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SCIENCE. 



[Vol. X. No. 254 



element is unnecessary, because there is no voluntary reflection in- 

 volved in attaining this idea. The second class includes the fusion 

 of images in different objects, still without the aid of words, and is 

 represented in the common abstraction. This is a much higher 

 process, and many peoples have stood still at the early stages of it. 

 The Fuegians have no abstract terms ; the Indians have words for 

 ' red oak,' for ' white oak,' but not for ' oak ' in general ; the Tas- 

 manians have words for different kinds of trees, but not for ' tree.' 

 In all these processes there is a motor element in the word, and 

 perhaps in the image too. Finally, as the image becomes more and 

 more abstract, the word becomes more and more fundamental. 

 That the word contains a prominent motor element (varying, how- 

 ever, in its strength in different persons) is generally accepted, and 

 is shown by the fact that this element in language can be lost while 

 the rest remains unlost. 



We are thus led to the conclusion that thought without motion is 

 impossible ; and, though we cannot have the opportunity of de- 

 monstrating this absolutely, we can make it extremely probable. 

 Severe activity is incompatible with intense thought. To direct 

 one's attention is work, and the less natural interest in the topic 

 the more fatiguing the strain. It is not a purely mental process, 

 but is connected with nerve-activity and such movements. Mono- 

 ideism is work, destruction is rest. 



Finally the hints as to the action of attention to be derived from 

 experimental study should be noted. In re-acting to a stimulus, the 

 time is shortened when the attention is fixed, and is lengthened 

 when the attention is wandering. So, too, the more cultured 

 classes can re-act more quickly than the ignorant, because their 

 power of voluntary attention is drilled. If the physical state pre- 

 vents sharp attention, the time is lengthened. A headache length- 

 ened a re-action-time from .133 to .171 of a second, and severe 

 fatigue to .183 of a second. In various stages of paralysis the time 

 lengthened to .166, .281, and .755 of a second; while in hypnotism, 

 when there is an extraordinary concentration on one perception, the 

 time was shortened from .328 to .193 of a second. Again : the 

 most influential factor in the re-action-time is the expectedness of 

 the impression. If the sensation is preceded by a signal announ- 

 cing its approach, the time is much shortened. According as the 

 nature, intensity, and time of the stimulus is known, the time is 

 more and more shortened. The unexpected delays the re-action. 

 Again: Wundt has shown that when two impressions — say, the 

 ring of a bell and the movement of an indicator — are simultane- 

 ous, the one that is attended to gets first perceived. The adjust- 

 ment accommodation of the attention in all these cases is again a 

 motor act. 



SCARLET-FEVER REPORT. — I. 



The success which has followed from the collective investigation 

 into the subject of distillery-milk and its effects on the lower 

 animals and man when used as food, which was made by Science 

 in June, has induced this journal to undertake other inquiries into 

 similar matters which affect the public health. Correspondence 

 has been opened with a number of prominent sanitarians of the 

 United States, and as a result scarlet-fever has been selected as the 

 next subject for inquiry. The following letter has been prepared, 

 and forwarded to leading sanitarians and physicians, and others : — 



The prevalence of scarlet-fever in all parts of the civilized world, 

 and the great mortality therefrom, amounting in England alone 

 during five years to 88,273 deaths, have induced Science to institute 

 an inquiry into the reasons for such a condition of things, — whether 

 it is a fact that this disease is not amenable to control by sanita- 

 tion ; or whether sanitarians have not suggested any practical 

 method by which it may be controlled ; or whether parents, teach- 

 ers, health authorities, and others neglect to carry out the recom- 

 mendations which sanitary science has made. With the object of 

 helping to determine these questions, will you kindly answer the fol- 

 lowing inquiries : 



1. Do you believe that scarlet-fever ever arises, at the present 

 time, de tiovo, as distinct from a pre-existing case ? If so, on what 

 grounds do you base that belief ? 



2. Is there any doubt in your mind that scarlet-fever is a com- 



municable disease, and, if so, what reasons have you for that 

 doubt ? 



3. If you believe it to be communicable, can you give any instances 

 which have come under your own personal observation, tending to 

 prove its communicability .' If so, please give them in detail. 



4. Have you any information touching the communication of 

 bovine scarlet-fever to man, either by contagion or the milk of the 

 affected animal ? 



5. When does a patient who has had scarlet-fever cease to com- 

 municate it to others ? 



6. Can you give any instances which have come under your own 

 personal observation in which clothing, toys, books, or other ar- 

 ticles have communicated the disease? If so, please give them in 

 detail. 



7. How long have you personally known such articles to retain 

 the infection ? 



8. Should boards of health require reports of cases of scarlet- 

 fever to be made to them, and, if so, by whom and why .' 



9. What is the duty of boards of health if such reports are re- 

 ceived ? 



10. Is there any plan which, if put into execution, would, in your 

 judgment, prevent the spread of scarlet-fever ? 



n. If so, can you give instances in which it has practically done 

 so.' 



12. Do you believe that any thing can be done, by the use of 

 remedies or otherwise, to prevent well persons from contracting 

 scarlet-fever when they are exposed to it ? 



13. Can you give any evidence not under your own personal ob- 

 servation, but sufficiently authenticated by competent authorities, 

 printed or otherwise, touching any of the questions propounded in 

 this circular? 



To these inquiries a large number of answers have been received, 

 which we now propose to lay before our readers : — 



[William K. Newton, M.D., Paterson, N.J., State dairy commissioner."] 



Below please find answers to your circular relating to scarlet- 

 fever : 



1. I have often seen isolated cases of this disease beginning at a 

 time when no other case existed in the city. Many times I have 

 seen a single case begin without any probability of an exposure to 

 another case, but I do not think that we are justified in accepting the 

 theory that the disease may arise de novo because of our inability 

 to find the original case. But there is much to lead us to study 

 this side of the question, for filth may be a possible cause. 



2. It is no doubt communicable. 



3. It is communicable, and scores of instances might be men- 

 tioned to substantiate this statement. Cases where children have 

 been exposed at school for a few minutes to one sick with the dis- 

 ease have come under my notice, and, where they have not had the 

 disease before, they have taken the disease in due time. It is a 

 common occurrence for children exposed to the sick to contract 

 this disease. 



4. No personal information. The London Lancet during the 

 past two years has contained many articles on this subject. 



5. As long as there is any roughness of the skin. 



6. Have known of many instances where woollen clothing has 

 been the means of carrying the disease. 



7. Three weeks. 



8. Yes, if the proper officers are prepared and authorized to en- 

 force strict separation and quarantine. If reports are required, and 

 on receipt by the authorities are filed, or only tabulated, and no 

 repressive measures employed, no good is done ; and the reports 

 should not be required, for they only go to swell the statistics with- 

 out benefit. The attending physician is the proper person to notify 

 the authorities, and for this work he should be compensated. Re- 

 ports from the householder or the family are not reliable, and are 

 not promptly made. As was said, these reports are for the pur- 

 pose of enabling the health authorities to restrict the spread of the 

 disease, and, if notification is required, restrictive measures should 

 be followed up. 



9. The reports should first be recorded, and the location of the 

 case marked on a map of the city kept for that purpose, the latter 

 entry being a record of location to enable us to ascertain if locality 



