Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-05-12
MISCELLANEOUS READING.

CoNsUxprIoN.-At annual meeting of the
New York Geographical and Statistical So
ciety, held in that city on Thursday last, Mr.
IL. B. Mullard read paper on Ptisis Pull
monares, the disease commonly known as
Consumption. 1t carried off, he said. more
persons than any other disease. 1t now
caused one-sixth of the deaths in the world.
In Canada, New York and Boston, there had
been very considerable diminution of
deaths by it since the beginning of the GEN.
tury. In New York it had diminished from
20 to Ii per cent Providence is much more
given to Consumption than New York
Chicago shows only about 9 per cent. of Con-
sumption. The army statistics showed most
Consumption on the Gulf Coast OF Florida,
South Carolina, and Alabama; next in New
York Harbor and California; next Texas;
next Washington and Oregon Territories.
next the Atlantic Coast of Florida, and low
est, New Mexico. In Iceland from 1897 to
1887, there was not single case of COM
sumption. 1t was the same in Labrador
and Greenland, and was very rare in Upper
Russia Persia and Algiers were singular
ly free from it. Consumption was more
prevalent in Gibralter and Malta, than in
Canada according to the British army
statistics. The deaths are much greater in
Bermuda than in New Foundland In Hin
do stan, there is very little Consumption
In districts where intermittent teyers are
prevalent, such Us Venice and the Tuscan
maremme, there is very little Consumption.
The deaths by Consumption in the British
army are three times as great as in the navy.
March, April, May, February, January,
I'll, 1ar A
September, October, is the order in which
the months stand, commencing with that In
which there is the greatest number. In Oc-
deaths as in March. Among occupations,
talurs are most liable to Consumption; then
come shoe makers, locksmiths, physicians.
gardeners, butchers, and lawyers. The liza
bility of the tailor is more than four times as
great as that OF the lawyer. As to climate, hu-
midity appears to conduce most to it, though
moist salt air is not conductive to it. Cold
is unfavorabe to it, especially equable cold.
1t is more common among women than among
men. and is most common between the ages
of 20 and 80. There is no reason to believe
that there is more or less Consumption now
than thousands of years ago.
A FISH SToRY.-In the State Board of
Agriculture's rooms, in the State House, is
large glass box or vessel, wherein are kept
several live specimens of fish, among others
a suntish about six inches in length. The
Secretary recently caught a common horse
leech and placed it in the water with the
fish. A contest Immediately began between
the suntish and the leech, involving life or
death to the worm, which was watched with
much interest and curiosity. The sunfish at
tempted to swallow the Ieech head foremost,
but the latter fastened himself to the under
Jaws of the fish and obstinately refused to be
swallowed. The next thing was for the fish
to get the leech out Of its mouth, and to this
end various ingenious manGuyres were res
orted to without effect. At last the fish,
raising his mouth above the surface of the
water blew the bloodsucker from his posi-
ton. Again the fish attempted TO swallow
the leech, this time tail first; but the willy
worm fastened himself outside of his enc
my's mouth, and had to be dislodged by
repetition of the blowing dodge. The strug.
gle lasted for more than week, and at last
the fish succeeded in getting the leech down,
whereat he manifested his satisfaction by u
series of inexplicable curyets. But alas! the
exuItation of the fnny victor was brief, for
the next morning found Mr.. Suhfsh floating
sdewise upon the surface of the water
dead. The bloodsucker had triumphed,
even in death, and left no living foe.-Colum-
Lus Statesman.