Vor. 3, No. 6
HIST~RY OF C B B M I S ~ mY - AMERICA
637
are generally ten or twelve inch holes in di5e1ent parts of the roof, some of which are occasionally closed. Fig. 2. Represents a quantity of ore (of lead or iron or other ore) piled up to be roasted, as well for the wmmon purposes of preparing iron or other ores for smelting, as to save the sulfur, so wmmanly lost hy burning ores in the open air. This is a kind of charring of ore. I t is remarked that a t the iron furnaces in America the ore is not calcined enough. If this method is used, the ore will be better prepared for smelting and a considerable quantity of sulfur will be saved for market. 1. Two sides of the pile, all the sides of which are covered with small ore.
2. The upper part, where holes or cavities are seen, in which the sulfur of the ore is collected. 3. An opening, where part of the pile has fallen down, and in which the sulfur is seen dropping down. 4. A plank to keep off the wind. Fig. 3. A section of the above pile. 1. The wood to make fire. 2. Some charcoal for kindling the fire.
3. A channel formed by a wooden tube or pipe. 4. The large lumps of are. 5. Small ore. 6. Finer ore or dust of ore. 7. The substance called vitriol, that is, a half roasted ore powdered.
Even in the days when the fate of our forefathers as t o country and independence w& in suspense there were those who gave thought, effort, and time t o their social welfare. Chemistry ministers t o society in peace and in war. Anti-Rachitic Vitamin Made in Laboratory. There is much yet to be learned about the curative Dowers of ultra-violet liaht. . . the raw of sunlight which cause sunburn. "It is certain," said Dr. Alfred Hess of Bellevue Hospital, in a recent talk before the American Philomphical Society in session a t Philadelphia "that ultra-violet rays bring a b u t a retention of inorganic salts in the body thus helping to maintain the bony structure." As a result of this function ultra-violet light rays, either produced naturally by the sun or artificially, have been found helpful in the treatment of rickets. During and immediately following the World War, said Dr. Hess, rickets or its counterpart, the so-called "hunger osteomalacia or war osteopathy," ravaged the peoples of Central Europe, Austria, Germany, and Poland. This was due almost entirely to insufficient food. Had it been known then that this malady could be prevented or cured merely by exposure to sunlight, much suffering could have been avoided. The calcifying proberties of foods subjected to ultra-violet radiations, which have been successfully used to prevent various disorders of the bones, are due to the cholesterol or phytosterol they wntain. As every cell of food so treated wntains one or the other of these substances the wide application of this indirect use of ultrs-violet rays is evident. The anti-rachitic vitamin has actually been made in the hboratory artificially. Dr. Hess went on to say, by treating the chemical substance, cholesterol, with ultraviolet radiations. This has not been accomplished in relation to any of the other vita-
mins.-Science SeNice
