Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-05-02
ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS. |

other cities of the second and third
class are spending far moro money for
this beneticent purpose than is the
city of New York. The object which
the private society that has taken up
this work, which the city us such has
neglected, now has in view, is to es-
tablish Mt least ten more branches for
the free delivery Of books in different
parts of the city. To do this an I'M
mediate outlay of $500, 900 would be
sufficient. The consolidation of the
Aston, Lenox and Tilden Libraries will
give the city noble reference library,
but that will be for the use only OF II
limited class OF scholarly and studious
people. The masses need and ought to
have free circulating library system,
with distributing branches in every
dictrict of the city.
The new woman diseases are all the
result OF prolonged nervous strain
without complimentary forms of relax.
alton. The growth Of eye troubles is
in the main due to the American habit
of reading on movin! street and rail-
road cars by either day or night. The
amount OF damage to the eyes OF New
Workers to be attributed to the gloom
of the ~ road cars is incalcu liable,
This failure to illuminate is ~renlly n
matter affecting the public health, AMI
one that the board OF health should
take in hand. In the general line of
discovery the development of bacteri.
illogical science has enriched the med
ical vocabulary, and new names are
being given to specific forms of dis
eases that have always been known and
treated, hut fate has given the world in
the line of fevers, lung, blood and liver
troubles nothing that can be called
new. AS a matter of fact, the physical
condition OF the world is steadily i'm
proving, and many ills that were com.
mon in the days of our youth are rare
in these days, while the number Of
diseases that are themselves necessarily
fatal after once obtaining a foothold
are diminishing rapidly. Smallpox,
diphtheria, meningitis, scarlet fever
and many zymotic and pulmonary
troubles that formerly meant doom
now yield readily to treatment. On
the whole the doctors have the best of
the fight. As to the new nervous dis
seases, it is within the power of any
one to avoid them. A recent allega.
ton that people who ride habitually in
street cars become cross. eyed was not
seriously taken. A disease that is
peculiar to street Car conductors was
found to be caused by the conductors
own carelessness in handling brass
ratings without gloves and then rub.
bling theireyes. There arc absolutely no
diseases peculiar to railroad engineers
or brakemen, which is rather re.
markable. Official investigation of
the tenement houses, the sweat shops,
and the large stores and factories,
where women are employed developed
nothing but ills that are attributed to
long hours, insufficient food and bad
ventilation, but are not ut all distinc.
tive with the classes mentioned.
State commissioner of agriculture
+. G. Schraub has transmitted to the
Legislature his report for tho past
year. In regard to milk the growing
tendency in the stale, says the report,
is to produce quantity at the expense
of quality in the production. This re.
suit has been produced by expert
ments which tend to show, if they do
not absolutely prove that the value of
milk for both butter and cheese is the
quantity of fat contained in the milk.
Many creameries are purchasing milk
according to that standard. This
is great encouragement and
help in improving the quality of
milk. About 1,O8O, 100000 quarts
Of milk were consumed in this state last
year, of which 460.OOO,OOO quarts
were used in New York city. In de-
Tense of the legal standard for milk in
this state, and in opposition to all ar
guments for modification of that
standard, the report states: 1t is no.
torious that about 80 per cent of all
the milk sold upon the market o-day
comes above the state standard, while
it is equally notorious that prior to its
institution three.qunrters of the milk
came below it. I believe from phys
biological standpoint that oleomarga-
rine is an unhealthful product. 1t has
been the policy of the state to
brand it as such and to protect the
public from it as substitute for
pure butter. l am of the opinion that
the surveillance should be continued
without relaxation. The present de-
preston in the cheese market is pro-
duced by what's known as filled cheese.
Under our law it cannot be made in
this state, but millions of pounds were
made during the past year in Illinois.
and have found their way into this
state. The sale of this cheese has
done much to discredit American
cheese in foreign markets. The re-
port condemns this cheese as strongly
as it does oleomargarine, and Endorses
an act pending before Congress, to res
strict its manufacture.
NcW IOTh Guy IlhS u uottcI uuueI'
standing of the Raines liquor law
since last Sundays experience. 1t
was the wettest first day Of the week
since Roosevelt began to enforce the
old laws. The hole which boss Platt
left in the law for mis- friends and for
purposes of popularization has been
found in the section constituting as a
hotel any place with 10 bedrooms and
a hotel sign over the door, and hotels
can sell on Sunday in connection with
meals. But the definition OF a
meal is left rs elastic as one
could choose to make it. In conse.
quence many of the worst rumholes in
the city were wide open on Sunday
and doing a tremendous business.
Mere shanties on the East side hung
out hotel sign, and being able to
exhibit 10 rooms for guests proceeded