TOPICS OF THE DAY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5678, 28 August 1905, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

In his reply to Mr Field’s question the other day on the subject of ■ tee latest the “ Normyl Cure” fori deink cube, the drink habit, the ! Minister of Public Health stated, on the authority of the Assistant | Chief Health Officer, that no notice of j the new remedy had appeared in the medical papers. This is not correct, for the “British Medical Journal” of 24th Juno last had an article on tho subject. The medical organ recites tho facts of the discovery of the alleged remedy, as already published in our columns, but views them with some scepticism. Tho story, it says, “is one that recalls others with which advertisements have made us familiar ” ; and, therefore, while recognising tho good intentions of those who are “ booming ” the remedy, it is inclined to discount the stories of cures and even the corroborative testimony of the “Daily Mail,” given as the result of “ very careful investigations ” made independently on behalf of that journal. The article concludes as follows;—“ Sufficient has been said to justify a warning to the public against putting any dependence on tho powers for good of a medicament tho composition of which is unknown except to its discoverer, and for tho therapeutic value of which there is no tetter evidence forthcoming than the unskilled though well-intentioned investigations of a clergyman and a philanthropic lady. Unfortunately, this so-called discovery has prompted an attempt at tho formation of a committee to push, the salo of ‘ Nonnyl,’ and wo regret to see that several men of eminence have 1 expressed themselves as willing to give their names in support of this movement.’ We would seriously ask those gentlemen to consider whether in thus lending their aid to the exploitation of a secret and untried remedy they are likely to benefit those for whose welfare wo knew them to bo sincerely solicitous. Lot them rest assured that if a specific drug is ever found which can bo relied upon to cure alcoholism the knowledge of it will not reach the world through tho medium of a sensational article in the columns of a daily newspaper.” The special inquiries which the Minister of. Public Health has promised to make into the alleged efficacy of the remedy will doubtless result in further medical opinions on the subject being obtained. In a matter of this kind the Government cannot he too sure of its ground, before taking any stops to give the weight of its support to any remedy for alcoholism, or other form of disease.

The Old World and the New are at variance in their theories dispersing as to the use of artillery HAtL-BTOEMS. Tro for the purpose of • . modifying meteorological conditions. In Australia, some time age, a series of experiments were conducted, whoso object was to demonstrate that rainfall could bo induced by the timely discharge of heavy guns. The hypothesis was that the concussion would cause the bursting of rain-clouds which otherwise would pass over the land, and would only break into rain when they encountered mountains or were blown out to sea. Although the theory is to a large extent supported by the experience in northern latitudes of heavy rain being produced after a great artillery or musketry battle, the Australian experiments were by no means so conclusive as could have been desired by settlers in the arid regions of tho island-continent. Now comes the news by European mail that a bombardment of the clouds is being accepted as an effectual means of preventing hailstorms, which in the spring and summer seasons are very destructive to vineyards, orchards, and market gardens. Within the last few years a pacific cannonading has been heard from time to time in Switzerland, Austria Italy, and France. No sooner is a portentous cloud visible on the horizon than the vine-grower or farmer straightway becomes a soldier. Natural peals are drowned in the roar of artillery, and the hail-storm is driven back and dispersed. The idea of thus dispersing hail-storms originated in Italy, and in 1900 tho first grelifuge, or hail-dispersing society, was founded in France. To-day, no fewer than twenty-eight such societies exist in the Beaujolais alone. The scientific world is divided as to the efficacy of these aerial bombardments, and the question, is asked—Does the cannon paragrele really vanquish the enemy? Such questions, according to a writer in the “Eevue des Deux Mondos,”,can only be satisfactorily answered after much longer experimentation. Dp to the present time, belief in the method is very general among viticulturists and fruit-growers in Europe. At tho first threat of a hail-storm, these rush to their batteries as if Tired with patriotic ardour during a foreign invasion. In some cases balls and bombs certainly seem to have proved efficacious. In the recent report of a scientific agriculturist. of the Beaujolais, it is stated that whilst the year 190-1 was prolific in hailstorms, districts protected by artillery escaped devastation. The possible demonstration of the success of these methods of inducing rainfall or arresting hail-storms suggests a new reading of the Scriptural prophecy regarding the coming golden Age of Peace. In addition to beating their swords into plough-shares and their spears into reaping-hooks, the men of war will convert their guns and field-pieces into rain-persuaders or hail-dispersers.

Some observers of current ©vents have , declared that the presentbeligion day tendency is towards and toleration in religion and politics, intolerance in politics. So far as Australasia in general is concerned, it can hardly ho doubted that the study of economic science has largely displaced that of theology among the masses of the people, who view politics as a serious business of life. A somewhat remarkable instance of the triumph of politics over sectarian religious feeling reaches us from Ireland. Early in July last, the Independent Orange Order of Ireland issued from Belfast a notable manifesto, signed by Mr T. H. Sloan, M.P., Mr Lindsay Crawford, the Imperial Grand Master, and other officials of the institution. It is addressed to all Irishmen, both Protestant and Roman Catholic, whoso country stands first in their affection; and, after dealing with land and labour, town tenants, the financial position of the country, and redistribution of seats, concludes as follow's: —“Castle government stands self-condemned. We do not trust either of the English 'parties on any of the questions that divide Ireland, and we are satisfied that both Liberals and Tories will continue in tho future, as they have done in the, past, to play off Irish Protestant* and Nationalists against each other to the prejudice of our country. This being so, we consider that it is high time that Irish Protestants should consider their position as Irish citizens and their attitude towards their Roman Catholic countrymen, and that the latter should choose once for all between nationality and

sectarianism. In an Ireland in which Protestant and Homan Catholic stand j sullen and discontented, it is not too ! lunch to hope that both will reconsider j their positions, and in their common I trials unite on a true basis of nationality. The higher claims of our distracted country hare been too long neglected in the strife of party and of creed. There is room in Ireland for a patriotic party with a sound constructive policy that will devote itself to the task of freeing tho country from the domination of impracticable creeds and organised tyrannies,, and to securing tho urgent and legitimate redress of her many grievances.” The significance of such an utterance as this, emanating from “ tho Black North,” whore Orange principles are most tenaciously held, and where “No surrender” is the traditional cry, can scarcely bo overestimated. The manifesto is tantamount to a surrender of religions animosity for the sake of political union, with a view to national advantage. It remains to bo seen how far the sentiments of tho manifesto are endorsed by : tho masses of tho Irish people, whether Protestant or Homan Catholic.