The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, September 13, 1896, Page 28

28 THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1896. THE POWER OF SOUND Invention of a Marvelous Machine in Which Sou nd Vibrations Greate Dynamic Force Ancient history, both sacred and pro- fane, makes mention of certain physical phenomena, which, were it not for the particularity of detail embraced in the re- cital, might be classed asimazinary, so un- explainable do the phenumena appear to | the great majority of minds of the present } day. | The Bible records that the destruction of the walls of Jericho was accomplished by the “'sound of trumpets.”’ “In Northern India (it is so stated by an English writer) was at one time 2 Temple of Brahma, containing a stone image clothed with outspreading, fan-like drap- ery of stone—a part of the statue which revolved when the priest intoned a certain invocation. It is stated on good scientific authority that a suspension bridge may be thrown into vibration sufficient to wreck the structure by the prolonged sounding of & certain note upon a horn or violin. It is a not uncommon occurrence in a catbedral or church for a pane of glass in a window of the building to be shatterea when a certain note is produced upon the organ. If we construct a slender funnel of stiff | paver and adjust a thread to form a true axis to the funnel, and then pour melited resin into the funnel, we will have when the resin solidifies a cone of resin. Remove the paper carefully by soaking it with | water, and then suspend the cone ina vertical position by meansof the axial thread, fastening the threaa at top and bottom to the support. Now sotund on a violin a note of music (the proper note will be easily learned by experiment and mzy be determined by noticing the vibra- tions of the resinous cone). Prolong the sound without® change of pitch and sud- denly the cone of resin will totally van- ish! It has been disintegrated into im- palpable atoms. The experiment requires | to be conducted in a small room free from | all vibrations or motions of the air caused | by moving bodies. In all these phenomena sound appears as the cause of action. We turn to the textbooks of our schools | for explanation of these mysteries and therein learn that “Sound is an exhibition | of energy.” Outside of the textbooks are found various philosophical speculations divergent enough to suitall views, butonly speculation. In the investigation of hidden causes stronger reasons are obtained from sure experiments and demonstrated arguments | than from probable conjectures and the opinions of philosophical speculators. If what we know and what wedo not | know about the attributes and physical powers of what goes to make up the earth we inhabit could be expressed in a couple | of books, we should have two volumes | very dissimilar in size. The one contain- ing t .e record of what we know would be | [ exceedingly small, while that devoted to our lack of knowledge would be an im- mensely large one. True, we know a great dealabout many things, but the field in which we may learn more is practically illimitable. Every day we are confronted by some new discovery, and so rapidly does one announcement succeed another that all preconceived 1deas are undergoing constant modification. What was accept- able yesterday as the correctly expressed interpretation of & natural law is to-day foand to be incorrect. Textbooks now need yearly revision. In every depart- ment of physical science most wonderful revelations are constantly being male. The true scientist does not hesitate to con- fess that he knows nothing. The laws be bas formulated areonly “‘generalizations,” very much like market quotations—sub- ject to change without notice. Only a few years ago it was believed that an electric magnet exercised the power of attraction—and attraction only— upon iron and steel. It was a familiar illustration,employed in the schoolroom by the teacher of natural physics, to take a handfal of mingled needles and pins, and then applying a magnet to the mixed as- sortment, showing that the magnet picked up every needie but had no effect upon the pins. The selection was then ex- plained by the statement that a magnet only had power over the steel and iron. Lately it has been found that with an al- ternating current a magnet exercises a greater repulsive force on copper than it does an attractive force on iron. 8ir William Thomson, recognized throughout the world as one of the most profound students of physics, in his speech made at the jubilee celebration tendered | him a few months ago by his confreres, | who came from all parts of the globe to do him honor, said: *“The universe may be regarded as & vast physical machine. Our knowledge of it may be divided into two branches—what we know of the structure of the machine and what we know regarding the methods of its work- ing. littie.” There are but few Sir William Thomsons. Crookes demonstrated the ponderabil- ity of light by the operation of his radio- meter, an instrument now seen in almost every jeweler's window. Four small vanes set at right angles to each other, each vane having one side -ilvered and | the opposite side a roughened black sur- face. When exposed to light of any kind the vanes of the instrument revolve, due to the impact of the light ravs; precisely as the sails of a windmill revolve under the impact of the wind. Unless light possessed a ponderosity capable of exert- ing dynamic force, it could not affect the revolution of the vanes. Recently there has been constructed a I confess I know but very little, very | sound motor zimost on similar lines as those of the radiometer. Innumerable experiments were made by the inventor of the sound motor before a satisfactory form of device was obtained. The known !aws of sound tell us that it may be reflected, refracted and condensed, queer properties for an immaterial affair to possess. The intensity of its manifes- tation depends upon the density of the air in which the sound is generated, and not upon the density of the air in which it is heard. A tuning-fork when in vibration moids the surrounding air into sonorous waves that we call sound. Now, while this may be termed simply an “‘exhibition of energy,”’ yet who is the philosopher who can prove it not to be a ‘“‘form of matter” ? Science declares that the universe is composed of what are termed molecules END VI.EW or atoms. (As no one has as yet succeeded in presenting to our vision either an atom or a molecule, we may confidently say that the difference between the two is simply a distinction without a difference). So small are these molecules that were a drop of water to be magnified to the size of the earth the molecules composing it would even then be too small to be recog- nized by our present microscopic powers. Balfour Stewart, one of the ablest phil- osophers in the realms of physics, holds | that: “We know but very little about | atoms or molecules. There is abundant | evidence that such things as atoms or | molecules do exist and that they are the basis of all things cornizant to our senses. We have reason to believe that every simple elementary atom is probably in a state of ceaseless activity and change of form, but although so changing it is nevertheless always the same.” Sound is buta changed form of mole- cule. In the first form of the sound motor | disk, vanes like those of the radiometer were employed, but without much suceess. Then the phenomenon of resonance was studied. Certain shaped bodies appeared to re-enforce sound—make 1t louder, stronger. Experiment along this line re- vealed the remarkabie fact that between the law of conic sections and the law of sound there existed a carious relations ship, the tonic, the dominant and the sub- dominant of the sound scale correspond- ing to the cylinder, the parabolaand the hyperbola. A cavity shaped as a cylinder, having a spherical termination, offered a measurable resistance to the sound of the tonic. A cavity shaped asa parabola re- sisted the sound of the dominant, and a hyperbolic-shaped cavity resisted the sub- dominant, the different shaped cavities being but slightly or not at all affected by other notes. As vet, the machine is only a scientific toy. But it embodies a principle preg- nant with possibilities. Most of the im- portant discoveries in science take their origin from observations the full meaning of whic . is not known or appreciated at the time of the first announcement. The telephone of Reiss contained all.that was needful to a speaking- telephone, and yet ascore of years had passed before the adaptations made by Bell and Gray were produced that caused its recognition as a necessity. The phaunatrope, an instru- ment for rendering sound visible, bad lain a perfect machine on the shelf of the Smithsonian Institution for the last forty years unappreciated until Edison rehabili- tated it and christened it the phonograph. The Giesler tube has been a familiar piece of mechanism to the student of natural poysics for the past half century, as illus- SIDE VI EW TWOLVIEWS' OF FHE ' PROPESED: SOUND MOTFOR. The present form of the sound motor is represented in the accompanying draw- mg. It consistsof a flat disk mounted upon an axle. On the periphery of the disk are twelve cup-like cavities shaped either parabolic, hyperbolic or cylinari- cal, according as it is desired to use a cer- tain note; the axis of the cavity being at a tangent to the circumference of the Inasmuch as a bollow sphere re- flects to it center all rays of incidence originating within it. besides re-enforcing them, the motor is inclosed in a flat spheri- cal casing, which while conserving the actuating sound excludes extraneous ones. The axis of the disk is projected outside of the casing, where it carries a pulley. The sound employed to move the disk is pro- duced by a tuning fork vibrated by a small electro-magnet. A curious feature is that the motor will only uperate when the cavitiesare seven or twelve in number, corresponding to the number of tones in the major and chromatic scales of the in- complete octave. trating the diffusion of the electric light in vacuo. To-day the foremost minds are agreed that it is the coming electric lamp; the ideal one producing light with - out heat. Granted that it is possible to cause a perforated disk to rotate under the influ- ence of a ray of sound, so as to create dynamic force, it is simply a question of time when the principle involved will be applied to the production of mechanical motion that will be capable of economic use. An old phrase has it that necessity is the mother of invention. There is but little real invention nowadays. The vast majority of new appliances are the out- come of thought and experiment induced by the knowledze of existing results, along similar lines. We are beginning to learn that everything is suggestive, and so, reasoning from analogy, we produce new combinations, not basically new things. F. M. Crosg, D.Sc. ! directed through a concentrated THE POWER OF LIGHT Professor Bell Is Devising a Gom- mercial Telephone System Without Wires Professor Graham Bell is devoting his) atention this summer to the commereial | development of a wonderful invention of his, which involves nothing less than tele- | phoning by means of a ray of light, says | the Chicago Times-Herald. Professor Bell made the discovery of a | method by which he might hear a shadow | fall. He found in following up the re-| searches of Dr. Werner Siemens that the | rare metal called selenium possesses the peculiar quality of Varying its electrical conductivity under the action of light, That is to say, its resistance to the pass- age of a current of electricity differs widely when it was exposed to the light or hid in the dark. It was from this discovery that the in- ventor devised an instrument as simple as its powers were astonishing. He found tbat by connecting a cell made of this metal, selenium, with the ear, by means of an ordinary telephone, and then direct- ing upon this cell an interrupted beam of light it produced sound. It was at first | supposed that this rare metal was the only one which possessed this quality of being sonorous; that is to say of giving out sounds under the action of light, butin a series of beautiful experiments Professor Bell found that all substances possess it more or less in the same way when made up ip the form of thin disks or diaphrazms. In a word, the great inventor laid bare for the first time a new principle of matter. It was out of these researches that the wonderful instrument upon which Pro- fessor Bell is now again at work sprang. He gave it originally the name of the photophone. Put in the broadest way, it aimed to substitute for the ordinary tele- graph or telephone wiite a ray of light. Doubtless there is many & man who would question the sanity of any one who would claim to be able to talk for a long aistance over a sunbeam. And yet this is exactly what Professor Bell has succeeded in do- ing. The mechanism which he devised does not differ widely from the telephone in its general principles, save in the fact indicated. that it substitutes a ray of light for the usual copper wire, There is, firstof all, a transmitter, which is made up of a thin diaphragm of mica or of some other substance, silvered at its back s0o as to make of it a reflecting mirror. The diaphraggn is connected with an ordinary speaking tube, into which the operator talks just as he would taik into the transmitfer of a telephone. Acgainst this thin disk or diaphragm is projected a ray of light, preferably sun- light. The light is caught by a mirror and lens | whose focusis the transmitting diaphragm. The latter in turn reflects the ray through a second. lens, which again makes the components of the ray of light parallel, so that it may travel any distance without | subject. dispersion. At the other station, where the receiv- ing operator is stationed, tnere is a para- bolic reflector, at the end of which is fixed a selenium cell. The latter in turn is connected, telephonically, with the ear. Now. when the ray of hght isTreflected from tbe transmitting diaphragm and the operator speaks into the tube joined with the latter what he says may be clearly and distinctly heard at the other ena of the *‘line”’; that is, at the other end of the traveling ray of light. And that, prac- tically speaking, is all there is to this won- derful affair. s The theory upon which this instrument is built is that the ray of light may be im- pressed with sound vibrations in exactly the same way that an electrically charged wire is impressed with the sound vibra. tions from the telephone. Professor Bell says that the trend of modern physical science is toward estab- lishing the close relationship of the differ- ent forms of molecular motion, which, for the purpose of distinction, are vari- ously called light, heat, electricity and sound. So close, indeed, is this relation- ship that the late Professor Tyndall wished to abolish some of the phrases, notably that of “light,” as simply confusing. And the farther science has gone the more it has come to se¢ that the only difference between these varying modes of motion, the only difference between light and heat and electricity and sound, is the difference of form and rapidity. The conversion of heat orelectricity into light is so familiar and commonplace a process that we do not wonder at it at ail. But when Professor Bell went a step farther and demonstrated the possibility of converting light into sound, or at least causing & wave of light to produce a wave of sound, which is practically tantamount to the same thing, he entered into a new field and welded a new link in the chain of relationship and interdependence. You will see that it was but a step farther than this to his practical miracle of telephon- ing by light. But to say that this is ‘‘telephoning by means of a sunbeam’ is really a very crude and inaccurate description of what actually takes place. This was what Pro- fessor Bell discovered by accident one day in the course of his experiments. It chanced that he thrust in the path of the ray a disk of indiarubber and he found that communication was not interrupted in the least. If you or I had been there we should have been both surprised and mystified. But the accident told Professor Bell that he had made a yet further step in his researches, and that he had opened anew gate to further knowledge of the He had discovered that the pro- cess of telephoning was not conducted by the visible rays of the sunbeam at all, but by the invisible rays of which we know only by inference. 24 = 5 = 3 = = = 2 = = = = s = = = = = = 3 = = = 3 = = s 2 2 = 3 = = (= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =1 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = 5 s = = 5 = = ] = 3 = \N SO VIAVI AND “THE CHANGE.” WO T T T T S ST O S TS S T T T ST T T T S T A T T N “Life Too Short to Tell What We Women Suffer.” NEWARK, Ohio, April 6, 1893. THE VIAVI COMPANY—About twenty yesrs ago I began to realize that, like many other poor women, I was suffering with some form of weakness peculiar to our sex. I was satisfied that the trouble w.s retroversion, caused by pressure of the parts against the rectum, us I constantly suffered great pain not only in that locality but also in my head. The only thing I knew to do was to consult our family physician. He said he understood my case; tha: my uterus and left ovary were in a very bad condition; he could cure me, but I must submit to local treatment. Several kinds of supporters were tried, nntil [ found myself so nervous that I felt I would rather d'e than hive in such torture. My good husband urged me to try a specialist, which I did with 1o better resuits, for 1 continued to grow more nervous and my system was being constantly drained by leucorrhcea. I awoke every morning with a headache, which continued through the day, and I also suffered greatly with hot flashes. So time went on, life becoming more burdensome every day, and I was approaching that critical time that comes to every woman. I knew that greater suffering, both mental and physical, was in stor- for me if 1 failed to find relief. But life is too short to tell all that we women suffer. One day a former neighbor and dear friend who had been cured by VIAVI aiter years of suffering urged me to use the remedy. < After much persuasion I did so. anc thank God that it was ever discovered for the relief of suffering women. I used the treatment four months without the slightest change for the better; but I was not discouraged, for how could I expect a few months to undo the work of years? I continued the use of VIAVI for a vear, and would not do without it were I obliged to do with one meal a day in order to obtain it, for it has been my salvation. Let me say to those who are expecting immediate benefit, Be patient; it takes time to purify the blood; do not be discouraged if you feel badly, in fact much worse, for a little while after beginning the use of the remedy. Be faithful and perse- vere and it will do its work as surely as the sun rises in the east. To those on the verge of the change of life I would especially recommend VIAVL Very respectfully, MRS. C. H. C. “ Watching Viavi Over Four Years,” LATER—After watching the effects and seeing the results obtained from the use of VIAVI for over four years, my faith in its merits grows stronger and stronger. I have never seen a case that would not yieid to its influence where ths remedy was used persistently. MRS. C. H. C “My Health Is Now Perfect.” MANSFIELD, Ark., July 16, 1891. THE VIAV! OOMP:ANY—I am passing through the change of life, {;einz delyearu of age, and was in very ill health when your agent came to my house February 28 and De(au-ded me to use VIAVI and 8ANO, with the most beneficial result. My health is now perfect, and I cannot be too grateful for the benetit received, as from past experience in female disease I dreaded the change of life with its dangers and sufferings, but now with the confidence I bave in the tonic prop-rties of VIAVI I do not fecl alarmed at results. I gladly recommend it to all suffering sisters, as I think the results truly wonaerful. Am thinking of becoming a permanent agent so as to be able to relieve mapy who might not otherwise be able to obtain it. MRS. 8. J. H. “ Spirits Like a Girl's.” : ST. THOMAS, March 2, 1895, THE VIAVI COMPANY—This is to state that my experience with V?AVI was of the most flattering nature. When the VIAVI agent called on me I was in a ver: low, and I know now, in a dangerous condition of health. I Wwas passing through u;{ change and had suffered with a constant falling of the uterus. I was often iezn‘de myse.f with Jow spirits. I have used seven treatments of VIAVI, and I have no besitation in statine 1t did wonders for me. My spirits were and are often now like g girl’s. Itisa most valuable remedy for all those troubles most peculiar to women. MRS. G. C. 8. * bad to keep to my bed much of the time—life seemed to be ebbing away. “lI Would Not Be Living To-Day Had I Not Used Viavi.” OAKLAND, Cal., January 21, 1895. THE VIAVI COMPANY—For the benefit of those who are no longer young I wish to add my testimonial to the long list of VIAVI cures. I am 71 yvears of age, and my trouble began at the close of the critical period when I was45. The monthly flow stopped suddenly and I had a constant throbbing, burning pain over the abdo- men, which caused intense suffering, especially at might. Finally there was a lump the size of a hen’s egg formed in the region of the left ovary that was so painful I feared a cancer. I consulted no doctors, for I had no confidence in them, and went on suffering until I was 69 years old. I took a thorough course of both VIAVI CAPSULES and CERATE, and after using the treatment six months I flowed quite naturally for two days. Then came a brownish discharge, which changed to the mattery, yellowish color, and very offensive. My friends were greatly worried, think- ing it must be a cancer. The discharge lasted one y-ar, then gradually decreased and stopped entirely. The lump in my side and the pain had all disappeared, and I have had no symptoms whatever of their return. I know I would not be living to-day had Inotused VIAVL I heartily recommend 1t to all and consider it a wonderful cure for uterine trouble of any form. Yours sincerely, MRS. H. A. D. “I Feel It a Duty.” PUCATELLO, Idaho, April 29, 1895. THE VIAVI COMPANY—I want to tell you what VIAVI has done for me. I feel it a duty I owe to suffering w men. Have suffered for seven years and am passing through the change of life. For two yeéars I have suffered with flowing speils that would last fourteen and fifteen days, leaving me so weak and exhausted that I I had one growth cut out,and the doctor said I would have to have another operation performed before I could have the flowings or the hemorrhages of the uterus stopped; but I said I would rather die than go through another operation, for ever since the operation my baek had been lame. Finally I was persuaded to use VIAVL It is four months since I began the use of the little Capsules and the Cerate. Iam so thankful, for I feel I cannot say enough in its praise. I do not have any more of the severe flowing spells, and can walk, sweep and do my housework and seldom feel tired. I feel so strong and well I cheerfully recommend VIAVI to all who are suffering from female weak- ness. Very gratefully yours, MRS. C. Q. . . “Praise For Viavi.” LEEDS, Iowa, January 23, 1896, THE VIAVI COMPANY—I am only too glad to write words of praise for VIAVL. I have been passing through the change of life for five years; have been perfectly miserable and confined to my bed the greater part of the time. I consulited several doctors, but none of them gave me any relief. One year ago I had a tumor removed, and four different doctors to!d my family that I could not possibly live but a few months at the longest. About this time I heard of VIAVI through your Sioux City manager and began using it. At first I could only use half a Capsule a day, but after a time I couid use the entire Capsule, and also used the Cerate faithfully. I now feel like a new woman aud am able to do my own work, and my restored health is due to the wonderful remedy VIAVL I cannot recommend it highly enough. My recovery is a mystery to the physicians, who thought my time was so short. I hope all suffer- ing women will try VIAVI, for I am sure it will do as' much for them as it has done for me. MRS. C. D. F. ‘“Feel Like a Young Woman.” LITTLE ROCK, Ark. THE VIAVI COMPANY—For eleven years have I suffered with prolapsus, inflammation, lencorrhcea, and finally with inflammation of the ovaries and neuralgia. The parts protruded an inch or more from my body. My back was seldom free from pain and I would feel exhausted from the least exertion. I suffered with palpitation of the heart and had to be propped up with several pillows in order to breathe. Mrs. M. induced me to use VIAVI, and since using it every symptom has disappeared. Can now walk twenty blocks without feeling the least fatigue. I have gained twenty- one pounds of flesh since using, and although I have passed the change of life 1 feel like a young woman again. MRS. R. 8. “] Can Heartily Recommend It.” ‘WEST BRANCH, Iowa. THE VIAVI COMPANY—I want to add my testimony to the long list of those who have been greatly benefitted by the use of VIAVL. It would be vain for me to attempt to give a full account of what I suffered for more than four years with uterine trouble and, I may say, a complication of diseases. During all these years I was under the care of a physician. The first year was mostly spent in my bed, and the years following would get so I could sit up some; then would take my bed for three and four months at a time. In addition to this was taken with the grip, which kept me in a very weak condition for months. My physician also said that I was passing through the change of lite and that I bhad ulceration. I would have very severe attacks of congestive chills and my life was despaired of many times. After thoroughly reading your pamphlet on VIAVI 1 concluded to try it, feeling as though life was a burden and it made little difference whether it killed or cured. I began its use about the middle of January, 1893. Have now been using it for nine months. During that time I have only been confined to my bed altogether but two weeks. Am able to take a drive frequently and do a good deal of light work. My husband being a merchant, there is very seldom a day passes without my going into the store several times a day and waiting on customers for a short time. Thisis a great chauge, and I believe with persistent use of VIAVI my health will be restored. I can heartily recommend it. 1 would also add that I have not had a physician since I began its use. MRS. A. M. B. “Viavi and Its Magical Worth.” 3 TOPEKA, Kans. THE VIAVI COMPANY—I wish I could impress upon the mind of every suffer- ing lady the rare merits of VIAVL. Am passing through the change of life, and have heretofore been unable to do my own housework. I am now on the fourth box of your treatment and almost feel as though I have ten years of my life. The Capsules have such a soothing and invigorating eftect; they tone up and strengthen. I will answer any and all questions regarding VIAVI and its magical worth. MRS. L. J. P. *“What Have You Done, You Look So Well ?” VICKSBURG, Miss., Feb. 23, 1894. THE VIAVI COMPANY—While passing through that tryitg period in a woman’s life (the change) my sysiem became so depleted that 1 had no strength. Had leucorrheea, and disease was about to fasten upon my lungs. I was quite distouraged, when your agent told me of VIAVI. Now I am glad to tell you that when my friends ask me *“What have you done, you look so well?” I can tell them I have been using VIAV1 and five months’ use of it cured me. Use this letter as you wish. I hope it may influence some one who suffers to try VIAVI persistently. MRS. B. B. C. FOR FULL NAME AND ADDRESS AND FURTHER INFORMATION APPLY 4 THE VIAVI COMPANY,2304-6-8 VAN NESS AVE., CITY TP T T TGS TG e T T T T AT T T mmmmummmmmwmiummmummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm S L TS S T TS TS TS TS R T N TS ST S A A N TS T ST S (T T T S TS TS ST T i