New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-04
MEDICAL And SANITARY NOIEH

GOVERNMENT CINCHONA PLANTATIONS
There are those who Will recall the interesting fact
that years ago the government authorizes
OF India were Induced, by the terrible mortality
prevalent among the natives. including both infants
and adults 10 put forth strenuous efforts in mitga-
tlon OF the evil. Under eminent medical suggestion
and advice. cinchona Plantations were estabhshed.
with a view, according TO the opinion current az
that time to put the onys medicine that seemed OF
any use in the Of the commoncst ana most
poorest As the result of this movement: IT appears
that since January last any individual OF the IW3,-
900 who form the population OF Bengal can oo's an
a. dose OF qunine al the nearest postonce TOT
merey farthing; and as showing ihe eX'en en- ~. 70
boon. II Is stated thar in september 10000 OF the
hve-grained pockets were served out
INTERESTING FRENCH EXPERIMENTS
Some OF the French doctors are reported as en-
deavorlng to find a remedy for what has been
termed electric suns;roke ai!ment described as
arising not from heat 50 much as from light This
peculiar affection frequently bcfal.s workmen en-
ployed in netting metals by means OF the eiectrc
process-lt appearing from observations made at
steel and iron works that the intense yoitaic arc
between the carbon and the meta. 10 pe ine ~,
eInits rays which. even al distance oi thirty I,el
produce painful. not prcking sensauoh IKE 'mS.
OF burn. on such uncovered portions oil !tle EHof
as the throat. face and more especially inc i1rr-
head. The skin 81 the parts affected oecomss enner
copper-co.ored or assumes a bronze hUr' un., -
n spite OF black glasses are 50 intensely uSH%ou -
70 be useless Tor some n,nu,eS ssryfbpg apnear
ing saffron-colored. the conjuncuvia are inramed.
eyelids there is frequently great pan a,So s.eep-
iessness. and In some cases fever The PHYSICIANS
G Sse6 h az the to ss6y @pa for this con Is per-
feet rest in a subdued Light
DISEASES IN THE NAVAL sEF'iCE-1t APP
pears from the annual report OF the health OF the
British navy that the aggregate number OF cases
OF disease and injury during the preceding year
furnished Alto OF 9339 per 1000 OF the mean force
being the lowest recorded since 1856 The greatest
improvement has been on the Mediterranean sta
ton. and there has been specially marked decrease
IN service anoat was rising $500 officers and
men. and the total Of cases Of disease ana INJURY
entered the sick list was $500 decrease com
1000. and decrease OF rising sixty-two per
Loo when compared with the average rapo n,s OF
sick daily 245l.s4; the number of DAYS sickness
service from disease and injury of about fifteen
a ratio o. IS per 900 The lowest Sex rae va. Was
on the North American and West Ihian s'duoH
and the highest on the East Indies station
A NEW POINT IN EPILEPSY-rne recent dis
covery is recorded OF a peculiar relation between
errors Of refraction and epepsy-that IS. the for
mer given a certain condition OF instability OF the
nervous system. may excite the latter. or IN other
words the relation that errors o. refrac:'on and
epilepsy hold toward each other Is that OF cause ana
effect; this II Is also remarked being mos uselri
argument be employed ir those cases where per
sons are either too thoughtless or TOO inaoie 20
have their visual refracton corrected hen neGeS-
sary. 1t is pointed out in addition 10 ne foresoins
that correction OF the errors or -llicIlon WILL
in combination with other treatment in many cases
cure or relieve the c0hepuc condition. and that al
though in some cases when the refracuon error
has been corrected tho epilepsy will continue. 1t VIII
only be In a modified form. In consequence OF other
Irritation. even though the error Of refrsctiSn
NAV have been the exciting cause OF the MS IN ne
frst instance. The opinion is consequently s'rohgN
urged that in every OF epilepsy the eyes
should be carefully examined with A View OF cor
rectng any of refracOn that may exist by the
use of proper spectdcles.
EFFECT OF FENCING on THE TEMPERA-
MENT-A discussion in English medical journal
on fencing as exercise seems TO have Jed to the
conclusion that there at least certain amount OF
truth in the assertion. not unfrequenty made. that
such an exercise taxes the brain and nervous sys-
tenn more than any other form OF diversion, be,
coming in fact a.mOst unbearable mental ana
nervous strain II is allowed by those who take TINS
view that much will depend upon temperament
that is boy of nervous CHARACTERISTIC, FOR rNampe
who Is eager and ambitious to excel IN al ne a.
tempts would probably feel the nervous strain OF
fencing especially If his brain had already pten
exercised and possibly fatigue1 by MS studies Not
wihstanding this for the education and co-ordina-
zion OF the eye, hand and muscular sense. as Vel
as the development Of activity and prompt muscular
action medical authorities agree that there is prob
ably no better exercise than that Of fencing espe-
cally II 1t be limited 10 some three hours week.