NOTES AND COMMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21793, 7 May 1934, Page 8

NOTES AND COMMENTS

EDUCATION REFORM That which enables us to understand our human selves, the world without of which we are yet a part, and the world within which is part of us, is the education we now so urgently require, says a writer in the Morning Post. That is tho now and true humanism. The younger generations have been too long cajoled or coerced into wasting their growing years in studies which have little or no bearing on the necessities of to-day and to-morrow. With this medieval servitude must be swept away tho examination system, in which tho merely retentive mind hns so absurd an advantage over the creative intelligence. There was never anything more pathetic than the sight of old men of 80 or even 90 undergoing tho nine days' ordeal of a State examination in China —unless it be the spectacle of small boys in their early 'teens competing for classical scholarships at our public schools!

ORIGIN OF LAUGHTER A definition of laughter as "an overflow outlet for that emotional anger which is unnecessary" was given by Dr. Cyril Burt, professor of psychology at University College, in a lecture on the Psychology of Humour in London, "if we seriously gave vent to every emotion we should be intolerable to our follow creatures," he said. "Any situation will serve to excite humour as soon as we see that the situation is not serious enough to cause fear, anger or other emotions." One of the characteristic facts about laughter, he continued, was that in giving vent to it we need not change posture. It originated probably when man was in process of evolution from tho ' ape. Disturbed while clutching a branch with both hands, he would attempt to express his rage or fear, but being unablo to let looso tho branch, would be compelled to resort to facial contortions, writhing his body and making a noise." Laughter was remarkably invigorating and was one of the best forms of bodily exercise.

ALIEN TO ENGLAND "I know quite well that when one is young one is always in a hurry, and it may well bo to-day that those two alien plants —for they neither have their root in England—Communism and Fascism, may appeal to many of you," said Mr. Baldwin in a broadcast address to schools. "This is a free country. You can support either creed and you can support it in safety. But I want to put this to you: If there be ono thing certain to my mind it is this, that if the peoplo of this country in great numbers became adherents of either Communism or Fascism there could be only one end to it, and that one end would be civil war. That is, I was going to say, latent in both those creeds, but I would say that it is not only latent but blatant, and for this reason, they both alike believe in force as the means by which they can get their way and set up their dictatorship. They further believe, as you have seen on the Continent, that having got into power—and it does not matter for the argument whether it be Communist or Fascist —equally by force all free opinion, all opinion that cioes not agree with them, must be suppressed—in other words, kill everything that has been the growth of our people for the last 800 or 1000 years."

THE SIGHT OF BIRDS "The eye of the bird, as an optical instrument, has reached the acme of perfection among living organisms; and the visual centre in the brain, which interprets the image focussed on the back of the eyeball—the sensitive retina —has developed to a similarly remarkable extent," writes Professor C. J. Patten in the Manchester Guardian. "Vision is the mainstay of the bird's brain, the sheet-anchor of its life, except among the bats, which, to make up for deficient sight, are endowed with a singularly high degree of tactile sensibility, enabling them to sheer off at the approach of obstacles. All other physical senses pale before the astonishing powers of avian vision. . . . Just as a dog has a 'nose-brain' and lives in a world of smell, so a bird has an 'eyebrain' and lives in a world of vision. Endowed with this mental make-up the bird has developed a retentive memory for scenic impressions. Instinct cannot alone explain the manner in which migrants find the way to their destinations. Undoubtedly a keen perception of form is a significant factor in avian vision. Hence it is logical to admit that birds can form a mental picture of certain mountain ranges, river-sheds, precipitous headlands, extensive sandfiats and other geographical contours which the map of nature unfolds to view. Should that map be enveloped in gloom hosts of the travellers are held up; many are lost, or at best stray to far-off, unaccustomed haunts in an attempt to move away too soon."

SUFFERING OF INCURABLES The duties of the doctor when faced with a patient suffering from severe pain in an incurable malady are discussed in an outspoken article in the latest issue of the Practitioner. Mr. T. E. Hammond, F.R.C.S., assistant surgeon to the Royal infirmary, Cardiff, points out that the amount of a drug which may be given by a doctor to any individual patient is entirely left to his discretion, there being no law to restrict the relief of suffering. "There is, however," ho writes, "a tendency for many in the profession to concentrate on tho prevention of disease and the maintenance of health and to forget that one of its aims should be the endeavour to make the living of life and the passing out from life as easy as possible for the patient and his. friends." Mr. Hammond says that only too often a patient longs for an operation in the hope that it may lead to death. In his opinion no patient should ever. bo allowed to reach this stage.'"Why should he be allowed tolinger on in agony with his pain unrelieved?" As regards the end of lifo, Mr. Hammond states that while a practitioner may do nothing to terminate life, "it is an abuse of the practice of medicine to go out of .the way to prolong it uselessly." He cites instances where such an abuse has been practised and points out that in acute diseases over-treatment actually diminishes a patient's chances of recovery. As a result of abandoning treatment in certain instances not only may tho results be better, but if death comes tho patient has an easier passage, for he is less disturbed.