New Britain herald., 1930-12-27

celebrated in conjunction with the centenary meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science to be held in London in September.
 Public health authorities are won- dering whether 1881 will prove an other year for infantile paralysis A large number of cases were reported during 193O and the rather sharp outbreak may be repeated next sum mer and fall.
 On the other hand, it is hoped that meningitis will continue the downward path it has taken th's year, after several years of increased prevalence.
 Smallpox cases were numerous during 1880 and unless vaccination is more widespread this will con- tlnue.
 Less Diphtheria Expected Fewer cases of diphtheria are eX- pected. The prevalence of this dis ease IS now the lowest it has ever been, thanks to toXin- -antitoXin. Typhoid fever is at a low ebb and probably will remain there. Typhus fever may increase. Sev- ural sharp outbreaks during 1850 revealed the presence of this dis ease in an endemic form in south eastern United States,
 The death rate for the country as whole will probably continue downward. Whether the birthrate will do the same, as it has for the past year. cannot be foretold. unfortunately disasters must be anticipated in 1881 as in any other year. Three 10 four cyclones, tor nadoes, hurricanes or other storms, ! two to thee fire disasters and two 1 to three major floods can be pre- | dictcd on the basis Of Red Cross experience. However, the dry sum- mer Of 1880 will probably minimize any danger from floods in the carly part Of 1881.
 1 There is always the possibility , that one of the susceptible areas of this country will be visited by q severe earthquake. Throughout the world number of minor earth | quakcs occur daily.
 War Between Man and Insect 1 The conflict between man and in sect will continue. Although 1880 saw the successful elimination Of 1 Uncle Sam's chronological defense against the Mediterranean fruit fly ! in Florida, other pests, including the European corn borer the Gypsy moth, the Japanese beetle . the oriental fruit moth and the cot 1 ton boil Wceyil continue 10 be prob : lens to agriculture. The European corn borer in the midwest and the Japanese beetle in the east are eX- ] peCted to make consistent gains ir their invasion of American farms. , The year 1881 has little to offcr in the way Of important events ir the heavens themselves, but the most important things that may hap
 pen are unexpected. At the be ginning Of l93U few people had any idea that the coming months would
 bring the discovery Of d new major
 planet, Pinto, the first since lH45 Astronomers will not be greatl, shurpriSod as they were last spring If a 1uth, and trans -Plutonian 1 planet should be found during the coming year.
 Of coursc. number of tiny planets, or asteroids, will be dis covered. Wen on 10 2.0u0 Of these I little bodies, only a. few miles 1T diameter are known, mostly cir Culatlng between Jupiter and Mars but they are not ordinarily of very
 great importance. But one is, anC
 its name is Eros. On Jan. 2S I
 will be only 1G,2O0,00O miles awa,' closer than any other permancn
 astronomical body eyer comes. witt
 the exception or the moon. It will
 not be visible to the naked eye, bu
 astronomers hope 10 learn from i more accurately the distance of th'
 sun and the mass Of the earth.
 New Comets May Appear At least two periodic comets
 Enckcs and another known a!
 Tempel III-Swift, are expected back
 but they arc both faint and vii
 not be visible to the naked eye. Bu
 it is also practically certain tha
 several new comets will appear, ant
 it is quite possible that one may be
 come conspicuous 10 the naked eye
 The two regular meteor shower
 the Perseids, which appear abou
 Aug. II and l2, and the Leonids
 which come about Nov. 15, will als'
 put in appearance.
 Work will continue on the Cali
 fornia Institute of Technology
 2O0-inch telescope to be the larges
 in the world. and final plans ma.