The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-14
WITH THE SCIENTISTS.
Curious Facts and Figures
Cleaned in the World of
Medicine.
A Complaint Peculiar to Streetcar
Conductors 1t Is Named
"Cable Back"

We have often wondered perhaps why so
many great statesmen, lawyers, doctors,
and in fact all workers, are able to
continue to work with almost unimpaired
activity and energy up to period in their
lives when their general condition seems to
be rapidly advancing 70 senile decay. An
authority on this subject, DIR. Balfour,
tells US that there is a physiological reason
for this. He says that there are two parts
of the human organism that escape senlle
inactivity if wisely used. They are the
brain and the heart
He affirms that the normal brain re-
mains vigorous to the last because its
nutrition is especially provided for. Soon
after middle life the arteries OF the body
begin to lose their elasticity and gradually
dilate to such a degree that they become
inefficient carriers of the nutrient blood to
the smaller blood vessels, which supply
nourishment to various parts of the body.
There are two important arteries, how
ever, which supply the small vessels OF the
brain, that do not lose their elasticity,
hence the cerebral blood pressure remains
normally higher than in any other part of
the organism, and consequently the brain
substance is we'll nourished while other
parts degenerate through lack of nourish-
ment.
What comfort this ought to be to those
who have passed middle age, ambitious for
grand work in the future, and yet filled
with fears as 10 their ability to carry out
their plans, owing to the knowledge that
old age will soon be creeping upon them.
| This is surely a time for rejoicing, when
we are given physiological guarantee that
the brain may keep on with its work, and
that we may even expect it to be in such
an improved condition that the excellence
of the work performed improves, perhaps,
| to the last hour OF life.
In Japan the 'new woman" has asserted
! herself, and she is an American. She is
| the wife of native japanese, named
| Suganuma, and is the first woman physl-
| clan to be officially recognized py me
| Japanese Government.
| In England they are discussing the plan
of having hospitals on wheels (not bicycles)
| to be used during epidemlcs throughout
the thinly populated districts.
The New York Sun comments on the
| Hahnemann monument to be erected In
| Washington as follows: GAS work OF art
we know of nothing better in this country
than the model for the Hahnemann monu-
ment to be erected in Washington.
The Washington monument will be the
| third erected in Hahnemann'S honor.
There is one in Berlin and there is another
in Leipzig. We cannot think of any other
doctor thus widely honored."
| After careful study of the "grip" IN
| New York E. B. Dunn of the Weather Blu
reau states that the higher the humidity
and the more sudden the fall of tempera-
ture the greater the number of deaths.
| A physician tells us that with regard to
the weight of the human body several fal-
| lacies are common. He who reioices over
a gain of number of pounds in weight
during a given period may be laboring
under great delusion. This investigator
says that very few persons have any cor
| rect idea of their own weight. The weight
of the body is continually changing, owing
to influences of varying types.
After breakfast. on a warm day, man
will lose more than one-third of a pound
per hour. Seventy per cent OF the body Is
water, and its weight varies constantly.
The inference drawn from the loss or gain
of pound or two cannot be relied upon.
Fluctuations of few ounces are sign
that the body is in healthy state.
A man named Oscar Tully of Yardville,
N. j., was obliged to have his vermiform
appendix removed some time ago, and
from all accounts it has proved quite
good thing for him, as the obstruction was
found to be large pearl, which must have
been swallowed in an oyster, and Tor which
he has been offered $500, but he has re-
fused the offer as he thinks the pearl Is
worth more.
In Central America, at the foot OF the
Volcano Aqua, buried city, similar to
Pompeii, is being excavated. Skeletons
over six feet long have been found at
depths of fourteen to eighteen feet. Jewels,
fine glassware, pottery and flint instru-
ments have also been discovered
The medical profession of Vienna pro-
poses to commemorate the fiftieth year of
the reign of the Emperor Francis Joseph
of Austria by the foundation OF hospital
for children. with a capacity of 1000 beds
The United States has 1900 medical
students, the German universities have
5000 and England has only 552.
If spoon is placed in a glass before