GLEANINGS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 859, 17 August 1888, Page 5

GLEANINGS.

ARTIFICIAL MOTHERS FOR TENDER

INFANTS

Prematurely born and abnormally delicate infants are now supplied with artificial mothers of more than motherly tenderness. The apparatus, identical with the incubator or artificial hen for hatching chickens, is simply a large square box warmed by bowls of water beneath an inner bottom. In this, wrapped carefully in cotton, is placed the weak babe, so frail during its first' few day 3 that the open air would fatally chill it, With an even temperature and a free circulation of warm air, secure from cold and dampness, and with careful feeding, the infant thrives and rapidly acquires health.

Great are the wonders of the telephone. A physician reports to Gaillard’s Medical Journal that he wgs saved a two-mile rjde through a driving storm the other night byhaving the patient, a child, brought to the instrument and held there until it coughed. He diagnosed false croup, prescribed two grains of turpeth mineral, and turned in for an undisturbed sleep during the remainder of the night. He found the patient in the morning doing nicely—under the care of another doctor.

The real name of Emin Pasha, to rescue whom Stanley started on his expedition to Atrica, is Edward Schnitzer. Besides havipg developed ability as soldier, civiliser, au-i ruler, ho is one of tho mo-.t learned men of his time. Ho is deeply versed iu medicine and the natural sciences, aud is a master of many languages.

In blowing out a candle blow in an upward direction : tho wick will not smoulder away, and the next time it is wanted will be found sufficiently long to ignite readily.

An old parish clerk was told to give the following notice : ‘Ou Sunday next the services in this church will beheld in the afternoon aud on the following Sunday it will bo hold in the morning and so ou until further notice.’ What he actually did give out was —* On Sunday next the moruiug serviqe.s in this church will bo held in the afternoon and on the following Sunday the afternouu service will ba held in the morning, and so ou to all eternity.’

Fifty thousand tons of soot are taken annually from the chimneys of London. It is used for fertilising.

Recent statistics show that Germany has a surplus of 1,000,000 women. War is the last thing Germany should seek.

Uncle Joseph (just home from India) — Toll me, Laura, who’s that beautiful lady walking with young Prince Paul of Gerolsteiu ? Some grand duchess, 1 suppose, from

the homage they’re all paying to her. Fair Enthusiast —Oh, no ! It’s Miss Cordelia P. Van Scromp, the American sifileuse. She Whistles; * He’s all right when you know him, but you’t’e gdt to know him fust !’ quite divinely with fourteen original variations. Oh, you should hear her, Uncle Joseph ! —London Punch.

London has at least five flourishing and well-housed clubs for women. The most fashionable of these is the Alexandra; the most literary, or Bohemian, the University.

How Boon we are (of Chicago)— That follow is looking at you rather hard. Do you know him ? Mrs Brown—His face does look familiar. What’s his name ? Brown —Goldplate, I believe. Mrs Brown —Oh! yes; 1 remember him now. He was my first husband.