The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1873-08-28
USEFUL KNOWLEDGE.

| earth as q disinfectant and deodorize
is we'll known; and the treatment o
liberated sores and gangrenous wounds
with it is becoming very general. A
new application has lately been de
scribed by DIR. Il. s. Bunker, who state'
that he has recently used clay AZ a dres
| sing for the face in two cases Of conhu'
ent smallpox, busting it in fine powder
over the faces Of the patients as soon af
the pustules become fairly developed,
This formed a clean, dry, wholesome
scab, absorbing the infectious material
and scaled off during convalescence,
leaving the underlying skin IN its natIl'
raj and normal state. The painful
itching, which is one Of. the worst char
acteristics OF the disease, was entirely
abated. The earth used was fine pipe
clay.
ELECTRICAL CURRENTS. Mr.. Sabine,
in the Telegraphic journal, assumes
that the time required by n way to
charge n cable, and the retardation on
the time required for a a passing
from one end to the other toreach a Civ
en- amplitude are identical. Mr.. Varley,
another high authority in such matters,
is Of opinion tnat the electric current
commences flowing out Of one end of a
cable at the very instant that contact is
made with the battery at the other end,
but that il is n considerable tim8 before
it reaches an appreciable strength that
it then goes on augmentipg in strength,
never absolutely attaining its maximum
force. Mr.. Sabine suggests that the
velocity of electricity is the same in all
conductors, and very great, but that
the resistance and induction of the cir
cult combine to prevent the wave reach
ing an appreciable strength for some
time after it has commenced to flow out.
The greatest men in the world have
been noted for their politeness. In
deed, many have owed their own great
ness mainly to their very popular man
ners, which induced the people whom
they pleased to give them an opportu-
nifty to show their power. Many years
ago the errand boy employed by pub
fishing house in a great city was sent
to procure from Edward Everett the
proof-shects of a book which he had
been examining. The boy entered in
fear and trembling the vast library,
lined from floor to ceiling with books.
He stood in awe of this famous man,
and dreaded to meet him. But Mr..
Everett turned from the desk whore he
was writing, received the lad with reas-
courtesy, bade him sit down,
chatted kindly as he looked for the
proof-shcets, and asked "Shall | put
n paper round them for you?" as po-
litely as if his visitor were the president.
The boy departed in n very comforta-
bic state Of mind he had been raised in
his wi esteem by Mr.. Everett's kind
ness, and he has never forgotten the
lesson it taught.
SUPERIORITY OF THE RIGHT OVER THE
LEFT lIAND.-Dr. William Ogle recent
ly read n paper before the Chirurgical
Of London, in which he stated
his belief that the superiority of the
right hand, III works requiring strength
md skill, is not due only to custom and
usage. His reasons for this view are
that the superior power Of the right
side il not confined to the arm, but OK
tends TO the leg, and that it commences
in the urn befor use or education be-
gins, and continues in spite of all eff
TO resist or divert it. This supe-
has II resemblance to some nal
formations, inasmuch as it is hereditary
md IL met with more frequently in the
male sex, not only in men, but in apes
md parrots. The author further as-
erted that tho left side Of q right
landed man is greater than tho right,
md Uice UGrsa; and he cited seven cases
If aphasia among left-handen people,
accompanied by hemiplexy of the left
'ide. Ho concluded by asking, "What
q tho cause of this greater development
the left side?" And he suggests that
t IL originated by the greater quantity
blood which it receives.
BRAIN ExHAUsrIoN.-Dr. Radcliffe,
N II recent lecture, treats the subject of
brain exhaustion, 40 common in these
high pressure days. After describing
tho leading symptoms, such as n loss of
memory, depression of spirits, increased
'r lessened sleepiness, unusual irrita-
Dility, epilepti-form condition of the
nerves, and sometimes %transitory coma,
10 proceeds to consider its prevention
md cure. He il opposed to making
he patients eat heartily, believing that
eating in such cases tends to de-
'elop tho disease. He il equally OPP
'osed to the training diet system and
o Banting, which in his opinion, gene
ally starve the nerve tissues by exclu-
ling hydrocarbons from food. He fur
her thinks that the patient should not
% urged to walk more than is natural
nder the circumstances, nor to rest
ON headwork, rs he is satisfied that in
lany cases cerebral exhaustion is in
by the brain lying below. If
lere il undue sleeplessness il sbould