Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-04-21
CerebrO-Spinal Meningitis.

Marriage
ing eight lines fifty cents
CerebrO-Spinal Meningitis.
This disease. which appears to have broken
out as an epidemic here, as we'll as throughout
the country, is attracting much attention. 1t
is supposed by some to be an inflammation Of
the meninges or enveloping membranes of the
brain aud spinal cord. 1t is no new disease,
aud is well known to our physicians. The
causes which produce it are unknown, but it is
weather of late winter and spring months, and
than in the more elevated portions OF the
country. The severest cases are generally ush-
cred in with chill more or less severe. 1n
many OF the cases that have occurred here, this
chill has proved fatal. After reaction or re-
turn of warmth, the disease is fully developed.
The patient suffers with intense pain iu the
head, neck and Spine with tendency to draw
the head backward, face flushed, eyes
suffered, pupils contracted, restle.sness,
hard pulse, quick respiration, hot skin,
thirst, vomiting, constipation, dcllrium
and frequently convulsions. As the dis
case advances the delirium gives place to
stupor or drowsiness, the pupils become
dilated, the hearing frequently very much i'm
The disease has been known to complete its en-
tire course in eight or ten hours, but more fire.
quently from the fifth to the tenth day. No
class of our population nor age, nor sex is free
from its attacks; the old aud young are alike
liable, but majority of the cases here have
been amongst the young. Many believing it
to be an iuhammatory disease, treat it euergetl-
caly with antiphogis,ics. In the chill couu
ter-irritants are used freely to the extremities,
such as mustard, with mustard plasters to the
stomach, bowels, spine and in the Internal, ad
muistration of such stimulants as may be on
hand or readily accessible, at the same time
full and free purgation and application of ex-
ternal warmth. As soon as reaction has taken
place sulphate of quniue should be administer
ed freely. II there is sleep or drowslnesS, leech
the teupes and apply bsters to the neck and
spine. The neutral mixture apd cool lemon
AIDES may be given during the fever. The diet
should be of the mildest kind, and the patient
kept as quiet as possible CoDvalescence will
generally be slow. AS it is very fatal disease,
by all means call in physician. .-NashuaAe
Banner.
CENTESAR1AN.-Itis is all very we'll for people
TO pretcud to made light of the newspapers for
chronicling the deaths of cen,enariaus, but 1t ls
not generally known, or if known, sufficient
thought is not bestowed upon the fact, that 1t is
not an easy thing to become centeDarau; and
when an individual perseveres and succeeds
there is no reason why he should not enjoy all
the credit that Is due bis efforts. There arc
numbcrless people who try it, and give it up IN
despair just when they are about reaching the
goal. We known very estimable gentleman
who has been at it for ninety-seven years. and
who has not yet accomplished it. Another one
gave out at ninety nine, after almost superhu-
man trials to get to hundred There was
Levi CASTOR, Of Louisville, who deprived him
self of all intoxicating drinks, aud used tobacco
in no form, aud read the Bible regularly; 10
fact who went through the most rigid and COM
mepdable regimen, in order that be might
reach his fvescore, but who became dlscour-
aged at ninety years and ten months, and gave
IN. We are sorry for this last case, az 1t will
act uufavorably iu the cause OF morality. es-
pecaly n view ofthe fact that George Wash
iugton, colored gentleman at present residing
in Athens, Ca, has reached the age OF one
hundred and four, after having passed his cx-
stence in chronic blasphemY from bis earliest
years, who has chewed several tons of tobacco
aud drank untold hogsheads of the meanest
kinds of alcoholic beverages, and yet remains
hale and hearty. There is mystery, In this
ceneuarian business we should like to have ex-
planned Boston Globe.
STARS NOW VIslBLE.-A brilliant starry
triangle is now visible in the heaven IN the
early evening. 1t is made up of the three
brightest stars that are TO be seen 10 our latitude
with the exception of Mars, when in opposition.
Venus, Jupiter and Sirius form the shining
points of the triangle. Venus must be looked
for 10 the west, Jupiter towards the zenith III
the cast and Sirius in the South. The contrast
IN color and apparent size between these stars
Il, strongly marked Venus takes the lead as
she hangs like golden lamp in the glowing
wesl, Jupiter is of a deeper tint, shading to-
h: hasus orange, while Sirius glitterlpg witt,
m;.L u;;ILlhlng rays, is ola softeued white tIngedl
rran WIN oe1dlng of the most delicate shades OF
green ana blue. The real contrast between the
stars is far greater than the seeming one, and
~ al inverse ratio. Venus is little globe, no
larger than ours; Jupiter is q giant planet,
Iou,leen hundred times as large as the earth,
Whlie Sirius is glorious sun, twenty millions
vi millions of miles away, and yet one OF our
pcareSt stellar neighbors, although far more
powerful and many times exceeding IN size the
sun our symbol of Omnipotence. In few
weeks the starry triangle will be broken up, Its
ulciloers taking new position and forming new
eGllonatlons, while new stars will take their
pIaccs upon our field of evening observation,
and iurolsh the never-ending variety which ls
one OF the charms of the science of astronomy.
ECONOMY IN ILLBMINATIoN.-Mr Ofert
states that in bats-wing burners, though the
slzc OF the flame diminishes with the amount OF
gas consumed, it is not in equal ratio. The
.sht OF large fame for example, may be
squlvaIent to fifteen candles, while that of two
sua!l ones together will be only seven or eight
oh how, h,,ro tba
gas as the large fame. This is caused by, the
complete combustion of the gas in the blue
zone OF the flame, which gives little or no light
10 either case and has more favorable circum-