Science Sittings

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 51, 21 December 1905, Page 37

Science Sittings

By • Volt »

The First Chinese Patent. The Chinese Government, according to German papers, has granted its first patent. It is for an electric lamp, the inventor of which is an inhabitant of Nankin, the old capital of the Chinese Empire, who calls his lamp the • bright moonlight,' and asserts that it is far superior to foreign glow lights that hitherto have been sold at Shanghai and other Chinese cities. The fact that China has entered upon the granting of letters patent is undoubtedly of more importance than the invention. The Light and Heat of the Sun. In the course of a lecture at the Bishopsgate Institute, London, Sir Robert S. Ball said one of the most staggering difficulties in the history of science was the question how the light and heat of the sun had been maintained for sof many ages. It had been suggested that it was due to meteorites continually falling into it, also to its constant contraction, and the consequent friction of the particles as they fell together. Calculations had been made showing this might account for its heat for 24,000,000 years. But the geologist might reply : What is that to me ? The sun was probably, yielding light and heat long before that. Now a suggestion had been made that radium was the source. They had seen that a speck of radium poured out sparks with the velocity of light itself, and manifesting tremendous energy. If there was as much radium in the sun— i.e., presumably as much radium in one mass — as would be equal to one three-hundred-thousandth part of its size, it would keep the sun going for a thousand million years, which would perhaps satisfy the geologist. A Depraved Insect. If ever that nasty, irritating insect, the common house fly, had a shred of reputation— a very doubtful pomt — it was blasted in October at the London Institute by Mr. H. Hill in his lecture on ' Flies.' The fly's capacity for crime is extended by its strength, which is relatively nearly seven times that of a horse, for it can lift 1 twenty times its own weight. It can absorb enormous quantities of oxygen, and is, in fact, a confirmed oxygen toper. The reprehensible habit of walking upside down on the ceiling, to which the fly is addicted, is due to its loathsome habit of exuding gum. from each of the 1200 hollow hairs in its feet. The fly, too, has: an evil eye, which is divisible into several other eyes. It has also 1700 or 1800 parts all connected with the olfactory nerves, and therefore possesses complete equipment for detecting unsound meat such as is given to no other living creature. Like Lowell's great fleas, ■which ' have little fleas upon their backs to bite 'em,' the house fly has his petty irritations — sometimes as many as twenty, Mr. Hill said. These eventually kill the debauched insect by their pertinacity. Suggested Cause of Appendicitis. Assuming it to be true (says Dr. Wilson in 'Health Talks') that appendicitis is an ailment now more common than in former years, physicians have been concerning themselves regarding its probable cause or causes. My readers do not require to be told that this ailment consists in 'the inflammation of a IJittle tag orappendage which exists at the junction of the small bowel with the large. The disease can be satisfactorily treated by operation, but that which forms a matter of public interest is its prevention. Is there anything in our existent mode of life which contributes to induce this trouble ? This question has lately been answered by a medical man in the affirmative. He asserts, and I think with reason, that the pernicious habit of using aperient medicines without rhyme or reason is the main source of the trouble. There can be no doubt that a vast number of people swallow such drugs as ' curealls.' The result as that, as an aperient loses its effect, larger and larger doses require to be taken. The consequence of this utterly indefensible use of such medicines is that the natural functions of the bowel are interfered with to an extent which renders the attack of disease very likely to occur. Whether this view be correct or not, it is high time to enter a strong protest against the indiscriminate employment of purgative medicines, many of them widely advertised. The cure of most digestive troubles is one by diet and not by drugs. The latter are only useful to begin a cure, which due care in diet should confirm and establish. We may do worse than remember the hint which the physician has given.,