SCIENCE OF THE DAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20229, 13 April 1929, Page 5 (Supplement)

SCIENCE OF THE DAY.

RAY OF DEATH AND LIFE. A German physicist claims to have succeeded in realising the dream of generations of scientists by inventing at last the electric death r«iy. lie is Professor Esau, director of the Physical Technical Institute of tho University of Jena. Professor PZsau confirmed a report that ho had invented a wireless apparatus, with valves like those used in an ordinary radio set, of so small a size that it would fit in a cigar box, with which ho could send out ultra-short waves of a length less than three metres. These waves will kill instantaneously germs, insects, and even small animals which come within their reach. " My assistant and I," Professor Esau said, "are now engaged in perfecting tho apparatus. Our death wave is not dangerous to living beings apart from those which come within its carefully limited sphere of action. Flies and insects which pass across this field drop dead. Mico are killed in a few seconds. Rats are dead within three to five minutes. If we succeed in perfecting our apparatus wo shall be in a position, without in any way injuring the tissue of the human body, to kill disease-causing bacteria within tho human body." « WRECKING WITH MAGNETS. The electric lifting magnet, while employed chiefly for handling magnetic materials is also useful when its properties aro applied to tho demolition of obsolete engineering plant. In this type of work tho best results are obtained by using a breaker ball in conjunction with a circular type of lifting magnet. The magnet is slung from the most convenient type of hoisting gear available and as large a drop as possible is allowed betweeu the breaker ball and the plant to be demolished. Work of this description was recently undertaken in a large works in the Midlands, where an obsolete steam engine, previously used for driving workshop machinery has been replaced by up-to-date electric gear. The plant used in demolishing this engine in-

eluded a 36in. diameter electric lifting magnet and a sieel ball weighing I 5 tons. Tho magnet held the breaker ball above the engine to be demolished, and when tho current was switched off from the magnet the breaker ball fell 011 the flywheel. This was repeated until the whole of tho engine was reduced to sufficiently small proportions to be handled conveniently. THE BLESSING OF TEARS. 'Although people cry when they are sorry, tear-drops chemically are a blessing. Tears are composed of a chemical called lysozyme, probably the most powerful germ-killer 111 the world, during experiments with human tears it has been found that one teaspoonful of Hie pure chemical containin them has antiseptic powers equal to more than a hundred gallons of salty water against certain eye bacteria. The same substance can be found in the white corpuscles of the blood, which continually wage war on destructive bacteria invading tho bodv. It may be possible to extract the powerful chemical in sufficient quantities from animal bodies for general uso as a non-poisonous antiseptic. FUMES FOR INFLUENZA. Medicinal fumes prepared to combat and kill germs of influenza may be taken 111 a special inhalation chamber at Humanity House, Pimlico, London, where for threepence, anyone can avail himself of this new method adopted by tho British Humane Association. It is the only inhalatorium in England, and holds about thirty people. While inhalation does not confer immunity, it does reduce the risk of infection to a minimum. The procedure is simple and takes only ton minutes. In the middle of a room is a pedestal bowl in which is a revolving wheel, consisting of tubes containing air and a liquid which comes forth in a spray so fino that peoplo sitting on one side of tho room are only dimly visible to those sitting opposite. On the wall are phials containing liquid drugs which blend with the spray. Tho idea is to prevent rather than cure influenza.