Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-02-26
THE GAZETTE.
pp1naY EVENING. FEBRY. 26.
n .rURaL ANTI MIAsMATIcs, "A recent mum

NATURAL ANTI MIAsMATICs,- "A recent mum
,er of the Prairie Farmer contains very read
able editorial upon the influence of vegetation,
At least of certain kinds OF vegetation, IN pre-
,pntipg such miasmatic diseases as lever and
agne.. etc. 1t calls attention to the we'll known
Tact that in many, 10 most of the mlasmatlc
portions of the Southern States, the negroes
gn,rd their cabins with sunhowers, ito keep
1ff the feyers,'' which their white owners con-
,idered an idle. superstition, and not a sanitary
,recaution. Investigations seem to prove that
ne negroes were right. Within the last few
years miasmatic fevers have become so prevalent
IN certain portions of Belgium that the Gov
eminent was compelled to take the matter In
aand, and appoint Medical Boards and try and
devise remedy. There has been one complete
success. A remarkably unhealthy estate was
selected, and large quantity OF sunhower
seed planted around the cottages and buildings.
As the plants grew levers disappeared; ana In
3 short time there was not Vestlge or that
class of diseases left. Here was an effect, but
what was the cause? Analysis and other ex-
perimeuts followed, and the facts were dlselos-
ed, FIRST that tie sunHower draws almost all its
sustenauce from the air, making very slight
demand on the soil; second, that its main food,
at least the main component OF Its leaves and
pith OF the stalk was nitrogen. The mystery
was explained, and 1.-THE superstition OF the
American blacks was found to be no super
Stition at all, but plain, practical, easy ana
cheap method of keeping the fever miasmas
from their cabins-the affinity OF the sunnoWer
or nitrogen drawing it to itself and keeping
The air pure.
A RAILROAD CONDUCTOR has recently been
sued by his employers on claim for fares with
leld and and not paid over to the Company.
The defendant in this case, before he received
lis appointment as conductor, in 1912, had
Tiled the useful but not very lucrative position
81 an ostler, with an average salary OF only
$3.50 per year. He contrived between the
years 1912 and 1865, to accumulate enough
money TO be placed as the fourth in the list OF
wealthy citizens of Concord, n. ii. 1t Is
stated that during this period OF twenty-three
years he made over $l50,000 built himself the
finest residence in Concord, and was known as
large stakeholder and real estate owner. Sus-
picions were aroused in 1865 that the couduc
tors of the road In question were holding back
the money they receive, and an investigation
was made which satisfied the Company that
they did not not received all they were entitled
TO- The defendant IN the suit Just decided was
Examined, and undertook to account tor his
property by thrift and economy. Among
other things he stated that the clothing of his
vile for the last twenty years had cost $50
per annum; but unfortunately, IN 1865, he had
eceived 81, 500 from an insurance company,
or his wife s dresses, all new, that had been
injured by fire. He also undertook 10 ac-
count for So, 200 OF his property as the profits
On peanuts sold on his train by small boy in
MS employment The referees in the suit
finally decided that the Railroad Company
were entitled to recover OF the conductor the
sum of $l5, 500.