate wood cell is composed of crystals like grains of sugar or salt, and that thin films of water hold the crystals apart, yet bind them into a mass. A good microscope shows the wood cell and reveals its spiral bandages and its openings and cavities, but no instrument yet made reveals the ultimato crystals that, as many believe, do exist, and that Avould explain why water cannot be expelled from wood without destroying the wood itself. CAN SMALL-ARMS AMMUNITION BE DETONATED? It will bo remembered that the German Government has persistently maintained that the rapid destruction of the Lusitania was brought about mainly by tho detonation of munitions which she was carrying, these exploding as a result .of detonation by the torpedo which was fired against the liner. It is a specious argument, but it is absolutely untenable in the light of the recent experiments which have been carried out by the American Government to determine whether such a result could be produced. At first sight one might imagine that small-arm ammunition, in view of the fact that smokeless powder or cordite enters into its composition, would bo a. highly dangerous cargo to carry on board ship ; but tho American experiments have proved conclusively that there is no greater risk attending the conveyance of such ammunition than in carrying a shipload of butter. The experiments were very varied and searching in character. In one instance a box full of cartridges was dropped from a height of 25ft. Tho box was badly knocked about, but that was all. In another test a sliotgun was discharged against the laden box. Tho latter, as well as the cartridges within, was riddled, but there was no explosion. In a third test a blow-pipe was brought to bear against the box. The wood was speedily burned away and the cartridges within were ignited, but no explosion resulted. In fact, directly the blow-pipe was removed the cartridges refused to burn. Other equally striking tests were carried out, but in each instance a negative result was obtained. Thus it is impossible to detonate ammunition in this manner. As a result of these experiments the American Government is advised that there is no necessity to introduce special legislation or regulations concerning the carriage of smallarms ammunition by water, and that it is superfluous to rule that such shall be carried in a magazine. In face of these conclusive data it will be impossible for the Germans to maintain any longer the fond belief that the munitions, if there were any, aboard the Lusitania contributed to the liner's fate. A COMBINATION TRAVELLINGBAC AND LIFE-PRESERVER. I A valise that may be used in emer gencies as a life preserver promises to bo a necessary part of the equipment of the careful traveller in the near i future. It is the invention of John L. Edmund, a young Norwegian. The new combination travelling-bag life-preserver is to all outward appearances an ordinary handbag. However, it is equipped with a pair of waterproof trousers which, together with the valise proper, forms a buoyant, watertight suit. There are also provided two fin-like bags in which the wearer can . place his arms, and if he so desires, propel himself through the water. i The body of the case is equipped with I a window and two air valves, which | may be locked from tho inside, [t is optional with the wearer whether the bag portion is closed or mil, since the suit will not sink. The position of the wearer when in the water is one of perfect comfort; he may stand upright,

lean on one arm, or rest in the back or side without danger of tipping. Sufficient food to last for several days can be' taken into a compartment in- ' tended for the purpose in tlio suitcase 1 portion. Should an accident befall the outer covering, there is an emergency air bag which may bo blown up from the inside, and which will provide the necessary buoyancy to keep tho suit and its occupant floating. The wearer ol the suit may remain in the water for from four 'to five days without danger of sinking or death bv exposure, and in these days of the perfected wireless telegraph it is seldom more than a few hours before rescuers are on the scene after the sinking of a vessel. _ Normally, the trousers portion and

the fins of the life-preserver are folded compactly into the bottom of the suitcase, leaving ample room for anything one may wish to carry in the bag proper. The bag, as well as the suit, is made of waterproof cloth. It may bo made to suit tho purchaser as to shape, size, and material." - BOMBS. Thrown By Rifle. Australian Invention. Bombs and the throwing of them have become a new science in the present war (writes a correspondent). And the great problem has been in the zone of .operations to supply the demand. The great number required at times, and on occasions in a hurry, has resulted in many unique and scientific ideas to meet with the exigencies of the situation. Many would think that such difficulties could be overcome, in these days of organised munition-making. There are, however, several reasons for such not being the case, and amongst them are the great cost and the fact that all tho resources of the Empire have not been employed in bringing for-, ward the best that can be obtained. An Australian invention has minimised the cost, and the opportunity j offers. Not only does this latest j weapon of death prove a means to an : end economically, but it goes one further in the purpose of bombmaking. It is in reality a shrapnel bomb, which can be fired from a service rifle with a deadly effect. In short, it is the most destructive missile which has ever been discharged from a rifle. The arrangement is so complete that every man of a detachment supplied with these bombs would be firing shrapnel instead of ; single bullets once the enemy was within a certain range. j When loaded the bomb weighs ljlb. It is made of semi-steel, and when ex- t ploded it throws broadcast thousands of jagged pins. And, in addition. I there are the shrapnel Indicts. One test conducted showed that over 40D pieces of shell and shrapnel penetrated li-inch of pipe-case, and any one piece was capable of killing a man or putting him out of action. i A more recent test has more than ' ever proved the possibilities of this ! new bomb. One was fired at random, and after travelling about 250 yards ' dropped about Bft. from a post-and-rail fence. Each one of these posts, . each 9ft. apart, and each rail were struck with flying fragments, and . with such great force that human tar- j gets could not possibly withstand a , fusilade of such missiles. In a charge men would be less than 9ft. apart;' therefore, the execution could easily bo imagined, and even greater if dropped into a dug-out or a trench. The bomb can also be thrown by hand for a distance of 40 yards; but. of course, its greatest advantage is that it can bo fired from a rifle and the range gauged to a nicety. It is discharged from a rifle by means of an ingenious attachment, or held to the shoulder in tho ordinary way. The explosion causes very little recoil, so that the operator has no reason to fear from "kicks." ,' Another most excellent advantage of tho new invention is its cheapness and simplicity. It is simple to load, and any of the current commercial explosives can be used to explode it. It is safe to handle, and with little practice marksmen firing from a rifle could drop bomb after bomb almost on the same spot up to a range of L>oo yards, j Tho tests which have been made | have been brought under the notice of i the responsible authorities, and much is expected in the near future. At any rate, it is to be hoped that it will | be* given tho due consideration that it j merits, and that Australia _ will not • only have tho honour of providing this' unique weapon, but have tho oppor-, tun it v of manufacturing largo quantities. " ! Tho inventors of the new bomb are Lieutenant E. S. Andersen, Sergeant E. M. Dunn, and Corporal Harrison, the first-named being a native of Yea, Victoria, and the last-mentioned of • Ballarat. Lieutenant Andersen and Sergeant ; Dunn are members of the Mining Engineering Corps at present camped ] at Casula, N.S.W. I