The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-07-28
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

of bowls, in which only three pins were
used, set up at the angles of a TRAN
gle. When, in bowling ten pins, all
were kno .ked down except the three
at the corners, the set was said to be
knocked into a cooked hat" whence
the popular expression for deprivIng
anything of its main body, character
or purpose.
Recent census figures, according to
an article in the Philadelphia Medical
Journal, seem to establish beyond a
question or a doubt the fact that the
birth-rate in this country is lower
than that of any European country
excepting France: that the birth-rate
of the American-born population is
much below that of France: and that
the fecundity of the American woman
is lower than that of the woman of
any other country. France is alarmed
at her condition: we are Indifferent,
for we are constantly recruiting our
population from Russia, from Sweden,
from Germany, from Ireland, or from
Canada.
-Currie, of Edinburgh, employed a
thermometer in the treatment of ty-
phoid fever patients with the cold
douche as early as 1897. He was ridi-
as an instance of medical decay in
English medicine. The first clinical
application of the thermometer was
made by Santocius of Padua He in
vented thermometer open at the end.
After being held by the patient it was
plunged into cold water. Boerhave
taught the Importance of the Their
mometer. De Haen-1704 to 1776-must
be given the honor of introducing the
fl1ne N@E~ e..4o 4
bedside. 1t was not until 1850 to 1870
that 1t came into general use.
During 1901 smallpox occurred in
every state and territory of the I'm
ion. The number of cases reported for
the six months ended Dec. 80, 1900, was
1876, with 1877 deaths, a mortality of
/. rs per cent. For the six months end
ed Ian. 80, 1901, S0,710 cases were re-
ported, with $50 deaths, mortality
of 1.79 per cent. For the whole year
the number of cases was 3S,506 and
deaths $50, showing a mortality of 179
per cent. During the year ended June
80, 1900, there were 1858 cases report
ed with 735 deaths, a mortality of AS
per cent. 1t is believed that the cases
reported this year, as well as the
deaths, were more in accordance with
the exact figures than those during the
preceding year. and the percentage of
deaths of 1,79 per cent. is deemed to
be the correct mortality.
"A remarkable instance of a battery
of accumulators working under water
was recently given at the municipal
electric plant In Munich. The station is
situated on an island in the Isar, and
during the flood the water covered the
batteries. According to the Scientific
American, one of the batteries which
ran the car lines was completely cut
out, and it was thought that the other,
which furnished light, would have to
be treated in the same way. The fly
wheels of the engines were half in the
water. Nevertheless, as it was almost
indispensable to light at least the prin-
cipal streets of the city, it was de-
cided to try to operate the submerged
battery. The attempt was successful,
ard the battery, which had been con /.
structed to give 5000 ampere- hours
with 600-ampere discharge, was able
to furnish 1000 ampere-hours during
the night The remainder was lost in
discharges in the water.
"A doctor recently read a paper en-
titled THE Influence of Mental De-
preston on the Development of Malig-
nant Diseases" in which he dwelt at
length on the history of cancer as at
fected by mental depression. Pare, in
1910, he said, was the first to refer to
mental perturbation, anger and the
like, as making cancer more fierce
and raging" while the same author
ity, under the head of treatment, in
sists that the patient must eschew
fasting, watching, sorrows, cares and
mourning. Gen. Grant and Napoleon
have been referred to as examples of
cancer following reverses and Paget
and VirchoW gave a qualified allegi-
ance to the passive side of the ques-
ton. The foundations of the different
phases of the contention rest on the
beliefs-O that cancer may result
from the direct influence of mental
depression; (2) that cancer may arise
indirectly from mental depression be-
cause of the defective nutrition at
tendant upon it, and go that mental
depression exercises in no respect in
fiuences that admit of sufficient proof
to warrant serious discussion.
Notwithstanding the fact that
active fermentation is checked
i'll Theoretically sealed and
''processed' foods certain de-
teriorating changes are recog-
nized as taking place in those which
have stood long in cans, especially
those which have been kept through the
hot months or in warm climates, says
American Medicine. The staleness
and tastelessness of much of the
canned stuff sold as food is undoubtedly
due to some extent to imperfect meth
DDS of preparation. The sense of loath-
ing, however, which comes to board
ers fed on canned goods (and which is
largely to blame for the innumerable
witticisms on boarding house fare) is
possibly due to alterations in SAVIOR
which follow the long-continued macer-
alton of delicately balanced organic
compounds. The tin can. though ex-
Guiding the outside air, still acts as
digester and in warm weather, or as
the result of variations in temperature.
chemic changes occur which, at first
insignificant, are, in time, sufficient to
render the canned food unpalatable
and possibly unwholesome. The dam
gers that arise from the prolonged ac-
ton of organic acids upon the impure
tin and solder used in cheap tin cans
are illustrated in the cases of illness
following the use of timed foods. The
suggestion offered in a recent number
of the British Medical Journal is we'll
based, viz. that all manufacturers of
canned foods should be compelled to
stamp on the tins the date on which
the food is prepared.
--One may hardly mention swind-
lers in these days when the fame of
the Humberts is fresh. but Laforge
the Prince de Vitanval," Is unworthy
to be obscured by that colossal hum
bug, says the New York Tribune. La
forge began life without a penny, like
Nine. Humbert, but with an inspired