New-York tribune., 1873-06-19
NEDIc1L and SURGICAL NOTES.

porAToFs PRosCRIBED.--Several German
writer's upon races predict that nations, far from in
nrovine will deterorate both in physical ana meh'a
characteristics IL potatoes become principal artce
of diet The celebrated Carl Voight SAYS that " inc
noursbnr potato does restore the wasted tissues
bnt makes our proletariats physically and mentally
weak" The Holland physiologist, Multer, gives the
same Judgment when he declares that the excessive use
of potatoes among the poorer classes ana c9ee ana t5A
nv hp higher ranks the OF the iudOenCc or ma
ions LedenfrOSt maintains that the revolutions OF the
last three centuries have been caused ny the changed
noursbmput: the lowest wOrkmen, In former times. ate
moro flesh than now, when the cheap potato forms his
principal subsistence, but gives hun no muscular OF
nervous strength.
MICROSCOPIC WoRMs.-Some time ago, As
sisant Surgeon LOWS OF the British army. having been
assigned 70 special duty under the Sanitary Commission
for the Government OF india neXamnmg the urine aN
blood Of certain patients discovered the existence VI "
Ing active worms. hitherto uuObserved These worms
are l75 OF an inch in length and have transverse M
OF 1880 of au inch. They are so onJ so
found In blood drawn from any part OF S f1T months
persistent that they may exist IN the ~ sy,i Jcr,
observed Itls said however, that they may glVG rse
to serious diseases, aud ultimately causo sn tnrou
worms appear through the microscope Hhe InVoiIi nVI
pletelv deyelOped snakes; they move hiessdhty Cul
Ing and uucoiug themselves, and rHsn ao3ut @ a'"nE @
blood cOrpuscles i'm all directions lhSy 90 no' "pPo
10 exist anywhere but in the blood ana urine.
ONE CAUSE OF CONsUMPuoN-Dr. Mac
Cormac of Belfast ireland, is the author OF WorA ON
pulmcnarv consumption, recently published by the
lOuEmaus. m,
lle notice According to DR.. MdcC0rmac, induced con-
sppption-as distinguished from that which is heredi-
taryhas It's origin in rebreathing expired air. Persons
of delicate constitution rOrCanzauOh shouu ne say -
sleep alone, and, II possible, in spacious rooms tuS l
snrip larger supply OF pure unCOntaminatcd air; and
the windoW-s.ish should also luVaudDIy be elsuti,
raised on retiring. When thc dormOry small II not
carfulv vcutated oxygen, the essential element that
supports life, Is quickly exhausted, ana te huNuu".
destructive Of hfe-the whole system becoming de-
ranged the aigcci- U,ccratng, and win tht d'sIus
disease.
"GFoPuAG1E."-Dr Gait, in his Medical
Notes the Upper Amazon" has furnished some curious
information the strange practice known as Geo
phagie" or officiating. This disease, according to
Dr Galt now counts Of the chief endemic com
plants OF an tropical America and, at the distance OF
over 1900 miles from the sea- ON the Amazon valley,
where the negro is rdri.f, hc4hg merely war iIU
Brazil tho Pacific c0sst Is tho most Important as
ease among the children aud women OF the country on
Marduou, the ha6reeds are mostly addicted 10 tie
practice OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. the pure savage nor tnc
more cultivated being so O.!eh tle Nlcuus. CI'iluL
commence the practice from the time they are four years
old, less and frequently die from the results IN tw9 or
three years I'm Othcr eases they gOW 10 iauuVOd VI
womauhood and Dr Gait speaks Of having himself seen
in the case OF Mestze soldier who was dying rom rom
habit the poor creature half an hour before DIS dealh
detected with lump OF clay stuffed III ms suAeh CHECKS
SUDDEN CHANGE IN TIE COLOR OF HAIR
Two sudden changes OF the color Of hair from black 10
white are reported in foreign medical magazine. II
appears that physician Of Berlin. strong, healthy,
and less than mdlleagcd man, sent his wife and one
daughter 20 spend last summer at watering place.
The day that he expected letter informing him Of theI
arrival there came saving that his daughter had
hccu taken sick very suddenly, and already dead
The shock was terrible and Instantly his hair became
entirely gray. III had 10 visit some patients that same
afternoon, and they scarcely recognized him Their
peculiar actions revealed the change 10 him Tue other
case was OF q man 35 years old, living in the Neither
lands. He was day passing toe canal In Rotterdam
wien lac saw q child struggling in the water. lie
plunged u and brought 10 10 laud, but 1t was already
dead oy the time he had rescued its body Bending
over 10 try TO r Hfe hC discovered that the dead
cni a was E, own SOD The blow, sudden and une&-
peC;ed. and coming upon him when ne LmseH was 30
much Laustel turned his hair entirely gray, and left
hH scarcely RECOGNIZABLE.