The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-23

MUCH more common however, II ef1c hA'~'s
often placed on the cold water faucet with
the idea that it catches various germs.
good and bad, and organic matter that
may vitiate the water. These are, in
theory. good. but in practice, bad, for they
are actually filth traps of the worst de-
scription. In experiments made by the
Buffalo Health Department water drawn
from these filter-protected faucets was
found teeming with bacteria and actually
contained more germs than unfiltered
water. The danger of drinking filtered
water was shown 70 be seventeen times
greater than that of drinking unsltered
water. The filters, at best, clarity the
water, making 1t beautifully limpid, but
they are veritable germ-breeders, the more
prolific the longer they are used. Any old
filter, according to the public idea, will
improve the quality of the water, but this
is a most dangerous fallacy. Other things
being equal, reversible filter is the best,
since 1t is occasionally washed clean If
folks will take the trouble to turn it, Per-
haps as eficacious filter as any, at any
rate simple and inexpensive one, is to
make a bag of flannel and tie 1t around
the nozzle of the faucet. Two, at least,
Of these should be made, and the one
should take the place of the other while
it is turned inside out, washed and boiled
every day. Such a filter will catch in
furious matter communicating the water,
and If changed daily, will not serve as
neat and breeding place for offensive germs
and decaying matter.
At this time of the year the daily papers
have their usual notices of death from
mushrooms-a most horrible death, by the
way. These are always accidental, case
of mistaken identity for which there is
really no excuse. By addressing the De-
partment of Agriculture, at Washington
books and colored charts descriptive of the
edible and poisonous fungi may be OBJ
tanned which will enable persons to dis
tinguish the good from the bad. 1t would
also be good idea If these charts were
displayed in schools and other places where
they would make an impression, but unless
the person collecting these fungi has con-
siderable experience this nutritious and
palatable dish should not be INDUCED in.
Even the edible mushrooms are only safe
in their prime, they are prone to de-
velop poisons in decaying, so they must be
consumed as soon possible after gather
ing 1t is also important that the mush-
rooms be free from grubs and larvae Of
flies and other insects.
Briefly stated, the following are the gem
eral rules by which edible fungi may be
distinguished from poisonous ones: Re-
ject all which become dark when bruised:
all that have an unpleasant odor or taste;
all that have a very thin, slender stem,
a turn-down collarette, white lamallae, or
whose tops are studded with white or gray
wart-like excrescences. Some of the most
delicious mushrooms have some of these
qualities, but they are common to the pois-
onous ones. Woody and corky fungi are
of course, inedible. The surest way to
avoid error is to get someone well ac-
quainted with mushrooms to point out the
edible varieties and confine yourself to
such as you know are safe. They should
be gathered after the dew is off the grass.
and should not be too far advanced in
growth. The poisonous effects of poisonous
mushrooms do not as rule, appear i'm
mediately after eating, but only after sew
eral hours, and the worst effects occur be-
tween thirty-six and forty-eight hours after
eating them. The symptoms reach their
height very rapidly after the onset, and the
patient usually passes away rapidly, al
though in some cases he may finger in
agony for five or six days.
Burghart, in an article in the Berliner
| Klinische Wochenschrift. gives a valuable
resume of the treatment of consumption.
| Fever is combatted with rest and cold alb
| lutions, with pyramidon, quinine. phena-
cetine as drugs. Night sweats may be
| checked by sponging with water, aromatic
| vinegar, or water with little citric or
tartaric acid in solution. A per cent. men,
! thol solution or 10 per cent. of formalin
| and 8 to per cent. of peppermint oil
| in alcohol is also efficacious Pleuritic
| pains in the chest are relieved by mus
| tard plasters or by felt splint. In Cb-
| stinate cases morphine may be given eau
| tiously. Much stress is given to the pre-
| tentative treatment by hardening the sys-
| tenn when there is a predisposition to
| phthisis. Outdoor life is recommended,
with abundant sleep and proper, generous
! diet with plenty of meat Burghart es-
| pecially recommends sugar as of value as
food and prescribes nearly seven ounces
| of beet or cane sugar daily. Alcohol may
| also be used in small quantities. but ii
may be dispensed with if desired, as it is
| not an essential element in the treat
| ment.
DR.. Stone, in very humane article re.
| garding the treatment of the insane, says
such patients require exercise and fresh
| air, and that occupation of some kind is
very useful. Change of scenery is good fol
most patients, but travel Is often harmful
| on account of the excitement and irregular
habits of eating and sleeping. Many case:
| can be treated in well-ordered home, anC
/ in most cases the home treatment should
| be thoroughly tried before removal is de-
| cided upon, provided there is no homicidal
| suicidal or destructive form of mania. The
| patients room should be a pleasant one
| convenient to the ground, and a careful
| nurse should be with the patient constant
| ly. Aside from the disgrace always asso
| ciated with asylum, which is always
bitter memory and reproach to those wine
have been temporarily insane and re
strained, incarceration in an asylum seri
ously affects the mind and spirits of per
sons who recover.
| Various forms of medicated food hav,
been suggested at times. such as laxative