SCIENCE CLIPPINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2251, 22 April 1897, Page 30

SCIENCE CLIPPINGS.

A REPORTED REJIA.RKABLE DISCOVERY.

According to the New York correspondent of the London Daily Telegraph, "Mr Edison claims to have discovered a chemical much more susceptible to the Rongten rays than is the case with any previously used. He hopes to find others still more sensitive, and beiieves that it will be possible to construct an instrument that will show, by means of the •X ' rays, the internal organs and tissues of the body as well as the boiKS, thus enormously increasing the powers of diagnosis possessed by surgeons in cases both of wounds p.ud of tbe processes of disease. He declines to furnish the name of this substance^, and is experimenting with new chemical combinations at tbe rate of 30 per day. The ever-optimistic wizu-d holds that when pathogenic germs are understood and destroyed, and internal diagnosis is rendered easy, human life vtiH only be limited by old age, acciderfc, or dissipation "

PRESERVING MEAT BY ELECTRICITY.

A provision merchant of Rio Janeiro, according to the Boston Transcript, "applies the method of • cataphoresis,' or the forcing of foreign subst\nces into animal tissue by electricity, to the preservation of meat. He immorses the meat to be preserved in a 30 per cent, solution of common salt and passes through the whole a continuous current of electricity. In from 10 to 12 hours the salting is said to be complete, and the meat is taken out of the bath and hung up to dry. For the guidance of those who nvght be disposed to try the method it may bf> added that in working a bath of 3000 litres (750ga1) of brine, in which 1000 kilos (22001b) of me-it may be immersed, the current may be of 100 amperes, with an electromotive force of eight; volt 3. The electrodes must be of platinum, since if other materials, such as zinc or iron, were used the metal ealti formed would be injurious.

AN INTERESTING DISCOVERY.

A report from Vancouver, British Columbia, states that during a recent huzirdous journey to the unexplored interior of Vancouver Island, Mr F. W. Laing, a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, made a remarkable discovery, which is certain to excite the curiosity of students and scientists throughout the civilised world. The explorers (says the Standard's Ottawa correspondent) were crossing Great Central Lake, the largest body of fresh water on the island, with a length of 30 miles, when the curious markings upon-the face of a giant reck attracted Mr Laing's ntfentiou. The canoes were stopped, and investigation disclosed that a message had been left by some prehistoric dwellers of the lake, deep-traced in the imperishable rock. The hieroglyphics- forming the inscription were arranged in five parallel lines, somewhat similar to musical staff, while absve was what apparently had been intended for a log of wood and a growing tree. A third figure placed at the right hand reeembled nothing so much as a seven-branched candlestick. Photographs were taken of the rock and sketches made of the interesting inscription, which is quite distinct, despite its supposed age.

There are 300 natives of India, chiefly students, now residing in England. •\ In the reign of Charles I the rates of postage were : Under 80 miles, 2d •, 80 to 140 miles, 4d ; over 140 miles, 6d ; London to Scotland, Bd.

The house of Mr William Henry Preece, who is electrician to the Po3t Office, was the first to be lighted by electricity in the United Kingdom. The house is situate on Wimbledon Common.

The record price for conveyance of a single despatch is said to ba the sum paid in 184-2 for conveying the news from Marseilles to London of the massacre in Cabul, which the Times was the first to make known. Over £300 this letter is said to have cost the proprietors of the Times, for carriages were specially hired to carry it from Marseilles to Paris, from which gay city to Boulogne it was taken on horseback, thence by a special steamer to Dover, and to London by horse.

Part of the Waihao Downs estate, subdivided into farms, is now being offered for sale. The land in this estate is well known to be suitable for wheat-growing and stock-fattening, and as high-class farming has been followed in the management of the estate, there should he a good demand for it.

Nominations will be received till noon on Saturday, 24th inst., of candidates for the various subdivisions of the Portobello Road Board.