SCIENCE NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2008, 18 August 1892, Page 44

SCIENCE NOTES.

— Experiments have been made during the pavt three months in illuminating London omnibuses with the c-Lctric ligh\ and now an agreement his been entered into for the lighting by incandescett lamps of the whole of this vehicUs engaged on one route

served by the London Rj%d Car Company. Previous experiments with both primary and secondly batteries in this direciion have not turned out well, but it is now thought that the problem has been solved by the use of tbe lithanode batteries. The equipmejt for each 'bus consists of a battery of five cellp, placed in a box which is ai ranged under the driver's feet, and a 5-0..p. EdisonSwan lamp. The battery terminals are led to two contacts ou one bide of the box, and which lead to the incandescent lamp. The weight of the battery is about 151b, and it will enciguo the lamp— which is backed by a white rtflector— for 15 hours. The recharging of the batteries occupies some six hours; but a fresh battery is subs-'itnted for the oce exhausted when necessary. A switch is of course provided fcr the turning on snd off of the light. A demonstration of the capabilities of these lamps was given with Fat i& factory results. The 1 traps ghe a really good light, and they c instil u'e a great improvement over the fteble, flickering oil lamps ordinarily used.

— A writer in the Revue Sc'.entifiqie indulges in fascinating speculation and reverie as to the future line of advancement and the probable condition of the Arts, Science, ard Lettars in 1992. Speaking of science, ho says :—": — " What we know of nature is almost nothing alongside of what we are ignorant of; so that a new discovery opens an immense horizon, with distant and nnfore.

seen perspectives. The fact of a great in« vention modifies from top to bottom a whole series of matters wo are acquainted with. A technical discovery, like that of the microscope, the thermometer, the electrio pile, brings with it an immense amount of scientific progress beyond # wbat any imagination, however clear and fertile, can dream of. Astronomy is likely to make astonishing progress, though that is dependent on the construction of new instruments. Meteorology, it is certain, will make greater progress than astronomy; for meteorology is a science yet in its infancy, and, I think, by tbe end of the twentieth century it will be in full maturity. In the matter of chemistry, methods of analysis and synthesis much more perfect than the methods of to day will assuredly be invented in the coming century. Electricity, however, will make the greatest progress. Not only from the industrial point of view, bat from tho experimental side aa well as the mathematical side, electricity will reserve for our descendants colossal surprises."

— It seems to te confirmed by the latest researches that the bacillus announced by Pfeiffcrasthe cause of influenza is really the cause. The great difficulty baa been (writes a "8.50." in the Adelaide Observer) to cultivate it in a pure form, because in the ordinary methods of cultivation it does not develop abundantly, and so gets swamped by commoner forms associated with it. However, Koch advised a way of growing it tolerably pure, and Kitasato, a Japanese investigator studying in Berlin, has culiiyated Beveral successive generations, whioh is always a test as to whether one of those low forms of life has been got well in hand. Another doctor In Berlin has demonstrated the presence of tbe same bacillus in the blood of patients suffeiing from the disease, but in very small numbers, which explains why in spite of all the searching thay had not been discovered there before. Tbo practical outcome for the present of these researches will be that the doctors will try to get each case of influenza to recognise himself as a centre of infection, and to treat himself as such.

— One of the most striking inventions in pure mechanics is a flexible tubing made of metal only by E. Levavasseur. He started as a jeweller making tubular necklaces and bracelets, then he tried to get a similar tube watertight, but found he had to uso indiarubber at the joints, where it got rapidly worn ; he then set himself the far harder ta&k of making a tight flexible tube of nothing but metal, and after some years he has succeeded in producing a tube which stands a pie.-sure of 3001b per square inch, and the higher the pressure the more tight the- tube becomes, until actual rupture is reached. The tubs is so flexible that a one-inch tube can be bent into a. circle of six inches radiu?. The tube is manufactured from thin mot all ie strips, and it takes 10ft of itrip to make Ift of tube. The great value of the invention is obvious when- we consider the variety of uses to which tho ordinal y flexible rubber and canvas tubing is put, and the number of cases to which it cannot be put on account of its perishable nature.

— An alloy of 95 parts of tin and five parts of copper will connect metals with glass. The alloy is prepared by pouring the copper into the molten tio, stirring with a wooden mixer, and afterwards remelling. It adheres sttor.gly to clean glass surfaces, and has near'y tho same rate oE expansion as glass. Bj adding fiom to 1 per cent, of I 'ad or zinc, the alloy may bo rendered softer or harder, or more or le»s easily fusible, as required. It may also be used for coating metal?, giving them a silvery appearance.

— Some interesting tests with alternating currents and a particular form of magnet have been made in Eagland. Among the experiments shown was one which illustrated a new method of detecting counterfeit coins. A genuine coin, being a good conductor, was held between the poles of the magnet, but a bad coir, not possefs'ng that nejetsary qualification, immediately dropped when placed in position.

— The purer water^s in nafnre f ho b.'rer *s its hup. I3ut thouyii the selective absorption of tho water determines its bluer.es?, it is tbe dus>t patticles suspended in it which determine its biilliancy. If the water of the Mediterranean be taken from different places and examined, by means of a coi centrated beam of Pghr, it i& seen to hold in suspension millions of dust pirticlcs of different kinds. To this fine dust it ow«.s its beautiful, biilliant, and vaiied colouring. When there are few panicles there is lilile light reflected, and the colour of the water is deep blue ; t ut when there are many p-r-ticke, more light is rtflarti-d, and the c 1- nr is chalky blutf-green. .Aljng il.s ; be Mediterrat can wa^hrs thti recks, and ru-n off the mir.u'e sd'd p.-tttiol s, \v ich mile tho water bean>ifullv 1 rilliaiit.