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THE ALUMNI JOURNAL. 



NOTES HERE AND THERE. 



Unsanitary Filters. — For many years before 

 any positive connection was established between 

 typhoid fever and a specific micro organism, it 

 was known that this and otber diseases were in 

 some way connected with the composition of 

 the drinking water previously consumed by the 

 patient. By chemical analysis it was found that 

 in almost all such cases the water contained an 

 excess of organic matter ; it was accordingly in- 

 ferred that removing the organic matter would 

 correct the trouble and obviate any further 

 danger ; and filters were made with this end in 

 view. It is now known, however, that the dan- 

 ger from waters containing much organic mat- 

 ter lies not in the organic matter per se, but 

 arises from the fact that a large amount of or- 

 ganic matter attracts and feeds a proportion- 

 ately large number of bacteria. It has been 

 proved experimently that after a filter of this 

 class has been in use for some time, water, in 

 passing through it, becomes much richer in 

 bacteria, and even that sterilized water passed 

 through it is found swarming with micro-organ- 

 isms. The filter collects the organic matter 

 from the water and with it some of the bacteria. 

 This mass of organic matter serves as an admir- 

 able culture medium ; as the bacteria multiply, 

 they are taken up by the water as it passed 

 through the filter, so that, instead of serving as 

 a safeguard against disease, such filters are 

 really disease breeders. In order to be effective, 

 a filtering apparatus must either remove or 

 destroy any micro-organisms contained in the 

 water. — The Popular Science Monthly. 



Formation of Stalactites. — Describing the de- 

 position of carbonate of lime in stalactities and 

 stalagmities, Mr. George P. Merrill, of the 

 United States National Museum, says that 

 water filtering through a rock roof by virtue of 

 the carbonic acid it contains, is enabled to dis- 

 solve a small amount of the lime carbonate, 

 which is again deposited when the excess of 

 carbonic acid escapes either through relief from 

 pressure or through the evaporation of water. 

 Conditions favorable to either process are fur- 

 nished by the water filtering through the roof 

 of a cave and dripping slowly to the floor be- 

 neath. In cases where the water filters suffi- 

 ciently slowly or evaporation is corresponding- 

 ly rapid, the deposit of lime carbonate from the 

 roof takes at first the form of a ring around the 

 outer portion of the drop, a natural conse- 

 quence of the evaporation of a suspended drop 

 of liquid. This process may go on until the 



ring becomes prolonged into an elongated 

 cylinder or tube, the diameter of which may 

 not exceed five millimetres, though usually 

 ranging from five to ten, and of all lengths up 

 to fifty centrimetres. In exceptional cases, 

 this length may be exceeded, but owing to the 

 delicacy of the material, the stalactite usually 

 breaks from its own weight and falls to the 

 floor before the length of even ten or fifteen 

 centrimetres is reached, to become imbedded in 

 the stalagmitic material there forming. Lengths 

 of even these dimensions are comparatively 

 rare, for the reason that the tube becomes 

 shortly closed, either at its upper or lower end, 

 usually the upper, and all growth from the ex- 

 tremity alone ceases, subsequent depositions 

 being wholly exterior, and taking place in the 

 form of concentric coatings of the carbonate on 

 the outer surface and at the same time from the 

 top. There is thus formed around the original 

 tube a compact cylindrical mass, in its typical 

 form, constricted at the point of attachment, 

 but thickening rapidly and then tapering 

 gradually into an elongated cone. The material 

 of the stalactites is not always wholly carbonate 

 of lime, but in some cases thin intervening 

 coats of iron disulphide are met with. Through 

 a kind of crystallization, the material some- 

 times undergoes a distinctly fibrous arrange- 

 ment, but oftentimes the structure is granular 

 throughout. — Ibid. 



Cinchona Speculation.— A short time ago it 

 was announced that it was proposed to erect a 

 quinine factory upon the Island of Java. Whilst 

 this has not as yet been accomplished, it ap- 

 pears that negotiations are on foot with the 

 planters, which will, if consummated, have a 

 marked effect on the quinine market. Dr. 

 Buchler has gone out as a delegate from the 

 German manufacturers, and one English manu- 

 facturer, and has been at Solkaboemi, for some 

 short time. The purpose of his visit is to make 

 a contract for five years with every cinchona 

 planter on the island without exception. The 

 terms proposed by Dr. Buchler, on behalf of the 

 manufacturers are as follows : i. They shall 

 pay per half kilo of bark at the rate of 6 centens 

 ( 50 centens are almost equivalent to one shil- 

 ling) per unit. By a unit is meant each one 

 percent, of quinine sulphate from the bark: 

 Thus, a bark yield 5 per cent, would cost 60 

 centens per kilo. 2. To allow the planters 

 half the profits that the manufacturers make 

 after the quinine sulphate has fetched 24 

 florins per kilo. This price is considerably 

 higher than that holding on the markets. In 



