New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-07
MEDICAL AND SANITARY NOTES.

MEDICAL AND SANITARY NOTES.
| Nerve Points In the Skin.-The theory recently
preached that heat influences set OF nerve points
In the skin while sensations OF cold are received by
another set is reported to have been followed
by interesting investigation the part Of two
Italian psychologists whose experiments are thought
to indicate that the various tastes result from the
exciting Of distinct sets OF nerve fbres In the
tongue. 1t appears that the prolonged application OF
sour salt and bitter cocaine destroyed. though tenn
porarily. sensbility for bitter only; other sub
power Of discriminating between different degrees OF
bitter and dilute sulphurc acid is reported as caus-
at the tip of the tongue. although the bitter of the
quinine was elsewhere tasted as usual
Effect Of Plants in Sleeping Rooms-The question
as 10 the effect OF plants in sleeping apartments
the health Of the occupants would TO have been
satisfactorily determined by recent tests in Lon
don conservatory. In the latter, containing some
5000 plants in the middle OF the day oxygen had so
far increased on the carbon doxide that out OF
10000 parts chemical examination proved only 40 TO
be carbon doxide whereas the normal proportion Of
purest air is about four parts in 10000 After be-
ing shut up twelve hours, the air in the green
house at noon thus proved to be surcharged with
oxygen The same air was analysed just before sun
rise and the carbonic dioxide had far gained on
the oxygen that the proportion OF 1t almost
actly four per 10000 Taking therefore, the twenty
four hours round the day Is found just about TO
balance the night.
Strange Source Of Nervous Maladie.-A somewhat
heroic French scientist Is credited with having bold
y declared that large number Of nervous maiadies
| from which girls at the present day suffer are TO
be attributed to playing the piano. Statistics show.
according to this authority. that OF 1000 girls who
study this instrument before the age Of twelve no
less than 600 suffer from this class OF disorders
while OF those who do not begin III later there are
only some 200 per 1000 and only 100 per Loo among
those who have never worked It, the violin is also
! proved TO be equally injurious. The remedy sug-
gesed Is that children shogld not be permitted to
at least or IN case of delicate constitutions. not till
a still later
| A Typical Infectious Dlsease.-The distinguished
| Dr. Bonger, Of Germany, maintains that croupous
pneumonia is typical local infectious disease. pur-
suing, In the majority OF cases. regular course.
and IL not dangerous account OF the duration or
the intensity OF the fever the impairment Of the
function Of the lung is likewise insufficient TO
| plain death. Is the ocdema frequently found
in the parts OF the lung spared by the disease the
result OF passvely increasing collateral hyper
| that the collapse symptoms In croupous pneumonia
| and the fatal weakening Of the heart dependent
the Cardiac muscle already weakened by the fever
and the extra demands upon It: anaema Of the BRAIN
! too. may cause disturbance of innovation OF the
| heart, and this may be additional factor The
udate into the lung tissue may be likened to
| few days deprves the blood OF large quantity OF
| important constituents. The reason. he says. why
stage Of the disease from the sixth to the eighth
day is probably because the exudate has to attain
facts therefore being applied to therapeuss. It fol-
pneumonia every effort should be made to Combat
the oligaemia.
Atmospheric Bearings Health.-The important
| bearing upon bodily health Of the electrical cond-
| tons Of the atmosphere has received much atten-
ton lately. As evidence of this there Is cited by
physicians that tendency to headache irritability
| and general malaise experienced by many persons
Just previous to thunderstorm. In this connection
| It has been said that among the conditions predis-
posing to sunstroke in India there has been noticed
the peculiar condition Of the air In which the hairs
OF the head stand on end. and in which ex-
posed to Its influence becomes irritable. headachy
matter with him. Various observers have rema rked.
Increased frequency Of cases Of heat apopieay The
precise cause OF this phenomena has. however not
been determined.
| Chemical Constituents Required in Pure Milk
Chemical analysis OF milk have been frequent but
the latest official statement may be accepted doubt
less. with confidence. coming 1t does. from tho
National Board OF Health. According to this. purs
cows milk should have a specific gravity Of 103O
! and not become viscid the addition OF ammo
mum hydrate-should yield from ten to fourteen
volumes per cent OF cream. and never less than
per cent by weight, as exhibited by the modern
| methods OF analysis; on microscopic examination It
|
formed gobues Of fat. entirely soluble IN potassium
hydrate The normal amount Of water Is about 81
per cent, and the total solids will vary from ~ 10
per cent according TO the OF the COW. It's food.
| etc. Further. pure cows milk ought contain
about per cent Of casein including u to per cent
OF serum album , and about per cent Of sugar Of
sodium. potassium and calcium chlorides and phos-
| pilates.
Data OF Anaesthetics.-The result OF a collective
| investigation. instituted by the members OF the
German Surgical Society. Berlin. Of the frequency
and fatality OF anaesthesia induced by various
agents and combinations reported. The statis-
tics extend over period Of five recent years the
anaesthetics employed and treated Of being choro-
form. ether. chloroform and ether IN combinat ton
chloroform and ether and alcohol in combina tion
| ethyl bromide and pental. The record for chloro.
form is POI 224 cases. with IS Deaths or 1 8: 22s6:
that of ether. 42lH cases. with deaths
or 600: Of the mixtures. chloroform and
| ether were tested in lO,l62 cases with one
death: chloroform. ether and alcohol have a
| record Of 5,744 cases, with death: ethyl bro
mde used In 1851 cases. with two deaths: last
three deaths. A notable feature In this showing is
that ether uncombined. holds the score against
| chloroform by about two and one-haf TO one while
ether and chloroform In combination are safer than
| chloroform alone by ratio OF nearly five to one,
and safer than ether alone by about one and half
| to one.
Injury from Antiseptics.-Medcal authorities are
now expressing themselves In no uncertain terms
to the injury which may arise from the indscrimi.
nate use of antiseptics. 1t Is argued that though
persons with sound excretory organs have for years
daily taken chemicals OF this kind In their food with
out any noticeable adverse effects. II can be con-
ndently predicted that other persons with damaged
weak kidneys will be affected by weak doses-a
fact to be specially remembered also. being that d.