The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-05-26
TIMELY TOPICS.

According to, q statement made by
DR.. Blanck., absinthe causes some sixty
per cent. of all the cases of insanity in
| France. The iqueur. it appears, is pro-
duced 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. M. Magnan, in q series OF experl.
nents on animals, has ascertained that
| the poisonous properties of absinthe are
much greater than of any other spiritu-
GUS LIQUOR, even alcohol. The leading
members of the medical profession IN
France are said to 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.
The Eureka (Nev.) Leader relates a
miners experiences to show that earth
quake shocks are not felt very far be-
low the surface of the ground. The
miner said that on the occasion of the
ast shake at Secret Canon he was at
and although the tremor was plainly
felt by his partners on the surface. he,
alta depth OF. eighty feet, noticed moth
ing unusual. He also said that through
an experience of fifteen years under
ground he had observed one very pecu-
liar fact-that between the hours OF
twelve and two o'clock at night, it there
was loose stone or bit of earth in the
mine it was sure to fall. Said he:
about this time it seems that every
thing. begins to stir, and Immediately
after twelve, although the mine has been
as still as the tomb before, you will hear
little particles of rock and earth come
tumbling down, and if there is caving
piece of ground in the mine it is sure to
give away" ........
DR.. Carter, an English medical au-
thority on the eyes, attributes most OF
the blindness in every civilized COM
munity to ignorance and negligence.
According to his conclusions, but q
small percentage of this visual failing
is congenital, the loss of sight in the
great majority of cases dating, not from
birth, as is enormously supposed, but
from the first few days or weeks Of lite.
Of those who are commonly believed
to have been born blind, he says that
the enormous majority, probably at
least ninety nine out of every hundred,
bring with them into the world eyes as
good and as useful as those of their
neighbors. The causes of infantile
blindness. he adds, are more frequently
to be found in carelessness and ignor-
ance than in all possible injuries and
diseases put together; and the careless
ness and ignorance are displayed most
frequently in the neglect of proper pre-
cautions about light, cleanliness, and
temperature. The severity of this in
dictment is felt more keenly when it is
known that there are in Great
Britain alone, accor ding to DR.. Carriers
estimate, not fewer than 81, 900 persons
who cannot see. ..-.
M. Michael Dragomanoff, formerly
professor at the University of Kieff and
now O member of the Russian revolu-
tionary organization, has addressed 3
letter to General Melikoff, stating the
conditions on which the Russian revolu-
tionists will conclude an. armistice ,
with the government, which has been
extensively circulated at St. Petersburg.
The conditions are: l. The dismissal of
all the governors appointed with arbi.
trary powers since the attempt OF April
Q, 1879. 2!Abolition of all the measures
ordered By them, and also of the excep-
tional DEGREES of 1873. 8. 3.Abolition Of
the special tribunals established for the
hearing of political trials. 4 An am .
nesty and restoration of rights to those
persons who have been deprived OF
them in consequence of the arbitrary
measures above referred to. S. Abolition
of the third section, with all its agents
guarantees against imprisonment with
out trial. 6. Grant of freedom of the
press, the right of meeting, and the right;
of forming societies. !. Convocation OF
a national assembly. The ex-professor
adds that if these conditions are not &C
cepted the contest will be pursued by
the revolutionary party with all the
means at it's command.
According to New York paper there
is good reason to believe that Spain is
now making money and increasing in
population to an extent almost without
precedentin modern times. Ten years
of quiet, under good government,
would probably put her pretty nearly
among 'frst-class powers. She is nat
urally an even wealthier country than
France, because she has mineral resources
which France has not. But, while
nature has loaded her with Dement'S,
priests and politicians have done all in
their power, and with great success, to
neutralize all the good gifts of fortune.
Spanish mobiles are now albeit rarely
resident on estates, much more active
and energetic than they were thirty
wears ago, and railroads are steadily
penetrating districts where produce was
worth little, on account OF the cost Ui
carriage. In tact, if things 90 on well,
Spain is likely to become a formidable
competitor in the wheat market. Ford
declared that one of her provinces could.
if properly cultivated, supply third OF
Europe. and no wheat is superior
scarcely any equal-to that of Spain.
The smallness of the population-there
being less than 100000 to an area
thrice the size of England-has been 4
puzzle to many people. The Spaniards
as nation are fine race physically,
and resort to no means to chcck popula'
ton. The explanation seems to be con-
tanned in one word-war, which has
continually robbed the country OF men
lust during those years when they might
have begotten offspring.
A Fight Between Bears.
It was found necessary one Sunday