360 SUGAR CANE WAX. 



now classify Rontgen rays under the oeneral heading of wave- 

 motions. 



This discovery enables one to determine the lattices of crys- 

 tals as well as the distance between the atoms in the lattice of 

 the crystal. Furthermore, by observing the variation in the 

 intensity of the spots with variation of temperature one can esti- 

 mate the kinetic energy of .the atom at any stated temperature. 

 The appearance of the spots, again, indicates whether the lattice 

 of the crystal is ideal or flawed, and also whether the crystal is 

 in the transition stage. 



This method may be applied practically in testing and grad- 

 ing diamonds and precious stones. 



Radio-active Substances. 



Radio-active substances emit electrically charged i)articles, 

 w liich constitute the so-called corpuscular radiations, as well as 

 radiations after the nature of Rontgen rays, but the wave-lengths 

 of the former are at the utmost one-thousandth part of the 

 shortest known X-ray. These radiations, both ethereal and 

 corpuscular, cause similar efifects to X-rays. 



In the application of radio-therapy, the corpuscular radia- 

 tions probably functionate as the originators of a definite type 

 of X-ray. 



In general the emanation from a radio-active substance 

 accelerates y-rowth in plants. 



The bactericidal action of the rays is similar to that of 

 ultra-violet light, only the time of exposure must be longer. 



Medicallv, the advantage of the emanation i'; that it may 

 be absorbed by a fluid, and then injected into a strictly localised 

 region. For this purpose licjuid paraffin ma}'^ be used on account 

 of its high coefficient of absorption and its high viscosity, which 

 causes it to remain for a considerable time at the infected area 

 when it is injected. 



(Read, July 4. 191 7.) 



Sugar Cane Wax.-" A considerable amount of atten- 

 tion," says the Journal of the Royal Society of Arts, "has V>een 

 given in recent years to the recover}' of wax from the waste pro- 

 duced in the extraction of sugar from the sugar-cane, and it is 

 satisfactory to find that this industry has now been started on a 

 small scale in Natal. Samples of the first consignment of Natal 

 sugar-cane wax shipped to this country have been examined at the 

 Imperial Institute, and have been found to be of good rjuality, 

 quite equal to that of the first trial samples made and examined. 

 Sugar-cane wax is now becoming better known on the market, 

 and could be used as a substitute for the better known Carnuba 

 wax in the manufacture of gramophone records, polishes, candles, 

 -etc." 



