The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-05-22
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reporter yesterday asked his family
physician for an opinion on the statement
that buzzards disseminate Charlton baciili
and spread the destructive contagion
throughout the country. The doctor waived
the subject by saying that while he had
given the problem some thought he "a
not formed any definite conclusions. But"
said he, 1T seems quite reasonable 10 sup
pose that the scavengers do their part In
scattering the bacilll. II II were known
absolutely, however that they are the
chief factor Il would be a difficult matter
10 remedy tue evil We can not extermi-
nate the birds II we tried. and should not
II We could. out on the great western
ranges, waere sometimes cattle die In
thousands. the buzzard is a necessity. for
u the raHchero we're compelled TO dig four
foot graves for the careasses be would have
vsue time lett Tor anything else
The reporter said: Doctor. IT has been
stated tnat the buzzards feast aud then
search out the watering places and there
hold high Jubilee, leaving the germs IN the
wafer, which the live stock drink thus
spreading the contagion. What 40 you
tu4n6 about itF
The PHYSICIANS keen eyes twinkled mcr-
but / have not associated with buzzards
enough to know their habits fully; ret |
never heard Of them taking bath, nor
rhat they frequeuted watering places III
they could help IT, / always supposed that
they were somewhat like the mad dog or
the typical hObo-that they despised the
very sight of water am not ready to
con, eut tnat the buzzard ever feels any
inclination 10 fumisate himself or to PURIFY
his FEATHERS.
me viii have to make critical sturdy
NJ RuTvGrd ha
see the necessity for il. He's not very
attractive study either. ! shouldn't fancy
having specimen of him In my laboratory
permanently, whatever the incentive We
may easily md opportunities though aud
combine study with pleasure hY proceeding
70 the fields and watching them. 1t would
he a good idea for medical students to take
~ tue matter aud Investigate H. But tie
results they obtained might he question
hple Youngsters are too liable 10 take
tnlL3s for granted. I remember a case
Which occurred some years ago iilstrlt' ng
The point. An old and very busy physi.
clan kent studrnl 60 his office, aud often
permitted him "a handle nni1iportput cases.
lie was continually trying TO Impress the
student with the necessity Of observing
things IN order to train the receptive fncul.
ties of me mind on day the student ac
coWponied him on @ visit 20 a gentleman
VINO was an with crgmp, on the return
home the doctor said Now. nv son, did
!on obserre what was wrong with my pa.
tieutE Yes. sir. he had crsmps, but
don't know what caused them
that's what you must learn, sir the
Goctor exclaimed Sow ! knew the man
had eaten q quantity Of oysters because I
saw the oyster shells under the bed
The student thought deeply
some daFs LATER the doctor sent him 20
Investigate an uHimU0rtNnt case aud the
student soon rushed back 10 tho office aud
exclaimed breathlesslv. oh doctor come
quick thot mans In an awful ak he's been
eating horse
Eating a horse the doctor roared
Yes Stree. he has been doing Just that.
~ ,sa" the saddle and bride. under the
Houstouisn who is scientific inquirer
into the elementary instincts Of mahkiad
and who realizes the physical meaning os
the progress OF human intelligence. said To
p reporter yesterday: In your daily search
for human interest stories, you should not
overlook the iails and the sanitsrlums ana
the mad houses. There you may find food
for thought 10 last lifetime. havo FOR
some time been making a study Of idiots
ana idioey its causes and indications. In
such a study one Is astounded from the
start by the animal traits aud instincts in
man. read the other day On account Of
en idiot which has ever since kept ne
thinking. As described IA Body mud Mind.
The subject was girl Is years old. she
AAu very small head, but web fotmei
Otherwise ana well nourished She hnd Ia.
ne or no intellect. not being able 10 speak
aud barely understanding q few signs Size
ha0 been Taught 10 feed herself ont tlere
nef education reached lie limit She mad
been left 70 herself and closely Observed
VITA view 10 discovering her NATURAL
habits. When alone IN the garden she MI
Wsys chose 3 quiet spot among the shrubs,
ana, sitting down, would bend forward
apd occupy herself IN picking imaginary
insects from her body aud pretending 10
throY them away She would then WANDER
about and nnding a suitable boush would
swing by her hands. and then douo . her
feet over the branch and swing witch her
head downward. she would steal Anything
she fancled and hide Il away Woud sud.
denly spring upon any child near her and
oite and scratch II, and then In a moment
lcok as demure as II she had done nothing
Al times she would scratch nol, In Inc
ground ana hide articles which she had
purloined, She would tear her clothing
into strips and bury the pieces In e8.ins
she put everything 20 her nose before pllc
ing II In her mouth This she would 10 |
deliberately, examining each piece Of food
carefully by her sense OF smell. She great |