The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-01-08

the day waned, that it was found nee
cessary to close the front doors and
4 force the surging and curiosity-excifet
multitude to enter by the foundry OIL
; the river front. Several medical men
were among the visitors yesterday
and express great astOnisbment at tht
marvellous sight.
This morning Drs. Carrick and
Wood, two we'll known surgeons,m made
a close examination of the lacerate
neck and the iieless head, imbned
with the hope that they would be able
to solve the mystery by the discovery
that the base of the brain had not been
detached, and that enough of it was
left on the trunk to prolong animal
life, but their examination was in vain,
mystifying them even more, as they
discovered that the entire head and
part of the neck was entirely gone,
and that the lower jaw was hanging
on single ligament, and held in place
by the tongue, which is extraordinar-
lily tough and hard. While making
the examination the dog was very
restless, and endeavored to free HIM
self from the grip Of the doctors.
They give it as their opinion that
the dogs life would be prolonged if it
could be made to eat by forcing food
into the stomach; it has been tried
and failed, consequently the doctors
think it will die Of starvation. They
are nonplussed as to how to answer
for the proloDgation of life in a ply
sical form without the cooperation of
brain force, so necessary to animal
life.
We are impressed with the belief
that the question which so long has
baffled science in determining the
function of animal brain is answered.
We think the fact of the dog living af.
ter the separation of the brain from the
body proves that animal brain is mere
form of matter, no more capable of
impression than the tail, or probably
one of the organs of digestion. In
man it is the motor power of thought
and action. 1t is certainly a nut for
physicians to crack. Col. Dumont will
give ample privilege to investigate for
the benfit of science.
Col. Dumont thinks he has an ele.
phant on hishands ;he don't want to kill
the dog and yet hates to see it live in
such disfigured condition. Specula-
tors desire to exhibit it, to which he |
objects. George Forepaugh, the show
man, yesterday offered $1,000 for the
dog, or $500 day, which Col. Dumont
refused. 1t is certainly a very lively
specimen of canine, even if it has no
head.
WORSHIP. IN INDIA.
Mother-worship in some form or
other is the popular worship of India.
In the first place, every living mother
is venerated as kind of deity by her
children. Then almost every village
has its own special guardian Mother,
called Mata or Amba, or, in the South
of India, Amman.
There are about lao distinct Moth
ers in Gujarat, declared by the Brah-
mans to be different forms of Siva's
consorts. They are really the repre-
of ancient local deities
(Gramadevitas), worshiped by the in
habitants from time immemorial.
visited small village near Kaira pre-
sided over by Mother worshiped
under the name Khodiyar (Mischlet),
because she is supposed when in an
amiable mood to shield from harm
Nor is she undeserving of her name
for she will turn mischievous when
her temper is ruff1ed by neglect. If
IN epidemic breaks out among the
villagers, Mother Mischief is believed
to be offended, and must be appeased
by extraordinary offerings, and per-
hsps by blood.
Another Mother in q neighboring
village is worshiped under the name
Of Untai. She has the special function
Of preventing or production congh in
children. Another, named Berai, pre-
vents cholera; another, called Maraki
MarkI, causes cholera an
other, Hadakai, controls mad dogs and
prevents hydrophobia; another, Asa
puri, represented by two idols, satis-
fies the hopes of wives by giving
children. The offering of goats blood
10 some of these mothers is supposed
to be very effectual; the animals are
not killed. A story is told of a clever
doctor who cured a whole yil-
lage of influenza by simply assemb-
ling the Inhabitants and solemnly let
ting loose a pair of scapegoats into a
wood infested with de-
mons.
The power of at least one well-dis-
posed mother in Gujarat is exerted in
. remarkable way for the benefit of
women after childbirth. Among a
very low-caste set of basket-makers
Called Pomla) it is the usual practice
of q wife to go about her work imme-
dlately after delivery, as if nothing
had happened. The presiding Mata
of the tribe is supposed to trans
fer her weakness to her husband, who
takes to his bed, and has to be sup
ported for several days with nourish-
ing food.-fProf. MOnier Williams in
the AtheDeum.
A SUSPENSION BRIDGE BUILT
BY A SPl DER.
A new feature in the way of a sus-
pension bridge was seen across the
Housatonic River, short distance
north of Falls bridge. 1t was single
thread of a spiders web suspended