Science Notes.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIV, Issue 31, 27 November 1896, Page 27

Science Notes.

The Antiseptic Treatment. — The proceedings ot the British Association were opened by a most fascinating and eloquent address by Sir Joseph Lister, who explained the story ot hi-* own work for science and humanity in language of {Treat simplicity and charm (says a London correspondent). For the first time he nave the history of the antiseptic treatment and the cau^e which led to its discovery. Pasteur had found that fermentation and petrifaction were caused by microbes, and Lister at once saw the bearing of this discovery on surgery. The problem was, how to iind some substance which, without seriously injxiring the human tissues, could kill the microbes already contained in them, and prevent the iuture access of others. Carbolic acid was a chemical curiosity in those days, but Mr. Lister had heard of its deodorising effects upon sewage. He obtained some from a friend and proceeded to use it m compound fractures. He applied it undiluted to the wound, and he had the "joy of seeing the-e formidable injuries follow the same sate and tranquil course as simple fractures, only where the skin remains unbroken." From this point the progress of the new treatment -wait on triumphantly. Sir Joseph Lister went very fully into bacteriolo y, and made some reference to the recent report of the Vaccination Commission. He spoke very highly in favour of vaccination, and said that although it does not {rive perfect immunity it greatly modifies the character of the disorder and diminishes- its danger, and by vaccination alter a certain number of years .Tenner's work is rendered complete. He was strongly in favour ot compulsion, and pointed out that there was no difficulty in carrying it out in Germany. He thought it was the duty of the Government to encourage the use of calf lymph, so as to exclude the possibility of the communication of any human disease to the child, and to institute such efficient inspection of vaccination institutes as to ensure careful antiseptic arrangements, and so prevent contamination by extraneous microbes. Edison at Home. — Edison, the American inventor, has been married twice. To his two wives he owes considerable success a« the greatest living inventor and the greatest inventor that ever lived. They looked after his health and his physical welfare, enabling him to retain that vigour without -which he could not stand the strain of day after day in his laboratory, without a wink of sleep. Twenty-two years ago Kdison's friends urged him to marry, hoping that domestic lite would compel him to eat at least one meal a day and sleep with some regularity. Edison said he had no time to make love, but it some decent girl wanted to marry him he had no objections. One day while watching a young woman, to whom he had never before spoken, working one of his instruments, he asked her somewhat anxiously if she would be his wife. She said yes, and in three days they were married, though he came near forgetting the hour for the ceremony, being busy on a complex machine. THE COMING METAL. After an exhaustive series of tests, the Minister of War in France has decided that aluminium is the best material for army utensils. All the camp equipments in the French army will be replaced by those made of aluminium. The cost will be enormous, and the change would use up all the aluminium in sight if it were made at once. For this reason the new material will be used m the equipments of only two army corps at first. Gradually one corps after another will be supplied, until the whole army will be equipped Aluminium equipments were used in the Madagascar campaign and stood the test splendidly, besides being very light they showed no signs ot wear and are easily cleaned. — Snentiju- 1 nirnt tin. \ BOON TO H()l SKHOLDEUS. The Popular Srn m < Born ir tells us ot an invention that should be a boon to householders. It is a•• bogus ' cat that scares away rats and mice. The cat is made ot a light metal, and painted with luminous paint so as to be an exact counterpart of its animated feline sister. It then shines in the dark, and is placed in any infested nook or corner, where it very soon effectually scares away the pests. After being in use for a week or two the place is cleared of either rats or mice.