Tampa Bay Times from St. Petersburg, Florida • 34

St. Petersburg Times, Sunday, January 20, 1948 IF rV-" MCE 1 New Machines And Gadgets 1 IV i a Junior Scientists 1 Demagnetize Erratic Watch With Coil, Electric Current By JOSEPH II. KRAI'S Science Clubi America Editor When a watch runs in an erratic manner, keeping time accurately for a while and then suddenly gaining or losing, it may be because the hair spring has been magnetized. To make such a watch keep good time, its magnetism must be removed. You can make a simple tester to find out if the watch is really magnetized.

Then you can demacnetize it 1 (5 7 Out of Four Saved From Influenza by Vaccine Good Against Two Types of Virus Today, 27 years after the V- medicine can do something about this disease. To the old, never too popular advice "Avoid crowds, keep yourself well fed and well rested to escape influenza" can now he added, "See your doctor for a shot of vaccine that gives 75 protection against two types of the disease." I I By JANE STAFFORD Science Service Medical Wrifer ffreat influenza pandemic at the ficult, since it requires the use of living animals instead of chemical culture media. When Dr. Laidlaw and associates succeeded in isolating influenza A virus, they immediately started to try to develop a vaccine from it. First they injected ferrets with influenza virus from human patients.

Then vims-containing material from the ferrets was injected into horses. Blood serum from these hyper-immunized horses was then used as a vaccine for tests on laboratory mice. The vaccine did succeed in protecting tjie mice against influenza virus. Early Stages The discovery that viruses could be grown on the chick embryo in fertile hen eggs gave scientists a powerful weapon for the war on virus diseases. A early as 1939 Prof.

Goodpasture predicted that a vaccine for influenza and solution of other virus disease problems would come from this discovery. In fact, an Australian scientist, Dr. F. M. Burnet, had already taken the first steps in that direction.

He had cultivated influenza virus on successive chick embryos until it lost its disease-producing power to such an extent that it did not cause sickness when dropped into the nose. At the same time, it increased the level of the body's own flu-flghting forces, called antibodies, in about one-half of those tested. Efforts to develop a satisfactory influenza vaccine, continued by many scientists over the years since 1933, culminated, in 1943, with trials by the Army's Commission on Influenza of a concen U-f" Happy that something can now be done about Influenza which killed so many young soldiers durinr the first World War, Norman T. Kirk, Surreon General of the Army (top right), receive! his "shot" of the vaccine against Types A and influenza which he ordered given to all Army personnel for their protection. The vaccine is made by growing influenza viruses in fertile ben's eggs, concentrating It and treating it with formaldehyde to remove its disease-causing power.

At top left workers in the laboratories of Sharp and Dohme, are scissoring off the shells of eggs In which the virus has been growing. The bottom view shows a Pitman-Moore Co. laboratory technician removing the virus-laden fluids from partially incubated eggs by suction. These firms and Lederle, Squibb, Lilly and Parke-Davis manufactured vaccine for the Army and are now producing It for civilian use. patients.

If the virus of the 1918 pandemic is ever again loosed on the world, the present vaccine probably would not be effective. The vaccine is specific for only two known influenza viruses. Sulfa drugs and penicillin and streptomycin, on the other hand, are effective against various strains or types of streptococci. A remedy effective in one influenza virus type might therefore be expected to remedy infection with any type of 'flu virus. (Copyright, 1946, Science Service) Novel Things for Modern Living StepUdder usable on uneven surfaces has an adjustable lup porting rear frame.

The two rear legs are connected by cross arms pivoted at the corners, which in turn are pivoted to a fixed downward-projecting center piece hinged to the top of the ladder. A thumbscrew holds the frame in position. Soap sheets are single layers of soap between two porous sheets of paper, and are for individual use to prevent the danger of transmitting skin diseases by the common use of a cake of soap. The paper, when wet, disintegrates and is carried down the drain pipe. Mechanical shaker, called a test table, pitches and tosses packaged articles, giving them bumps and shocks similar to those they would get on a Ion? railroad trip in a freight car.

The device is used to determine proper packaging. Leverare screwdriver looks like the ordinary tool when its power arm is closed because the arm is shaped to fit over half the handle. The arm is pivoted at the shank cf the blade and can be turned at a right angle and used as a lever to help turn a sticking screw, Projector-viewer has a tilting lection that permits pictures to be projected on a built-in ground glass screen or on a conventional home movie screen. It is housed in a three-piece molded plastic case, and is designed to handle two-by-two inch kodachromes, black and white slides, and dental X-ray mounts. Cold frames for starting early Vegetables are available in complete units thnt can be assembled with pliers and a screwdriver.

A section is shown in the picture. The frame is treated, painted steel, lined with Fiberglas for insulation. The cover is a wire-reinforced transparent plastic. Nylon drinking cups, available loon, can bt dropped on the bathroom floor without damage and can be sterilized in boiling water er steam. The first-comers will be only ia the natural color of tlie nylon, a translucent Ivory.

Electronlo instrument deter- mines the interior condition of lion-magnetic metal tubes in heat exchange units. Its long, flexible probe cable is inserted within the tube. The instrument detects and records all types of irregularities in the tubes. 1 yon want more information on the ntw thingt described here, send a three-cent ifamp to Science Service, 3719 A' K. Washinpton 6, D.

and ask for Cadcet Bulletin 295. Winter Migrants By Science Service We commonly think of winter migration as mainly an affair of the birds, leaving winter and seeking southern summer. However, there are many mammals that also migrate, though for shorter distances. In our mountainous West, bighorn sheep, elk, mooie and several other big-game species leave their summer pastures in the uplands and seek lower areas where winds are less severe and snow not quite so deep. The migration is thus mainly vertical: often the animals actually move northward in their trek to more favorable fewer elevations.

-h i I -v --v? 1 a ultraviolet light or with invisible mists of germ-killing chemicals may be added to vaccination as a means of protection against influenza. While going to the doctor for a "shot" of vaccine would be simpler, the air disinfection method has the advantage of giving protection against other diseases than influenza. Still needed in the almost Thirty Years War against influ enza is a chemical remedy like the sulfa drugs or an antiobiotic like penicillin for treatment of Getting to wun nome-maae, equipment. To determine whether a watch has been magnetized, put a small compass about a half inch in diameter directly over the bearing of the balance wheel. If auch a compass is not available, you can use a magnetized needle hung up so it is free to swing.

You can magnetize an ordinary sewing needle by stroking it repeatedly In the same direction, from end to end, with one pole of a permanent magnet or wjth the magnetic end of a piece of lodestone. Since your compass must be very short, you will have to break off the ends of the magnetized needle so you will have a mid section of the needle just about as long as the dfameter of your balance wheel. Breaking it will not destroy the magnetism, but give you several small magnets instead. It is best to grasp the needle with two pairs of pliers and bend sharply, breaking it off, Split an ordinary sewing thread to give you a single strand. Tie this to the center of the needle and adjust until the needle bal ances.

Now hang your compass directly over the balance wheel bearing as Illustrated in the dia gram. If the watch is magnetic, the compass will turn in time with the balance wheel. Any such rocking movement of the suspended compass shows that the watch needs to be demagnetized. Make a Demagnetizer The demagnetizer uses a small cardboard holder large enough to accommodate the watch. The cover of a pill box measuring about i by VA by 2 inches will probably fit your watch nicely, or you can fold cardboard obtained from a candy box.

On this card board holder wind approximately 100 feet of number 18 bell wire to make a coil, as shown. Bare the two ends of the wire. Connect one to a flexible lead running to one side of a lamp plug, anri connect the other to one side of a lamp socket. The other side of the lamp socket should then be connected to the other lug of the plug, completing the circuit Connect the plug to an alter- structed of electrolytically depos ited iron, these models held in place all types of symbols used in operational planning. Rubber magnetic models were devoloped later.

The metal holds the symbols better, while the rubber model may be rolled up and put aside when not in use. Not only will geographers find these map models helpful in class work, but teachers of history and Latin will be able to illustrate their daily work by placing small magnets on the maps. The vhills outside Paris will be as familiar to the student as the hills outside his home town. The campaigns of Hannibal over the Alps will become as excitingly real as the Battle of the Bulge. (Copyripht, IS46, Science Service) SSI be placed without danger of falling Made of rubber, thij map being who was instrumental in its 4 aside when not in use.

fl'1' i WATCM ss nating current (A.C.) aource of electricity. Be sure not to use direct current (D.C.) or you will magnetize things instead of demagnetizing them. Screw a 200- or 300-watt bulb into the socket and your demagnetizer is ready to work. Gradually push the watch toward and into the center of the coiL Now slowly remove the watch, iliding it across the top of your work table in a straight line parallel with the opening. Do not turn off the current to the coil until the watch hai completely passed outside the field of the magnetic lines of force, about two feet away.

Test. again with your suspended compass. The spring should no longer be magnetized. If it is, repeat the oper ation. (Copyright, J94J, Science Service) Dove Mates Bicker If Cage Is Small By Science Service Domestic battles in dove fam ilies develop when they have to live in too close quarters.

Pigeons should not be bred in-cages less than 24 cubic feet in area, for the mates leem unable to live together peacefully in small cages, statei Dr. W. F. Hollander of Carnegie Institution of Washington, Cold Spring Harbor, N. Y.

When a pair of domestic pigeons is kept in too small a cage, during breeding cycles the most violent fights develop and the pair must be separated to keep the female from being seriously injured or even killed. This psychopathic behavior of the doves stops when the mates are put in larger cages, Dr. Hollander reports in the Journal of Comparative Psychology. The first n'gn of trouble often is when the male takes over his mate's family duties of sitting on the eggs. She won't give up the job without a protest, but he pushes her aside.

During the day the cock, having spent hours vainly trying to peck a neighboring cock, may attempt to strut and coo over his mate on the nest. But often she is also so keyed-up by his contieiual close presence that she pecks him in return. Then the fight is on. The family quarrel usually smolders until about hatching time, when both parents desire to incubate alone, and real fighting begins. If the eggs are broken or the young killed in the fight, the birds make peace shortly.

But if the young survive, the family continues to fight until the young are about two weeks old. (Copjriohf, 1946, Science Service Nylon Hoop Lands Planes on Tiny Islands No island or area on the globe will be too small or remote for air transportation with use of the simple Brodie system for landing planes off the ground. The system, invented by Capt. James H. Brodie, permits small aircraft to land on ships only 300 feet long and on land where only a 500-foot treeless area is accessible.

During the Okinawa campaign liaison planes landed on small ships by hooking onto a nylon hoop suspended from a trolley cable stretched between two booms on the boat. Important reconnaissance, direction of naval fire, evacuation of wounded men, and replenishment of ammunition supplies were thus possible. Landings may now be made not only on ships but on islands and in rugged areas where regular landing fields are impossible or too costly. NCEDIC rl HAIR SPBlMO Know Faraway Lands Relief Maps in Rubber, Metal Give Life to History, Geography, Latin By DOROTHY SMITH Science Service Staff Writer Teaching of geography may be three dimensional if the skills of war are transferred to the classroom. No longer must the student struggle to understand the cluttered details of time-faded wall maps.

Instead, he will see the world as though from a stratosphere plane its rivers and towns, close of the first World War, trated inactivated vaccine prepared from the virus of Influenza types A and B. Found 75 Effective About 12,500 men in nine groups of Army Specialized Training Program units stationed in different parts of the United States were the human guinea pigs for this trial. Half the men in each group were vaccinated, the other half remaining unvaccinated for comparison. When influenza broke out that year, the Army had a good opportunity to evaluate the protective value of the new vaccine. Whereas 2.22 of the vaccinated came down with 'flu, almost three times as many, 7.11, of the unvaccinated had influenza.

The vaccine was therefore judged to be 75 effective, and to reduce the severity of the illness in those who were not completely protected. Memories of the frightful influenza toll in Army camps during the 1918 pandemic haunted the Army's medical department all through World War When outbreaks of influenza began occurring in Army camps in the spring of 1945, suggesting that a big epidemic might be brewing for the following fall and winter, it was decided to take no chances on an unprotected Army. Orderi were given for vaccination of all Army personnel in October and November. Results Important to All The results of this mass vaccination procedure may show whether all of us will be justified in getting vaccinated against 'flu each fall. Disinfecting the air in public buildings and even homes with The fish "taxies" along the sur face of the water for a half-second or so, vibrating its tail actively in the water so that it makes about 50 beats a second.

The vibrating tail increases the speed until the fish is going about 40 miles an hour. Then the pelvic fins are also expanded, and the tail is lifted from the water. In this position the fish glides for 120 or 150 feet, keeping a foot or so above the water. When flying speed is lost, either the fish falls back directly into the water, or the rear fins are closed, the tail lowered, and speed regained by vibrating the tail in the water. A further glide then follows.

Although the glide usually lasts for about three seconds, glides of 10 and even 13 seconds have been recorded by good observers, Dr. Carter states. The fish have been seen to glide 300 feet or more. (Copyright, 1949, Science Sercire) For the often-killing pneumonia and other infections that followed influenza in many of the 1918-19 cases, your doctor today can say, "It's only pneumonia," or "Only strep infection," and get you on your feet again in a short time with a course of sulfa drug or penicillin treatment. The vaccine, getting its first big test in the 1945-4S epidemic, might not have done any good in 1918 even if it had been developed.

It is made from and effective against two types of influenza virus, A and B. What type caused the 1918 pandemic is. not known. At that time some scientists thought the cause was a virus but others believed it was one of a number of slightly larger germs, bacteria, among them one called Hemophilus influenzae. Two Type of Vlrtw More than a decade ago, however, Drs.

W. Smith, C. H. An- drewes and P. Laldlaw, of the English National Institute for Medical Research, discovered influenza A virus, one of the two against which a protective vaccine is now available.

In 1940 two American scientists, Drs. T. P. Magill and Thomas Francis, independently discovered type Influenza virus, the other one against which the protective vaccine is effective. Types A and influenza viruses are believed to be the ones that cause epidemics of Influenza such as have occurred every few yean lince 1918.

Other types probably exist but have not yet been identified. Type A is thought to have caused the epidemics in the odd-numbered years since 1933. Type occurred in the two even-numbered years, 1936 and 1940. It got off its even-year cycle, however, causing a number of outbreaks in Army ca.ps in the spring of 1945 and a sizable nation-wide epidemic in the winter of 1945-48. Efforts to develop a vaccine against influenza have been continuing ever since the discovery of the A virus in 1933.

In that same year, Prof. E. W. Goodpasture and associates, Drs. G.

J. Buddingh and A. M. Woodruff, of Vanderbilt University, announced they had successfully vaccinated 11 persons against smallpox with a vaccine made from smallpox virus grnwn on fertile hen eggs. Daddy of the Vaccines You may wonder what smallpox has to do with influenza.

The smallpox vaccine, however, was in a way the Daddy of the new vaccines against influenza. tvDhus fever, yellow fever and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Typhus, 'flu, yellow fever, and smallpox are caused by germs of the virus class. Rocky Mountain spotted fever is caused by rickettsia, a different type of disease germ but one which is closer to the viruses than to the bacteria such as streptococci, staphylococci and diphtheria bacilli. Viruses, unlike the larger bacteria, cannot be cultivated outside of living susceptible cells.

This makes the study of them and of vaccines to pro-I tect against them much more dif Flying Fish Glide Above Water, Don't Flap Vings Like Birds to Keep in Air By Science Service Flying fish more nearly approach airplanes in their flight than any other animal. Instead of flapping their fins like the birds' wings, they simply glide through the air, Dr. G. S. Carter of Cambridge University reports in the British journal, Endeavor.

At least four types of fish fly or glide more or less ex mountains and all before him in clear relief. He will be studying with models for maps, models secretly developed during the war to aid every type of military operation made by the Allies. When Sicily, Italy, France and the South Pacific islands were invaded, small and large scale models served as guides. The chiefs of staff saw in perfect detail the coast of Franca upon the planning-room walls, pilots and radar navigators viewed films of models to simulate their bombing runs, amphibious and infantry units studied large-scale models of areas which would be their beachheads. Three-DImensional Mapa Topographic models that saw distinguished service in World War II will now be available to geographers who wish to illustrate their subject in three dimensions.

The details of mountains and plains previously unnoticed by students will be readily remembered when the flat surfaces of maps are lifted up in accurate and detailed relief. Especially helpful will be small-scale topographic models similar to those employed for operational planning by Gen. George C. Marshall and his staff. The efforts and skills that went into the preparation of models on which could be plotted the actual campaigns may now be turned to wider educational fields.

New methods introduced during the war will permit maps of any area on the globe to be reproduced in quantity. Shadow painting, the cutting of contours in reverse, invention of r.ew devices for transfer of material from flat maps to relief models, and the use of new model substances have revolutionized the science of three-dJmensional map making. Magnetic models possessing absolute scale accuracy are the latest achievement. First con 4 vv. Small modela and symbols may oft this magnetic terrain model.

used by MaJ. Wallsee W. Atwood. development, can be rolUrf vU pertly, Dr. Carter states.

But by- far the most easily observed and the most adept at flight are the marine Exocoetidae frequently seen from the deck of a ship. These streamlined fish are much like a mackerel in shape. The fish's tail is V-shaped, as is common among fishes, but the lower arm of the is almost half again as long as the upper. This type of tail plays an essential part in flight. The paired fins, which form the "wings," are about two-thirds as long as the body.

In swimming they are held close against the body. Swimming at 15 to 20 miles an hour, the fish is almost exactly horizontal to the water as it emerges. The fish expands the front or pectoral fins, the pelvic fins still being closed, leaving the tail less supported than the head. This causes the body to make a 15 degree angle with the surface, the tip of the large lobe of the tail remaining in the water..