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THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



alence of scarlet fever is for New York en- 

 tirely opposed to that for London. Thus, 

 the lowest death-rate from this disease 

 happens in New York between the end of 

 July and early in October, when the mor- 

 tality from it in London is greatest. Again, 

 the curve of lowest mortality in London falls 

 in February, March, and April, reaching its 

 lowest point when the mortality is greatest 

 in New York. " We are therefore," Dr. 

 Tripe remarks, " driven to the conclusion 

 either that the same meteorological changes 

 which appear to increase the disease in 

 London decrease it in New York, or, that 

 the mortality per cent of attack is greater 

 at one period of the year than at another. 

 Similar opposing curves are noticeable as 

 regards whooping-cough. These are by no 

 means satisfactory results to have arrived 

 at after so much labor. On the other hand, 

 the curves of mortality from small-pox, 

 measles, diphtheria, typhoid fever, diarrhoea, 

 phthisis, bronchitis, pneumonia, heai't-dis- 

 ease, and apoplexy closely correspond in 

 both these great cities." 



Suggestions about Bathing. When and 



under what conditions a bath will be most 

 beneficial is an important question. The 

 important point is to secure a speedy and 

 healthful reaction, or return of the blood to 

 the surface, and all the conditions should 

 be arranged with reference to that end. 

 Obviously, says the " Lancet," it is not right 

 to dare the dangers of a chill either when 

 undressing or by immersion in the cold 

 water. In most cases a sweating surface 

 indicates some measure of exhaustion al- 

 ready set in ; and it is unwise to bathe when 

 copious perspiration has continued for an 

 hour or more, unless the heat of the weather 

 be excessive or the sweating has been in- 

 duced by loading with clothes rather than 

 by exertion. When much perspiration has 

 been produced by muscular exercise, it is 

 unsafe to bathe, because the body is so fa- 

 tigued and exhausted that the reaction can 

 not be insured, and the effect may be to 

 congest the internal organs, and notably the 

 nerve-centers. The last gives cramp. If 

 the weather be chilly, or there be a cold 

 wind, so that the body may be rapidly cooled 

 at the surface while undressing, it is not 

 safe to bathe. Under such conditions, the 



further chill of immersion in cold water will 

 take place at the precise moment at which 

 the reaction consequent upon the chill of 

 exposure by undressing ought to take place, 

 and this second chill will not only delay or 

 altogether prevent the reaction, but will 

 convert the bath from a mere stimulant to 

 a depressant, ending in the abstraction of a 

 large amount of animal heat and congestion 

 of the internal organs and nerve - centers. 

 The aim must be to avoid two chills, and to 

 make sure that the body is in such a con- 

 dition as to secure a quick reaction on emerg- 

 ing from the water, without relying too 

 much on the possible effect of friction by 

 rubbing. The actual temperature of the 

 water does not affect the question so much 

 as its relative temperature in comparison 

 with that of the surrounding air. It ought 

 to be much lower than that of the air. 

 These maxims receive a striking re-enforce- 

 ment from the case of a young soldier who 

 a few days ago plunged into the river near 

 Manchester, England, after having heated 

 himself by rowing. He was immediately 

 taken with cramps, and was drowned. 

 When taken out, his body was found 

 " twisted," and the vessels of his head 

 showed every evidence of congestion. Quin- 

 tus Curtius relates that Alexander the 

 Great attempted a bath in the Cydnus on 

 a very hot day, when all sweating. " Hard- 

 ly had he entered, when his limbs became 

 suddenly stiff, the body pale, and vital heat 

 seemed by degrees to abandon him. His 

 officers received him almost expiring in 

 their arms, and carried him almost sense- 

 less to his tent. 



Satisfying Religious Scruples. Dr. Fran- 

 cis Day, formerly inspector-general, stated, 

 in a recent lecture on the fisheries of India, 

 that while as Buddhists the Burmans pro- 

 fess a religious horror of taking the lives 

 of the lower animals, they are immoderate 

 ly fond of fish-diet, and pretend to console 

 their consciences, while indulging in it, that 

 the death of the fish must be laid to the 

 fishermen, and can not be charged against 

 them! The prospects of the fishermen in 

 the next life appear, however, to be most 

 dreadful, for the temples have pictures of 

 terrible and artfully contrived tortures to 

 which they will be condemned. The poon- 



