The Indiana State sentinel., 1880-05-19
MEDICAL AND SURGICAL NOTES.

ABsINTHE AND misunderstanding to
statement made by DIR. Blanck, absinthe
causes some go per cent. of all the cases of in
sanity in France. The liqueur it appears
is produced by the distillation of alcohol with
wOrmwoOd, either pure or mixed with other
herbs, Several are used for the purpose of
varying the flavor; for instance, the anise,
the angelica, etc. NJ. Magnan, in series of
experiments on animals, has ascertained that
the poisonous properties of absinthe are much
greater than of any other spirituous liquor,
even alcohol The leading members of the
medical profession in France are said 20 be
strongly opposed to teetotalism-that is, they
not only prescribe alcohol in various cases
but recommend the use of such stimulants to
their patients in moderation; but they
unanimously condemn the use of absinthe
Evolution OF MEMoRY-In a commune
cation to the "Societie de Biologe," NJ. De-
launey takes the position that there is an ev-
olution of the memory which is first sense
rial, literal, and then intelligent. 1t appears
however, that at the EcOle Normal and other
schools, the pupils who have the best men,
ory are not the most intelligent; it is also
more developed among the peasantry than
among the citizens, and among the clergyman
than among the laity. Again, investigation
shows that the memory remains intact in dis
eases of the left side of the brain and is much
affected in those of the right, from which it
may be inferred that the right side is more
the seat of this faculty than the left. From
a physiological point of view, memory is di-
minished by Over-feeding, by physical exer-
else. and by education-in this sense, that the
illiterate have potentially more memory than
those who know how to read and write.
Memory is better in the morning than in the
evening, in the summer than in the winter,
and better i'm warm than in cold climates; it
is, therefore, to certain extent in inverse
proportion to nutrition, and, in fact, to evolu-
tiOn, being greatest in those who are at least
advanced.
MILK AND LIME WATER.-Milk and lime
water are now frequently prescribed by ply
sicians in cases of dyspepsia and weakness of
the stomach, and in some cases are said to
prove very beneficial. Many persons who
think good bread and milk great luxury,
frequently hesitate to eat it for the reason
that the milk will not digest readily: sour
ness of stomach will often follow. But ex-
perience proves, says the Journal of Materia
Medica. that lime water and milk are not
only food and medicine at an early period of
life. but also at a later, when, as in the case
of infants, the functions of digestion and as
similation are feeble and easily perverted.
A stomach taxed by gluttony, irritated by
improper food, indamed by alcohol, enfeebled
by disease, or otherwise untitled for its duties
-as is shown by the various symptoms at
tendant upon indigestion, dyspepsia, diar
rhea, dysentery and fever-will resume its
work, and do it energetcally, on an exclusive
diet of bread and milk and lime water. A
goblet of cows milk may have four table
spOonfuls of lime water added to it with good
effect. The way to make lime water is sim
ply to procure few Jumps of unslaked lime,
put the lime in stone jar, and add water
until the lime is slaked and of about the con-
sistence of thin cream; the lime settles. leav-
ing the pure and clean lime water ON the top.