Oddments

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 June 1948, Page 4

Oddments

In no part of Scandinavia must you say Hans Andersen. There are thousands of Hans Andersens, and few will know whom you mean. The great writer must be referred to as H. C. Andersen —pronounced in Danish Ho Say Andersen. —Atticus in the Sunday Times. * * * * » British medical authorities are searching again for a remedy for mild gastric digestive ailments which have troubled ocean travellers for years and occurred recently on the liner Strathaird. Cases frequently occur on big liners on long voyages. Hitherto doctors have usually attributed them to the change of diet and environment, weather, or the water, and have prescribed sedatives which customarily have cleared up the trouble quickly. P. and O. doctors are now leading a new search to find out whether some undiscovered factor or germ may be contributing to the sickness. Swabs and specimens will be taken from all passengers affected. They will be analysed at the British Medical Research Institute at Hampstead. The work will be spread over several months, to "ensure a thorough research. There’s nothing more infectious than a raffle in a pub. You’ve just got to get it started and the rest is easy. Everyone follows like a lamb. A couple of bright boys walked into a Mortlake tavern with a book of tickets and a galah in a cage. And when a fellow has a couple under his belt there’s nothing he wants more than a galah. The tickets went as fast as the boys could rip them off. There were two to go, so they hawked them in the shop across the way. ■ The proprietress said: “I don’t want another galah; I’ve already got one.” However, the sales boys beat her down. She took a ticket—and won! She was delighted. “Fancy two galahs!” she said, taking it out to the back of the shop, where the awful fact smote her fair in the eyes that she’s wen her own bird—the boys had pinched it.—Sydney Sun. -—The Seeker