SCIENCE NOTES

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXIV, Issue 4978, 30 May 1903, Page 4 (Supplement)

SCIENCE NOTES

NEW USB FOR. BACTERIA. Prof. Hans Molisch. of according to a Reuter’s telegram, has reported to tho Vienna Academy of Sciences the discovery of a lamp lighted by means of bacteria, which he claims will give a powerful’ light and bo free from danger, thus being valuable for work in mines and powder magazines. The lamp consists of a glass jar in which a lining of saltpetre and gelatine inoculated with bacteria is placed. Two days after inoculation the jar becomes illuminated with a wonderful bluish-green light caused by the innumerable bacteria which have developed in that time. The light will burn brilliantly for from two or three weeks, afterwards diminishing in brightness. It renders faces recognisable at a distance of two yards, and large type is easily legible by it. SINGULAR EVE DISORDER. An exceedingly curious disease has Affected the sight of a young lady who is fast becoming a nyctalops (as the opticians say), being now in the daytime unable to either read or write, or in fact use her eyes for any purpose that requires very • close attention. But as her sight during the day or in the gaslight is disappearing she is developing the power to see in the dark. As the light fails in the evening or when in total darkness, she can see better than in daylight, and as her sight fails this power increases. The condition is thought to be due to an accident which occurred last summer, when one of the unfortunate female’s eyes was injured. OUR AIR CONSUMPT. It is computed that when at rest we consume 500 cubic inches of air a minute. If ive walk at tbe rate of one mile an hour wo use 800; two miles. 1000: three miles, 1600; four miles. 2300. If we start out and run six miles and hour we consume 3000 cubic inches of air during every minute of the time. HOW TO DRINK WATER. A beginning of kidney trouble lies in the fact that people, especially women, do not drink enough water. They pomdown tumblerfuls of ico water as an accompaniment to a meal, but that is worse than no water, the chiil preventing digestion, and indigestion being an indirect promoter of kidney disease. A tumbler of water sipped in the morning immediately on rising, another at night, are recommended by physicians. Try to drink as little water as possible with meals, but take a glassful half- an hour to an hour before eating. This rule persisted in day after day, month after month, the complexion will improve, and the general health likewise. Water drunk with meals should be sipped, as well as taken sparingly,—‘‘Good Housekeeping.” UPRIGHT HANDWRITING. Commenting on Mr J. Jackson’s "System of Upright Penmanship,” "Nature” says; —There can be no doubt that sloped writing -necessitates a strained and a symmetrical posture, and has contributed to the production of countless cases of lateral curvature of tho spine and of eyestrain, while upright writing is compatible with a natural and healthy .posture. This fact alone constitutes a sufficient, and, indeed, urgent, reason for the teaching in all schools of upright in place of the old-fashioned sloped writing. But it seems that some of the advocates of ujjright writing claim as one of its principal advantages the fact that it can be easily executed with the left hand. They propose to form an association to promote the teaching of upright writing with both hands, believing that the child taught to write equally well with both hands will easily acquire left-handed skill in all other manipulations. ELECTRICITY AND DISEASE. The applications of, electricity in the treatment of disease are now being carefully studied, and almost every hospital has its X-ray department. Introduced originally for diagnostic and localising purposes. Bontgen ray? have been found to possess properties which may in the future revolutionise the treatment of certain diseases. Carelessly applied, tho rays may set up considerable inflammation of the skin exposed to thoir action, lupus and malignant growths may be considerably benefited, or even be cured, by a number of exposures of these remarkable emanations. The rays seem to possess a selective action, destroying diseased tissues and bringing about reparative action, but leaving the healthy ones untouched. In cases of cancer hopeful results have been obtained; tho treatment is painless, and it seems to relieve pain and to inhibit the progress of the disease WHY EATS GNAW. Ge.rtnin rats have teeth which grow all their lives, the rat and the squirrel are examples ef this. Our own teeth are developed from pulps, which are absorbed and disappear after the teeth are grown; but in a rat’s tooth the pulp is perpetual, and is continually secreting material by which it gains length. Therefore, the animal is obliged to gnaw all the time to keep the tooth ground down to the proper length. It is commonly imagined that rats keep gnawing out of pure mischief.