558 



Popular Science Monthly 



A tree which braided itself into a rope 



believed that many of the terrible 

 crimes which have ne\er been solved 

 have been committed by defectives. It 

 is impossible to know just how frequent- 

 ly and to what extent feeble-mindedness 

 exists. It is the purpose of the labora- 

 tory to accumulate stacistics concerning 

 criminals who are definitely abnormal 

 so that material will be at hand which 

 may be used in the great struggle to- 

 wards the prevention of crime. 



A Braided Tree 



NEAR Arlington, Ohio, is a small 

 tree which departed radically from 

 the way a well-behaved tree should grow. 

 Two inches above the ground, this tree 

 divides into three parts, which twist 

 around one another in the curious man- 

 ner shown in the illustration. At the 

 height of five feet the three parts diverge 

 like the branches of an ordinary tree. 

 Note in the background a similar tree, 

 but having only two parts. 



An Adjustable Crutch 



THE military hospitals in Germany 

 have a crutch that fits every one. 

 Extended, it will accommodate an eight- 

 foot giant; or it can be shortened to fit 

 a midget. It can be taken apart and 

 used as a cane by the convalescent. 



During the recent exchange of prison- 

 ers a wounded Canadian was allowed to 

 bring his adjustable crutches with him, 

 although it is the custom to fit every 

 patient wnth an artificial limb or regula- 

 tion crutches when he leaves. Adjustable 

 crutches are considered part of the per- 

 manent emergency equipment of the 

 hospital. Many other appliances, such 

 as artificial limbs and hands, which can bej 

 used for many necessary operations, are 

 being perfected for those crippled in war. 



The Germans made these adjustable 

 crutches to be used by long and short men 



