48 
POPULx^R SCIENCE NEWS. 
[March, 1S90. 
and shortly afterwards encysted, forming upon itself 
an external gelatinous wall, which entirely encloses 
the original bacterium or protoplasm. The proto- 
plasmic mass tlien divides into numberless granules, 
which increase in size, and eventually burst the 
gelatinous wall and become free, each in turn com- 
mencing to go tlirough the phenomena of multipli- 
cation. 
Micrococci are bacteria of another shape, m6stly 
round or elliptical, multiplying by simple division. 
There are two principal divisions into Micrococcus 
zymof/ens and M. pathogens, besides two lesser sub- 
divisions into the chromogenic or color-makers, and 
the septic micrococci. Some (the aerobics) require 
free oxygen, illustrated by the top yeast in the man- 
ufacture of beer; others (the anaerobies) do not, as 
in bottom yeast. 
Bacteria exist in all departments of life. The 
saltpetre beds of India and Peru are produced by 
aerobic bacteria, which reduce the organic matter 
of the soil to nitrates, which latter then combine 
with potash or soda. The greenish matter in a 
suppurating wound is the product of a chromogenic 
microbe. Many bacteria appear to be altogether 
harmless, such as Leptothrix huccalis, always presgnt 
in the saliva. Others are harmless in the saliva 
and digestive canal, but immediately produce dis- 
ease if they gain access to the blood through rup- 
tured membranes. Some bacteria assist materially 
in the processes of digestion, converting albumin- 
oids into peptones. The bacilli of contagious dis- 
eases may be found in the body after death. 
Small-pox, typhoid, and the like, each has its char- 
acteristic bacillus. In some diseases they occur in 
the blood, in others in the liver or kidneys. It is, 
however, still an open question whether the bacteria 
or their secretions are the immediate cause of the 
disease, though many are inclined to think these 
latter, the ptomaines, are really the cause of many 
diseases. — I'harmacenUcal Era. 
^.^^ 
PATHOLOGICAL INFERIORITY OF THE 
LEFT SIDE OF THE HUMAN BODY. 
WiiEN a unilateral lesion attacks any of the 
double organs of the human body, the left organ 
is more frequently affected than the right. Thus, 
obliterating arteritis attacks the left Sylvian artery, 
tuberculous infiltration occurs in the left apex, 
pneumonia in the left lung; calculous nephritis, or 
cyst of the kidney, attacks the left kidney; ovaritis 
and ovarian hyperesthesia are observed in the left 
ovary; orchitis affects the left testicle, etc. M. 
Henry Duchcnne tries to explain this fact by the 
greater activity of the right side of the body and the 
relative passive condition of the left side, which 
contains the heart. The mechanical activity of the 
right side determines nutritive activity. The me- 
chanical passivity of the left side produces a kind of 
physiological mealiness, a pathological predisposi- 
tion. Dr. Duchenne considers that the law of 
atavism may also explain the physiological inferi- 
ority of the left side of the body, for in ancient 
times, when hand-to-hand fights were always occur- 
ring, the activity of the right side of the body was 
constantly called into play. — Medical Recorder. 
the cold "spare-room" has slain its thousands of 
hapless guests, and will go on with its slaughter till 
people learn wisdom. Not only the guest, Ijut the 
family often suffer the penalty of sleeping in cold 
rooms, and chilling their bodies at a time when they 
need all their bodily heat, by getting between cold 
sheets. Even in warm, summer weather, a cold, 
damp bed will get in its deadly work. It is a need- 
less peril, and the neglect to provide dry rooms and 
beds has in it the elements of murder and suicide. — 
Good Housekeeping. 
THE DEADLY COLD BED. 
If trustworthy statistics could be had of the num- 
ber of persons who die every year, or become per- 
manently diseased, from sleeping in damp or cold 
beds, they would probably be astonishing and 
appalling. It is a peril that constantly besets 
travelling men, and if they are wise they will inva- 
riably insist on having their bedsaired and dried, 
even at the risk of causing much trouble to their 
landlords. But the peril resides in the home, and 
MEDICAL MISCELLANY. 
Professor Stowell urges medical students to 
dissect cats, as a means of studying the arrangement 
of nerve- cells in the spine. 
" Change of climate is what you need," said the 
high-priced physician, after he had listened to all 
the details of the patient's case. "Change of cli- 
mate I " exclaimed the patient, in surprise. "Why, 
man alive, I've never had- anything else. I've lived 
right here in New England all my life." 
Sterilized Lint. — M. Regnier renders lint 
sterile by heating it to a temperature of 120' C. 
(248° F.) He has tested the antiseptic value of 
lint thus prepared in dressings applied after opera- 
tions of various kinds, with good results. At a 
recent surgical congress he stated that he con- 
sidered sterilized lint equal to antiseptic dressings. 
HuNYADi Jaxos. — There recently died in Buda- 
Pesth, Andreas Saxlehner, the discoverer and pro- 
prietor of the well-known Hunyadi Janos water. 
He was a cloth dealer and a Hungarian patriot, and 
a warm friend of Kossuth. In 1863 a cloth dealer 
from the country, chatting with Saxlehner in his 
shop, told the latter that he had upon his own land 
no fewer than ten places on which an oddly tasting 
and smelling water bubbled up, which neither man 
nor beast could drink. Saxlehner visited the farm, 
accompanied by Dr? Molnar, the analyst. The visit 
and analysis resulted in the purchase of the farm. 
Twenty years later the poor weavers son had be- 
come the richest trader in Hungary, and had devel- 
oped Hungarian industry and commerce in a 
direction and to a degree of which Kossuth never 
dreamed. He named the water "Hunyadi Janos," 
after his darling hero, John Hunyadi, the victor 
over the Turks. 
Fees in New York.— The professional fees in 
New York City are not so extravagant as they are 
generally believed to be. The general practitioner 
averages from two to five dollars per visit, according 
to the pecuniary condition of the patient. The 
average fee for visit to the wealthy is five dollars. 
The office consultation -of an expert or general 
consultant is, as a rule, ten to twenty-five dollars 
for the first visit, and five to ten dollars for succeed- 
ing ones. The fee for a consultation visit varies 
with the reputation of the consultant and the ability 
of the patient, from ten to twenty-five dollars. 
Visits out of town are usually from ten to twenty 
dollars per hour of absence from home, plus the 
travelling expenses and regular consulting fee of 
twenty-five dollars. Surgical operations are rated 
according to character, time, and skill, range from 
one hundred up into the thousands. The operation 
fee is charged for as extra of that for time when away 
from home. Night calls arc twice the amount of 
day services, whether ordinary or consulting visits. 
Notwithstanding these accepted rules, there are not 
a few who can charge much higher fees — in fact, 
name their own price and get it. On the other 
hand, there are many younger men in the profession 
who are content to average a dollar a head for every 
patient they see, whether in their office or on the 
top Hoor of a six-story tenement in the rear. 
PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE 
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SETII C. BASSETT, 
Manager. 
SPECIAL NOTICE. 
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Remittances will be duly credited on the printed address 
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postal card should be enclosed with the remittance. 
Publisljers' ColunjQ. 
In using new steel pens the ink sometimes will not flow 
readily. This can be avoided by sticking the ]>en into a potato. 
Try it the first Esterhkook's Pen you use. 
Wood's Botanical Works, advertised by A. S. Barnes 
& Co., are recommended to those intending to commence 
this fascinating study the coming spring. 
For children, convalescents, and invalids of weak constitu- 
tions, the use of Colden's LiQj.aD Beef Tonic will be found 
invaluable. T. Colden, proprietor, Baltimore, Md. 
If your heativg apparatus has not worked satisfactorily the 
past winter, you should examine the (Jurnev Hot Wate-r 
Heater before making ajiy change. It gives universal satis- 
faction. 
Water-pipes protected by the Wells Rustless Iron 
Process will last indefinitely, and deliver a supply of water 
uncontaminated with poisonous metallic salts, and as pure as 
the original supply at its source. 
Druggists should note the advertisement of H. L. Bowker 
& Co. before putting tlieir soda-water fountains in operation 
for the coming season. They supply all the standard beverages 
and flavors, besides many novelties which are sure to be a source 
of profit. 
Londonderry Lithia Mineral Water is a natural pro- 
duct fresh from the granite liills of New Hampshire. It is a 
delicious and healthful table water for daily use, and in addition 
IS highly recommended as possessing valuable medicinal 
qualities. 
Seeger &. Guernsey's Cyclopedia is the standard expo- 
nent of the United States manufacturing interests. All persons 
engaged in manufacturing or mercantile pursuits will find it 
indispensable in indicating where goods of any sort whatever 
may be bought to the best advantage. 
Artificial ice will have a very vigorous "boom" the 
present year, on account of the almost total failure of the 
natural ice crop. Those manufacturers jirovidcd with the effi- 
cient and economical machines built by David Boyle, of 
Chicago, will doubtless realize veiy large profits from their 
business. 
The Wheat Meal manufactured by Mr. S. A. Fowle, the 
proprietor of the Arlington Mills, at Arlington, Mass., is for 
sale by leading grocers everywhere. Peojile who will give it a 
trial will find it far cheaper than flour, as it will give as much 
nutriment and go fnur tiiius as far as ,a similar amoimt of the 
latter, thus reducing the expense of this department of the 
family larder no less than seventy-five percent.- It has received 
the endorsement of the medical fraternity wlienever it has come 
under ibeir notice, and if any of the large number of grocers 
who are among our readers will give it a trial, they will 'find, 
when once fairly introduced, that il is one of the readiest selling 
articles Ihev ever handled. 
