Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-09-09


The way in which drugs conduct them
selves when they get into the body almost
proves them to have some strange sort
of intelligence. When you lave neural
gia Of the face you can take nothing bet
ter than a good dose of quinine; but if you
have sciatica, quinine does not do the
least good. Yet ~sciatica is just the same
disease as neuralgia of the face. The
latter is an i~nfianlmatory state of the
fifth nerve,' and the former is an in
lammatory state of the ''sciatic nerve
But while quinine makes directly for the
fifth nerve, and subdues the intla1nna-
ton, it let's the sciatlc nerve severely
alone.
Lead makes a curious choice. also. in
its point of attack. If you ever see a
painter or plumber suffering from lead
poisoning. you will find that. in addition
to being very pale and weak, he has lost
the use of one or both wrists. If he
holds out his arm his hand drops per-
Tectly ~lifelesS, and he annot raise it by
the strongest effort Of will. In some curl
GUS way the lead has affected the nerve
that goes to the muscle which lifts the
hand, and has cut off communication
with the brain. 1t always affects this
particular nerve IN the same way. while
it leaves the other nerves almost un-
touched. Lead has another curious ac-
ton on the body. 1t nearly always
makes it's appearance along the gum IN
the form of a blue line. This line is one
of the w~ell-known signs of ~lead-poison-
ing.
Chloroform and ether seem to nave
been designed by Providence to render
surgical operations painless. When chlo-
reform is administered to a patient it
first attacks the higher functions of the
brain, destroying judgment, menor and
will. Then it goes a bit lower, and takes
away the senses of hearing and sight and
speech. Then it paralyzes the part OF
the brain that feels. If the surgeon car
ries the administration beyond this, he
stops the mans heart and lungs, and
kills him.
Now. if chloroform acted the other way
attacking the lower brain centers first,
and gradually getting up to the higher
ones-it would be quite useless as an
anaesthetic. The first thing it would do
in this case is to stop the heart and lungs,
and would kill him before rendering him
insensible.
Arsenic gives a very strange and use
full warning when one is taking it for his
health's sake. Doctors know no better
tonic than this terrible poison, and they
often build up a mans constitution by
its aid. But it accumulates in the sys-
tenn, and although given in small and
lldIll1IeSS uOSGS, luG uudllIly leLdlIeu III
the body soon reaches a poisonous
amount.
Just before this occurrence, however. it
gives a warning. which makes the doctor
stop administering it.. The way it man.
ages to do this is by causing a sore sensa-
ton in the eyes, as if they contained
sand. If ever you nave a feeling of sand
in the eyes, day after day. you had better
consider whether you have not an enemy,
or whether some one is not anxious to
inherit your property. Anyhow, you are
probably just on the brink of the grave
from arsenic poisoning.
Salicylic acid. SO much used for pre-
serving milk, is one Of the best corn-cures
known. In fact. no corn can resist It's
attack. If you get some salicylic acid
dissolve it in ether, and apply the solu-
ton to your corn, it will eat the corr
away bit by bit: in a few days you Will
be quite cornless. But, for some inexpli-
cable reason although salicylic acid eats
away the corn. it does not injure the
healthy skin. Yet a corn is only hard
ened skin. How does the salicylic aele
distinguish the hardened skin? 1t seems
as if it was put into the world to cure
corns.
LIllustrazoine Italiana, the leading IL
Illustrated weekly of tally, publishes th'
facts of the most peculiar case of theft
of an old master that has ever come t.
the notice OF the cOnnOiSSeurS and tn
%art-loving public at large, not only il
that picturesque country, but through
all Europe. 1t is said to be characteristic
of the manner in which Italian nobleme,
may dispose of their aluable heirloom
to strangers, thus evading the law, Which
distinctly provides that no old maste
shall leave he country, but if the i'm
pecuniosity of the holder makes it's dis
position imperative. the government, an
not a foreigner, shall be the purchaser
AS rich strangers are likely to dig up tn
price far beyond that of the government
it is not remarkable that mobiles resort t
clever and picturesque means to hood
wink the government and at the sam
time throw a sop to their w con
sciences.
The recent fame which befell the mas
terpiece of Sander Botticelli, the proper
ty of Prince Mario Chigi, of Rome. say
LIllustrazoine Italiana, lis like liftin
ones eyebrows at lovers that have flow
and rejecting upon the strange vicissi
tudes of the goddess Fortune. Who eve
dreamed that at this end of the centur
q buyer could be found to pay 315. 900 lir
(about $63, 000) for an old painting a