GENERAL NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3562, 29 June 1912, Page 3

GENERAL NEWS.

Detailed plans for a scientific and combined attack on the great “White Scourge” of tuberculosis, which costs the United Kingdom something like 50,000 lives and over £13,000,000 annually, are given in an important interim report just issued by the Departmental Committee on Tuberculosis. Hie committee, which is under the chairmanship of Hr. Waldorf Astor, M.P., is composed almost exclusively of medical men. The organisation which the committee propose should undertake the great taslr of stamping out this terrible disease is divided into two units: Tuberculcsisdispensaries established throughout the country to he the common centre for the diagnosis and for the organisation of treatment of tuberculosis in each area: Sanatoria hospitals, farm colonies, open-air schools, and other institutions, at which special treatmentmay be given to victims of the disease.

The 'Berlin correspondent of the London tells us that German winegrowers have entered into a compact with a firm at Rheims for the production of a superior brand of “Deutscher Schaumwein.” And thereby hangs a tale. .In 1889, after attending the wedding o.f his -sister Sophie at Athens, the Kaiser passed on to iStamboul, and the Sultan, Abdul Hamid, called a council of his wise men to consult with them as to how his Germanic I .' Majesty could best be humored. Gloom and perplexity brooded over the meeting, till at last one wiseacre of a Pasha, remembering the rampant Chauvinism of the new Emperor, suggested German champagne. ’ On the niglit of the State banquet at Yildiz Kiosk, the Sultan’s chief guests including Count Herbert Bismarck—then the Kaiser’s Foreign Secretary—came along to a reception at the British Embassy. “Well, Count Herbert,” said bluff Sir William White, cheerily, “what sort of a. dinner did the Sultan give you?” “Oil” replied Count Herbert, “the cuisine was admirable, but the win©”—with a wry face —“was something too abominable for words!”