SCIENCE OF THE DAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20454, 4 January 1930, Page 5 (Supplement)

SCIENCE OF THE DAY.

DISEASE IN THE WIND.

Aeroplanes have found disease germs blown by the wind two miles above the earth's surface. The disease germs were the spores of the fungus which causes rust in wheat. The rust costs the Canadian wheatgrowers £5,000,000 a year. In a bad year during the war, when there was a great epidemic of rust, the loss was ten times as much. Where did the rust come from to descend upon the cornfields ? Aeroplanes were sent up to see if it was borne by the wind. They took up with them gelatine plates to which dust would stick. Among the dust were found the spores of the rust. They were present at varying heights; they did not cease at 10,000 ft. All were taken up by the W-TT>,h wind, which sooner or later dropped them on portions of the Canadian wheat belt. Tho voyage of the spores could be traced throughout tho season, and now that their life-story has been made out some means will be found to check them at their birth.

This discovery that the wind will bear the spores of plant diseases may have important consequences in disclosing the origin of animal diseases like foot-and-mouth disease in cattle. Epidemics of these begin mysteriously from time to time, and no one knows quite how or why. Perhaps the germs of them are borne on tho wings of the wind.

NAVAL SOUND FILMS. Sound films of the navy at sea were taken for the first time nt the recent Grand Fleet manoeuvres. The phonofilm apparatus was on board H.M.S. Rodney, and besides tho spectacle of the fleet exercises ciiiema audiences will hear the sound of lh& firing of the guns. Elaborate precautions had to be taken to ensure (hat the tremendous vibrations made by the firing of .16in. guns did not injure tho intricate and delicate mechanism of the sound film-recording apparatus. It is hoped eventually to obtain phonofilm records of the daily life on board H.M.S. Rodney.

FUMES TO COMBAT GERMS. Medicinal fames prepared to coinliat and kill germs form a new and important means of rendering people immune from influenza. The fumes can be taken in a special inhalation chamber at Humanity House, Pimlico, London, where for 3d anyone can avail, himself or herself of this new method adopted by the British Humano Association. It is the only inhalatorium in the country, and holds about 30 people. While inhalation does not confer immunity, it does reduce the risk of infection to a minimum, and it is an excellent plan to undergo the treatment two or three times a week. The procedure is simple and takes only 10 minutes. In the middle of a room is a pedestal bowl in which is a revolving wheel, consisting of tubes containing air nnd a liquid which comes forth in a spray so fine that people sitting on one sido of the room are only dimly visible to those sitting opposite. On the wall are phials containing liquid drugs which blend with the spray. The idea is to prevent rather than cure influenza; in fact, people suffering from any sort- of cold would derive considerable benefit from inhalation.

A NEW ATMOSPHERE. That a fuller knowledge of the atmosphere may assist in the control of disease is revealed by Dr. J. Willard llershey, who has been studying tho part raro gases play in normal life, lie claims to have mado air different from anything man breathes, which will support lifo in white mico more effectively than normal atmosphere, in one experiment helium. 4 was substituted for the 78 per cont. of nitrogen. As far as could be seen tho whito mice were in a brighter, more active, and healthier condition than in normal air. Tho mice wero also tested in an atmosphere of 25 per cent, oxygen and 75 per. cent, argon. Again it, "was found that the general conditions 'of respiration, appetite, and rest were better than in normal air. When the argon was increased to 78 per cent, the inieo could not live.