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"Bromsulphalein," a dye, to test the liver's action.—Dr. E. C. White, Johns Hopkins University.
"Phenolsulphonepthalein," a medicine, to rehabilitate kidneys which are so ailing as to prevent an operation that the patient may need.—Drs. John T. Geraghty and Leonard Rowntree, Johns Hopkins University.
"Hexyl resorcinol," an internal antiseptic "50 times as powerful as carbolic acid," less injurious to the organs than any hitherto known.—Dr. Veader Leonard, Johns Hopkins University.
"Metaphen," a germicide, ten drops of which, in the nostrils, checked some thousands of cases of "cold in the head."—Prof. George W. Raiziss, University of Pennsylvania.
Radio Cinema. A "primastic ring" made a tiny point of light travel across a photographic plate in a succession of parallel adjacent lines, the strength of the light varying with the strength of incoming radio signals—a process much like that used by grandmothers in producing the image of a penny by blacking with their pencils a paper pressed over a coin. Result: wireless photography. Prophecies: the auditor of a radio account of a baseball game, or of an inaugural address, or of a scouting aviator's running report, would some day see the players, the President, the battle by radio cinema.—C. Francis Jenkins, Washington, D.C.
Pituitary Principle. Seeking the pure principle of the pituitary glands, the researcher isolated a pituitary tartrate which was still perceptibly active when diluted with 18,000,000,000 parts of water. The drug was the most potent of obstetrical agents, was used with success in treating a certain form of diabetes.—Dr. John J. Abel, Johns Hopkins, University.
Rubber-plating. The colloidal particles in the sap of the rubber tree and in artificial rubber solutions are electrically charged. It was found possible to immerse pieces of metal in a bath containing these particles, charge the metal with a current of opposite sign to the charge in the rubber, and "rubber plate" objects just as silverware is electroplated. Deposits of rubber a fifth of an inch thick were obtained. Vulcanized, the deposits were found to adhere more tightly than ever. It was predicted that fabrics could be similarly treated and the rubber-garment business revolutionized.—Dr. S. E. Sheppard, Rochester, N.Y.
Invisible Light. Certain dyes and pigments possess the property of becoming more visible when exposed to the invisible infra-red rays of the spectrum. This fact was utilized for experiments in flash-signal communication that was invisible to any one but the receiver of a message. The receiver was equipped with a tinted shade for his field glasses similar to the shade used in the signal lamp. Application of this phenomenon to airplane camouflage, theatrical scenery and detection of forgeries was elaborated.—Dr. Robert W. Wood, Johns Hopkins University.