Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 154, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 June 1910 — POPULAR SCIENCE [ARTICLE]

POPULAR SCIENCE

Afier six years’ contest Peter Cooper Hewitt has been awarded patents for his mercury vapor electric lamp. The patents have been in dispute almost since the date when they were first applied for, in 1901. The battleship Indiana has undergone some lests of the “ship brake,” with which she has been equipped. It was found that the vessel could be brought to a stop within the distance of her own length without injurious shock or strain. — Construction work will shortly begin on another of those stupendous buildings which are called a city of towers. The new structure, which is to be built at ihe northwest corner of Wall and Nassau streets, will extend 539 feet above the street level, making it the third tallest office building in the world. The Society of Illuminaiiirg Engineers in England has lately discussed the question of the best means of avoiding glare from artificial lights. It is beginning to be recognized that the recent introduction of intensely dazzling points of light raises problems in the solution-.of which the oculist must take a hand. Two Berlin professors urged in a communication to the society the “advisability of imitating daylight.” The quality of daylight is iis diffusion, whereby the eye is saved from injury. It has been estimated that the diffused daylight from a clear sky is about 60 per cent of the direct sunlight. It is pointed out that the injurious eye effects of artificial lights are not confined to 'the light centers, but arise also from the glare reflected 'from the surface of shining paper and other bright objects. A device which manufactures breathable air, when required, for miners caught in mine accidents, has recently been invented by Clarence Hall, government expert at Pittsburg. A double tank contains, in one compartment, sodium peroxid, and in the other water. A cock that can be opened at will connects the two. The combination of the chemical and water creates a flow of oxygen, and enough of the raw material is carried in the apparatus to supply one man’s demand for about thirty minutes. A nose and mouth piece are furnished to cover the face. The purpose of the device is to provide men with a port able supply of oxygen that will enable them to live long enough to make efforts in their own behalf after an accident. A man can travel “ far in thirty minutes, if .he can breathe freely and knows his ground. It is expected that the invention will be the means of many otherwise impossible escapes. W. H. S. Jones contends that malaria played a considerable part in bringing about the decline of the ancient Greeks, and also exercised a powerful influence upon Roman history and life. He thinks it doubtful if was malarious in early times. In the fifth century B. C. malaria fell like a blight upon Attica, and, be be-

lieves, upon many other fertile districts of Greece. He ascribes the decadence of the Greeks before the triumph of Rome, in part, at least, to the ravages of malaria. As to Rome, Mr. Jones points out that some districts in Etruria and Latium were at' one time populous and prosperous, although now they are hardly habitable on account of malaria. Although Rome was marshy in the early period, it was well drained, and there is no reason to suppose that malaria was present. But in the first century B. C. Cicero and others speak of a shrine and altar on the Palatine Hill dedicated to the goddess Fever. While not regarding malaria as one of the causes of the downfall of the Roman empire. Mr. Jones holds that it greatly influenced the course of events.