davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Landry democrat., 1893-08-12
Wonder-working Surgery.

The last case to which I shall refer
has not been published, but can be
found in the records of the Orthopedic
Hospital and Intirmary for Nervous
Diseases in Philadelphia A young girl
| of about tweIty-Onc was admitted to
the inlirmary in October, 1891. She
said that her attacks of epilepsy, from
| which she had suffered for two years and
half, always began in the right thumb.
This fact having been verified, it was de-
cidcd' to remove the centre of the thumb,
to stop the very beginning of the fit. 1t
was especially desired to remove only
the centre for the thumb. and not that
for the hand, in order not to interfere
more than was necessary with the use
fulness of her hand, upon which she de-
pended for her support, as she was a
mill girl. On October 6, 1891. the tis-
sure of Roando was first located and a
disk of bone al inch and a half in
diameter was removed, the centre of it
being two aid five monkeys brain-a
little above it. Each of these centres
was recognized by the movement of the
part supplied by it thumb, face, wrist
when the centre was touched by the
poles of the battery. Stimulation of the
thumb centre produced typical epilep-
tic fit, such as she had suffered since her
admission, beginning in the thumb, as
she had asserted. The portion of brain
corresponding to the thumb centre, a
piece about half an inch in diameter,
was removed, and by the battery it was
determined that the portion removed
was the whole of the thumb centre
1t was necessary in this case to be I'M
usually accurate, and not to remove any
portion of the brain other than the centre
for the thumb, and for three reasons:
First, if too much were removed upward
and backward, the wrist and fingers
would be paralyzed; second, if too much
were removed forward, the muscles of
the face would be involved; third, lit
tie further down lies the centre for
speech, and had this part Of the brain
been injured, this important faculty
would have been destroyed.
As soon as the patient had recovered
from the ether and was in suitable con-
dition, her ability to move the face and
hand was tested. All the muscles of the
face were entirely intact, and could be
moved with absolute ease. Her speech
was also unaffected. She had absolute
and perfect control of all the muscles of
the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand, with
the single exception of the muscles of the
thumb, every one of which was para
lyzed. Il Harper's Magazine.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-08-12
POPULAR SCIENCE NOTES,

Platinum at white heat, il is said, will
consume any quantity of tobacco smoke
and keep the atm osphcre perfectly clear.
Nickel is modern metal. It was not
in use or known of till 1715. 1t has now
largely taken the place Of silver in pla-
ted ware and as an alloy with steel it
is superior to any other metal, for it is
not only non -cOrrodiblc itself, but it
transfers the same quality to steel; even
when combined as low as per cent. it
prevents oxidation.
GLASS AND SOLAR Naturalization
has been directed of late to the necessity
of considering, from practical point OF
view, the part played by glass in dissemin-
as a factor in ignition and, in some
cases, of destructive consequences. In
the transmission of solar light the alb
sorption of heat by glass is scientifically
stated as being ninety, to two of retleC-
ton; silver plate, on the other hand,
absorbing but three and rejecting ninety
seven, while lampblack appropriates the
total of heat without, Of course, any re-
Election. All radiators are ab5Orbers in
a greater or less degree, and under
specially favoring conditions, the capa-
city Of ignition must at least be con-
sidcred a jeopardizing condition, and
this, in the opinion of the Age IF Steel, is
point of weight in insurance risks; that
is, a bottle or a carbov placed in posi-
ton can so intensity so6r.r heat as to start
a bonfire in a pile of wood or paper,
timber being set on fire by focused rays
II ic+on IF nrlc
quartz softened into pulp by the same
means Broken bottles, too, in dry
grass, have in some instances been
suspected of kindling prairie snl forest
fires.
ELECTRICITY AND FATIGUE. Professor
Tarchanotf, of St. Petersburg, has been
experimenting upon the electric currents
of the skin. He connected the skin of
various parts of the body, by means of
nonpolarizable clay electrodes, with
Messner's galvanometer. He noticed
then the various stimuli of the skin,
such as light tickling with a brush, heat,
cold, needle prick, sound, light, taste
and smell. In all these cases strong
DETECTION of the galvanometer needle was
observed. Merely opening the eyes after
they had been closed for some time pro-
duced considerable detection, ard men
tai efforts, like calculation, also had a
similar effect. Concerning the foregoing
writer in the Electrical RerieV SAYS:
"These currents if they exist, as told oy
the learned scientist, must pass off with
the moistened deposits which are being
constantly expelled, and new supply of
electricity would have to be found some
where. Such electricity, having its
source perhaps in the decomposition of
metals, taken in the food we eat and the
air we breathe, must of necessity entail
upon the organism a continuous strain
in its production. 1t may be that from
such causes the body becomes fatigued
after few hours of exertion, and abso-
lutte rest becomes necessary for recupera-
ton Should these experiments prove
true there is no doubt that, by the proper
insulation of the human body, much the
rapeutical value would be its outcome
St. Landry democrat., 1893-08-12
RELIABLE RECIPES.

Goldfish BALIs.-Codfsh balls when
we'll made are always an acceptable dish,
but it is not every cook who succeeds in
making them light and just right. The
fish must be picked fine and freshened
sufficiently. Then mashed potatoes and
fish in equal parts are put together aud
we'll beaten, after which few table
spoonfuls Of cream and piece of butter
are put in with a little pepper. This
must be we'll beaten again, when the
balls are shaped and fried in very not
fat. In freshening Goldfish it IS well to
put it on the back of the range for a
quarter or half an hour before picking
it apart and it is necessary to mash and
beat the potatoes we'll separately and
then beat all the ingredients well to-
gether. The success of tishballs lies in
their being light and smooth, as we'll as
seasoned.
STRAWBERRY SHORT CAKE-Put into
vessel half pound of powdered sugar
with half a pound of we'll washed butter;
CRATE in the rind of half lemon, and
with the hand rinse we'll for ten minutes;
break in five whole eggs, one at time,
lIlC lIllAiLG, WAN VIZ iltsilN WI
minutes longer; then add gradually one.
half pound of flour well sftcd, with one
half teaspoontul of baking powder, mixed
well together. Cover a baking sheet
with good thick paper; get three cake
rings nine inches in diameter. divide the
preparation equally into the three rings
and place in moderate oven to bake
from twenty to thirty minutes. Remove
the cakes when done and allow theia
long enough time to get COOL Pick and
clean three quarts of strawberries; have
a desert dish with a fancy paper over;
lay one of the cakes on top of this,
spread over two tablespoons of whipped
cream, then cover with your strawber-
ries, nicely and evenly divided; sprinkle
literally with powdered sugar, then
cover with another cake, spread over the
cream as on the first cake Shd your
Strawberries 40, not forgetting the
sugar, then lay your last cake on; get
fluted tube into a pastry bag, put into it
six or eight tablespoonful of whipped
cream la vanillc, and with it decorate
the top of the cake in an artistic manner
and send it to the table. Chef Hughes,
in Hotel Mail.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-08-12
Caribs of the Mosquito Coast.

Among the many odd characters that
one meets in Central America none so in-
terested me as the Carib Indian of the
Mosquito Coast. Imagine my surprise,
therefore, when | learned that | was to
spend two days on the river with seven
representatives of this almost extinct
tribe.
The early history of this people seems
shrouded in mystery. Some writers trace
their origin to aboriginal cannibals, while
others declare that they are the descend
ants of shipload ofAfricaus wrecked on
the shores of Honduras many hundreds
of years ago. Even in the time of
Columbus, Belt says, they were krown
as warllke race, ever ready to Itavage
the villages of the peace-loving N4huat-
ais. Whichever may be the true theory, the
present Carib of Nicaragua certainly savors
more of the African than of the Indian.
Not only does he possess the characteris-
tic features of the former, but also the
cultural dialect of the tribes a!S1g the
west coast of Africa. They are tall
athletic looking race, with skins smooth
as velvet and black as ebony. The fact
that they all speak a little English con-
firms my belief in their Honduras origin.
When the Carib is not drunk he is
marvellous worker, and can paddle
against strong current from daylight
until dark, never stopping even for food.
While hunting the rubber he first gorges
himself, and then goes into the woods,
where he subsists for several DAYS on the
juice of the water-vine alone. Four or
five of these fellows have been known to
gather around the carcass of a wild
"chancho' weighing over two hundred
pounds, and never rise until the animal
had been eaten to the bone.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-08-12
WITHOUT A LARYNX.
Remarkable Effort at Speech With a
Closed WindDiuc

Fourteen months ago DR.. J. Soils.
Cohen of Philadelphia, in an operation
for the removal of cancer, cut away his
patients larynx and closed up the wind
pipe. The man brcathcd through a tube
inserted in the operation of trachcotomy.
He has recently acquired speech with his
windpipe closed. DIR. Soils Cohen is
the throat specialist of jefferson College,
and the operation of cutting away the
larynx was performed at his clinic. The
man on whom the operation was per
formed was then and is still an inmate
of the Philadelphia Hospital.
Six months after the operation was
performed DR.. Solis-Cohen noticed the
man making cultural sounds. Wonder,
ing how they were made, he examined
the movements of the mans mouth, and
the process of the sounds formation was
explained. The man drew the air into
his mouth and down his throat to where
it was sewed together, and then, com
pressing it, forced it out between the
throat muscles, which, acting as the vo-
cal chords, produced the sounds
At the annual meeting of the Amcri-
can chronological Association in New
York DR.. Soils Cohen exhibited the man
to the best known throat specialists in
the United States. They pronounced it
one of the most wonderful feats of mod
ern archaeological surgery. The man sang
for them, and talked so that they could
distinctly hear his voice thirty feet away
Dr. Soils Cohen had intended to exhibit
the mans larynx, which was removed
whole and preserved. to the association,
but, unfortunately, it arrived too late.
DR.. Soils Cohen, who asked for an &C.
count of the case, said Il found the
man in the Philadelphia Hospital over a
year ago suffering from cancer of the
larnyx. The disease had advanced to
such a stage that it was necessary to adopt
heroic measures, and determined TO cut
the larnyx out. AS patients in such
cases usually die after the operation
of pneumonia caused by the mu.
Gus and pus running down into the
lungs, l devised the following
plan: Before cutting out the diseased lar
ynx opened his windpipe and inserted a
tube, so that he could breathe. Then
sewed it up tightly between the aperture
and the larynx and performed the oper-
alton. No mucus could possibly get
down into the lungs, and | was well
pleased with the result of the operation.
Of course, never anticipated ,his curl
Gus result The wounds healed nicely,
and all communication between his lungs
and mouth ceased. One day about six
months ago. when | was talking to him
in the hospital, noticed he was attempt
ing to talk, and was succeeding in max.
ing some sounds. Asking him if he
could do this at will, he replied that he
could, and SO encouraged him to con-
tinue his efforts. He gradually learned
to use his throat muscles with better re-
suits, and now, considering the condition
he is in, talks remarkably we'll. The
aperture in his throat, too, healed nicely,
and he only uses the tube in the daytime
now, taking it out when he goes to bed
at night. The man is a teamster, about
so years old, and, up to the time of the
development of the cancer, was u healthy
man. New York Sun.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-08-12

A physician's little child swallowed
oxalic acid. Her father looked about
for an alkaline antidote, hastily scraped
some lime into his hand from the
whitewashed wall and administered it
in some water with successful re-.
suit. The instance is a notable one,
thinks the New York Sun, of the saw
ing common sense that distinguishes
the born physician from the nero
school product. Doctor Sterling of
Sag Harbor, N. j., with his feminine
quickness Of wit, is an ornament to
his profession.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-08-12


II is stated that the proportion Of
physicians to population, in the
United States, is one in 600. In Eng
land the ratio is one in 1O00,in France
one in 5000, aud tn Germany one in
$500. It is probable, suggests the
the New York News, that the dis
crepancy may be accounted for in the
fact that medical practice is more
profitable business in the United
States than any other country on earth.
The average German physician, for
instance, would be glad to get half the
rates for his practice that the New
York physician Of even grade enjoys.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-08-12
A Great New State.

Young America builds bigger than his
forefathers. Wyoming is not an cxcep-
tionally large State, yet it is as big as the
six States of New England and Indiana
combined Indiana itself is the size Of
Portugal, and is larger than Ireland. 1t
is with more than ordinary curiosity that
one approaches Wyoming during a
course of study of the new Western
States. From the palace cars of the
Union Pacific railroad, that carries tide
of transcontinental travel across its full
length, there is little to see but brown
bunch grass, and yet we know that on
its surface of 365 miles of length and 275
miles of width are many mountain
ranges and noble river-threaded valleys
of such beauty that great block of the
land is to be forever preserved in its
present condition as the Yellowstone
National Park. We know that for
years this had been a stockman's para
disc, the greatest seat of the cattle in
dustry north of Texas-the stamping
ground of the picturesque cowboys who
had taken the place of the hunters who
came from the most distant points in
Europe to kill big game there. We know
that in the mysterious depths of this
huge State the decline of its first great
activity was, last year, marked by pc
culiar disorder that necessitated the call
ing out of troops; but that was flash in
pan, much exaggerated at a distance
and easily gueted at the time. For the
rest, most well-informed citizens outside
the State know nothing more than the
misnaming of the State implies, for the
pretty Indian word Wyoming, copying
the name of historic locality iu the
East, is said to mean "plains land.'-
Julian Ralph, in Harper's Magazine.
Black lace forms the fabric of vast
number of capes and collarettes, and
will be much used in dresses also. A
novelty among lace materials for gowns
shows chrysanthemums of various shades
of light brown and yellow on double
black net.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-08-12
TIE GRACE WAS TOO LONG.

There is little chap up on Price Hill
who will make trouble in religious cir
Giles some of these days if he is not
Systematically trained in 1.-THE way he
should go" He was over at his grand
fathers for dinner yesterday, and sat
buckled in the old high chair ready for
the onslaught. His grandfather, rev.
erent old gentleman, and one of the
worthiest of the world, bent his snowy
head and began his usual lengthy grace.
Sammy never rclishes those famous
graccs at best, and when, just in the
middle of this extra long one for com
pany, the old gentleman paused dcliber-
ately and yawned several tedious times,
the infant could stand it no longer.
Leaning over, he tapped him on the
arm with his big spoon and whispered
energeticaly:
''Det move, dranpa-det move for
Gracious sake-Ts hungy as bear,'
Grandpa "got a move Cincinnati
Commercial Gazette.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-08-12

The Chicago Herald observes:
The population Of Massachusetts, is
rapidly becoming conglomerate. Bos-
ton Is one of the great Irish cities Of
the world. There are already several
hundred thousand French. Canadians
and large number of other Canadians
in the state. The Greek colony Of
Boston has become so large that O
Greek paper has been started in that
city, and riot the other day in
Worcester between Armenians and
Mohamedans calls attention to the
presence of Asiatic races in the state.
The old Bunker Hill monuments wit
Messing remarkable changes in the
character of the population.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-08-12
-SPEARING A SALMON.

All being ready, the old man steps
aboard with the spear, and takes his
place in the bow. The torch in front
frying of grease the flame leaps upward,
and with its yellow glare lights up the
bushes, the nearer tree-trunks, and the
surface of the water. Quickly stepping
in also, the stern man, with Il long pole
in lieu of paddle. gives push or two,
and the canoe glides out on the surface
of the pool But it is too quickly done,
for the pool, shallow there, is lighted to
the very bottom as with the light of
day, and several huge black objects
move away into the deep and somber
places. With q splash the spear is
quickly thrust down into the water after
a departing shadow, but it is too late.
Then the canoe is cautiously driven to-
ward the deeper place at the head of the
pool, and as it nears the other end, one,
two, six, ten, twenty great shadowy
forms dart, one after the other, toward
the foot of the pool, past them.
Down goes the spear, not with splash,
but with steady thrust. 1t strikes the
bottom, but the fish is already several
feet away, and it is drawn back empty.
Several times this happens. Has the old
man lost his former skill9 Soon he sus.
poets that the new pole, like bright
streak moving toward them, frightens
them.
A new supply of bark isneeded, so
they return to the camp. The spear is
held over the fire until it is blackened
from end to end and is no longer con-
spicuous. So confident is the old hunter
OF getting fish, that he makes ready to
eat him at once. He pokes up the fire,
throws on some fresh wood, and sets a
kettle of water to boil. He peels some
potatoes, which he has brought along
(perhaps for the very purpose), and puts
them into the water
Meanwhile the salmon have recovered,
doubtless, from their first scare. SO,
with fresh supply of torches, they start
again, this time with more dcliberation,
for the long black pirogue has not en-
tered the length of itself upon the pool,
before down goes the spear. Hand over
hand it is pushed, and, it seems, will
never stop. 1t reaches the sandy bottom
.nd sticks there. 1t sways as II some
thing is Juggling at the end of it. Then,
~ he would lift a load of hay on pitch
lurk, the old man gradually raises the
end of the spear. Out comes black
nose, then there is Tapping and splash
ing of fins and powerful tail, and the
first salmon is caught Quickly the old
man draws the fish to the side of the
canoe, lifts it on board, caught and held
firmly by the stout jaws. 1t is released,
and lies upon the bottom of the canoe
only y four-pounder. Only a four
FOUNDER, the smallest one of the whole
crowd, when plenty of them locked as
big as stove-pipes! And there was one,
much bigger than any of the rest, which
looked fully four feet long. Sometimes,
when those big fellows do get caught,
the spearman let's 90 entirely. and when
St. Landry democrat., 1893-08-12

The New York Tribune gives tho
following quotations of the prices Of
foreign titles for American girls:
German barons, $4,000; French
counts, $50, 900 to 100000. according
to family, place, etc. In Italian
princes the stock is very speculative,
the title sometimes going as high rs
$500, 900, and at other seasons falling
to a rediculously low figure. In fact,
oil the continental patents of nobility
may be said to have fictitious value
and fuctuate considerably, but for
solid investment there 10 nothing like
English titles. These have Increased
in value enormously of late years., :.aa
it now takes $500, 900 to 81, 900, 900 to
buy o nobleman Of high rank.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-08-12

SAYS the New York Witness: '1f
che manuscript of the four Gospels
which Professor Fendel Harris has
lust discovered in the convent on
Mount Sinai shall really prove to be
older than any of the manuscripts Of
the Gospels previously discovered,
and to be in the dialect in which they
were originally written, it will be a
treasure of priceless value as an aid
to the publication of modern versions
from such errors as may have crept
into Them"
St. Landry democrat., 1893-08-12

q The exhibit of the National League
for Good Roads at the Worlds Fair
cannot fail to accomplish great things
for the cause. 1t will show those
concerned the difference between q
first-class road and bad one, and
teach them the rudiments, at least, of
scientific roadmakiug.. Thus interest
in the subject will be aroused and
wisely directed. "The exhibit will be
one of the attractions of the Depart
ment of Agriculture, and it is to be
hoped" remarks the New York Trib-
une, "that no one of our New York
farmers who visit the fair will miss
seeing it."
St. Landry democrat., 1893-08-12

The city debt Of Chicago, including
the $4,000 bonds issued to the
Worlds Fair, is s1s, 100000. This is
most favorable showing compared
with other cities. The debt of New
York city is s1ss, 100000, but the
money in the sinking fund reduces the
net amount to $99,ooo,OOo. Brook
lyn has a debt of 81, ooo,o Boston
of $50, 800, 900, Philadelphia of $780,
100000, Cincinnati the same; St.
Louis Of s21, 800, 900 and Washington
of $40, 1000, 900.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-08-12
THE SPIDERS ENEMY.

A writer gives an interesting account
of the curious habits of the ichncumon-
fly of Ceylon, the natural enemy of the
spider. This insect is green in color,
and in form resembles wasp, with a
marveilously thin waist 1t makes its
nest of well-worked clay, and then goes
out on hunting expedition. Its vic
TINS are invariably spiders of various
kinds, but all are subject to the same
mode of treatment A scientific sting
injccts some poison which effectually
paralyzcs the lucklcss spider, who is then
carried off to the nest and there fastened
with dab of moist clay
Another and another victim is brought
to this chamber of horrors Then the
president mother ichneumon- fly proceeds
to deposit her eggs one in the body of
each spider, which can Just move its
legs in vague, aimlcss manner, but can
afford no resistance. This done, the fly
retur S to her work as q mason. She
prepares more clay and builds up the en-
trance to this CHASTITY cell. Then she
commences Il new cell, which she furn-
ishcs in like manner, and closes; then
she adds yet another cell, and so pro-
cceds till her store of eggs are all pro-
vided for, and, her task in life being
accomplished, she dies, leaving her evil
brood to hatch at leisure. In due time
these horrid little maggots come to life
and find themselves cradIed in a larder
of fresh meat. Each poor spider is still
alive, and his juices afford nutriment for
the ichneumon grub, till it is ready to
pass into its chrysalis stage, thence to
emerge as winged fly, fully prepared
to carry out the traditions of its ancestors
with regard to spiders, aud to fulfil the
purpose for which they have been
created, according to ichneumon belief.
- Leisure Hour.