TOPICS OF THE TIMES

Southland Times, Issue 22107, 30 August 1933, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE TIMES

Study of Fatigue. Some of the practical bearings of the study of psychology on daily life were discussed by Mr W. Creswell O’Reilly in a Sydney address. His subject was, “Don’t be tired to-morrow.” This phrase, he explained, was said to be used by a South African tribe, and it means that people should not worry unnecessarily, that the taking of a hopeful view in a set of circumstances assisted in the realization of a desirable outcome. Psychology was teaching man new methods of work, said Mr O’Reilly, and was adding to the sum of human happiness. Much of our tiredness was not of the body but of the mind. Though people talk of overwork, probably very few were really overworked in the physical sense. Sensations of fatigue were due largely to association with worry, with failure to arrange our work properly, or with the fact of being engaged in work in which our personality seemed to find no natural expression. Mr O’Reilly recalled that when, during the war, he went to Salisbury Plain with the artillery reinforcements, the troops found the route marches very fatiguing. On the march back, however, as soon as the top of the hill was reached and all knew that in 10 minutes they could be lying on their bunks with a cup at tea, the tired feeling would be forgotten in refreshment from a psychological source.

Hypnotism and Crime. In an account of epilepsy and conditions with similar symptoms, appearing in the current issue of “The Lancet,” Dr Hildred Carlill, of the Westminister Hospital, describes the curious unconscious behaviour of patients following an epileptic seizure, and draws analogies between this and the conduct of subjects under the influence of hypnotism, says the medical correspondent of the Morning Post. It is known that after an epileptic attack even of the minor variety without a generalized convulsion, a patient will perform actions and even commit crimes of which he afterwards has no memory. Dr Carlill states that in the hypnotised state a man may also be made to commit a crime, and if sufficiently provoked a hypnotised subject may even commit a spontaneous crime. The matter becomes of some importance when it is remembered that even the telephone can be used to produce the hypnotic state. Dr Carlill describes one patient who has acquired the trick of becoming hypnotised when hearing Dr Carlill’s fingers click. Other authorities have asserted that under hypnotism a subject cannot be made to do actions which he would strongly resist doing in normal life. Dr Carlill’s evidence is certainly against this view, and the type of dissociated consciousness he describes opens up several important possibilities in regard to crime and disorders of the nervous system.

Surgery-and Research. “At every hand,” said Sir Holburt Waring, president of the Royal College of Surgeons, when opening the Buckston Brown Surgical Research Farm, “we have need of greater knowledge of the working of the body. For years after the Great War, for example, we thought that physiologists had provided the key to the cause and treatment of operational shock. It has been proved that the explanations given were not wholly correct, and we now want to know whether such shock is a nervous effect or whether it is caused by chemical changes originating in the damaged tissues. If that knowledge were available—and there is no reaso why, with sustained effort, it should not be obtained—we should be able to take measures to reduce operational shock very appreciably and so to remove one of the greatest objections to the surgical method.” In the case of brain operations. Sir Hulburt proceeded, more exact information was needed as to the role played by different parts of the brain, and as to the effects on personality and health of interfering locally with the blood supply—as when a tumour is removed. “Another very large field of progress,” he continued, “is being opened up by increasing knowledge of the work of our nerves. An example of how such knowledge may be quickly applicable is the prospect of relieving certain forms of facial paralysis which has resulted from the discovery by Sir Charles Ballance in the college laboratories that the ‘sympathetic’ (or unconscious) nervous system can be made to do the work of the ‘motor’ or (conscious) system, from which it had been thought to be entirely disconnected. Other pressing problems were represented by cases of intestinal obstruction, in which there was a largely unexplained mortality of 40 per cent; and ulcers of the stomach and duodenum, cases of which had quadrupled in one large hospital within 10 or 12 years, although they still had no satisfactory explanations either of their cause or of why some perforated and some did not.

The following weather report and forecast was issued last evening: An intense anti-cyclone still covers the whole Tasman Sea area and is moving on to New Zealand. Pressure is low and the weather disturbed over Australia. The forecast is for winds, southerlies prevailing at first, strong between Hawkes Bay and East Cape, but otherwise light to moderate, decreasing and tending northerly later over the South Island. Seas in New Zealand waters smooth to moderate. In the Eastern Tasman Sea light to moderate southerly winds gradually tending to northerly. Seas smooth to moderate. Weather—Some showers at first on the East Coast between Castlepoint and East Cape, otherwise fair to fine with cold night but milder day temperatures.

An area of approximately 400 acres has been sown in wheat in the Ruataniwha district, one of the strongholds of wheat growing in Central Hawkes Bay.

William Ernest Vincent, a hotel porter, pleaded guilty to a charge of theft on June 10 from the Dunedin dwellinghouse of Frederick James Larby of a suit of clothes and a gold ring valued at £l2 and was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, states a Greymouth Press Association message.

The first line of this season’s spring lambs from the Wairarapa was killed at the Masterton Municipal Abattoirs last week. The lambs, which were from Mr W. T. York’s property, Carterton, were in good condition, and averaged about 251 b. dead weight. Although killing has been commenced about a fortnight earlier than usual, the average weight is well up to that of other years.

Explaining that he was an amateur bushman, Professor B. E. Murphy showed a keen interest in hickory and manuka slasher and axe handles exhibited before the Tariff Commission in Auckland recently. “I have felled quite a bit of bush in my time,” he told one witness. “If ever you are down in Wellington and want to give a demonstration to show the relative merits of these handles, I have a bit of bush you can work on.”

With the incessant rain the other day, Hamilton streets were practically empty, and most shops experienced a dull day (says the Waikato Times). There was one bright interlude, however, when a retriever dog seized a large bundle of men’s sox from outside a mercer’s shop and made off down the street, with an assistant from the shop hot on his heels. After traversing about 200 yards the dog dropped the bundle and walked unconcernedly away while the assistant recovered his goods.

A total of 54 dogs have been poisoned in the Fendalton, Merivale, and St. Albans districts during the past two months (reports the Christchurch Times). Residents are of the belief that some irresponsible person has been the offender. Some valuable dogs have been lost, including a champion Irish Setter. Most of the dogs appear to have been poisoned by strychnine. Some alarm was also expressed at a meeting of the Kaiapol Borough Council when it was decided to draw the attention of the police to the fact that valuable dogs has been poisoned there recently,

Some Canadian and American quar-ter-dollar pieces are in circulation in New Zealand, passing as shillings, which they resemble closely.

The Council of the New Zealand Society of Accountants has decided to offer up to £450 per year towards the provision of a full course of accountancy tuition at Victoria University College. At a recent meeting of the society it was mentioned that Victoria was the only University College in New Zealand which did not make full provision for tuition for the degree of Bachelor of Commerce. —Wellington Press Association message.

“How many of us try to realize what the world would be like to-day without newspaper advertising?” said Rotarian E. H. Whiting, in addressing the Wanganui Rotary Club recently. “Most of the things that help to make life pleasant have been brought to our notice by advertising—and more particularly newspaper advertising. Think of the many people who have secured their present positions as the result of replying to advertisements they saw in the daily paper. Mass production and lower prices were never possible without advertising. Without it the manufacturer could not possibly get into touch with enough consumers to get rid of his output.”

Six cassocks, eight stoles, and several book-marks were stolen by thieves who entered St. Mary’s Church, Merivale on Friday night. When they were recovered the cassocks had been adorned with the aid of the stoles and bookmarks, and eyeholes had been cut in the material. “It looks as if they were wanted for an initiation ceremony—though I do not know who was going to act as high priest,” said Archdeacon P. B. Haggitt, telling of the theft yesterday. The church was left open, he said, and some time during the night the thieves entered and robbed the vestry. The vestments were all that were taken. At the service at the church on Sunday “we just had to do without them,” said the archdeacon.

There was a persistent woman interjector at Mrs McComb’s by-election meeting at the Woolston School on Monday evening, and the remainder of the audience did not appreciate her barely audible remarks, states the Christchurch Times. The candidate effectively talked her down, but at one stage her patience was strained. Pausing in her speech for a few moments she turned towards her tormentor and remarked: “I know that my friend down here likes talking, but so do I.” The applause that followed was an indication that she had the full support of the rest of the audience. The interjector was less troublesome for some time after, but later broke out afresh, causing members of the audience to tell her to “Shut up.”, “It’s all right,” said the candidate. “I can easily talk over that; I’ve been accustomed to children all my life.” Even this rebuke and the deafening applause of the audience did not suppress the interjector entirely and she had a few more tilts at the candidate. “How do you like your eggs done, missus?” shrieked a feminine voice, directed at the interjector, when the meeting carried a vote of thanks and confidence in the candidate.

Excellence will ultimately win its reward. The proprietors of Dewar’s Whisky have proved it.—Advt.

Blazers, Gym Frocks, Blouses, Knickers, Gym Hose, Navy Raincoats and everything for school in stock or made to order at Miss Noble’s, The Baby Shop, Dee Street.—Advt.

For a good and economical fire burn Murray’s Kitchen coal in your range. It is cheap and satisfactory. Order from John Murray, Esk street. Phone 207. Advt.

Dainty Locknit silk pyjamas, nightdresses and under-skirts. See our special window display. Wicks’ Ltd., Cash Drapers.—Advt.

Whooping Coughs: Use Neil’s Chest Balm. Immediate relief. 1/6 and 2/6. GEO. H. BROWN, Chemist,—Advt.

Delicious toffees and candies. Our best sellers Bulgarian Rock, Malt Toffee, Butter Scotch, Cocoanut Caramels etc., at Ayson’s two shops, 5 and 72 Dee St.—Advt.

Marvellous Discovery! Cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis: In November last year, Canterbury lady (65) was carried into consulting room, completely crippled. After 5 bottles of Tavener’s Arthritis Prescription, she is able to work and walk as she has never done for years; 5 weeks treatment 17/6 Tavener, Chemist, 183 High St., Ch. Ch—- .

150 surplus boys suits to be sold at prices much lower than usual. Genuine 25/6 quality reduced to 19/6. All sizes. These suits have double seats. Carter’s Surplus Stock Sale—Advt.

Nervousness disappears, appetite increased, new blood produced. Neil’s Iron Tonic Bitters. GEO. H. BROWN, Chemist.—Advt. DID YOU GET YOUR FREE CHOCOLATE? If you’ve had your free chocolate with Tiger Tea, you’ve perhaps tried this wonder value fine tea for the first time. If you liked its delicious, fragrant taste and if you found it, as many have during the last 40 years, the most economical, won’t you please tell your friends about it? You can get it from your grocer in {,lb and 11b packets and in handy 21b Canisters. Still only 2/6 per pound —Advt. In Thomson and Beattie’s windows at present, magnificient displays of the new season’s goods are showing. All the new, crinkly surfaced dress silks, anti-crease cottons, smart coats in the new check patterns, and a number of stylish accessories. Don’t miss seeing this display in Thomson and Beattie’s windows.—Advt. BOOKS OF INTEREST. Mechanical World Year Book 1933, 2/9; N.Z. Motorists’ Road Guide South Island 1934, 3/6; Stone and Cox Insurance Tables 1932, 3/-; Star Garden Book, 2/9; Times Crossword Puzzle Book 96 puzzles and solutions, 3/6; A.B.C. of Technocracy, by Frank Arkright, 2/3; Whitakers Almanack for 1933, 3/6; The Great Pyramid by Basil Stewart, 2/3; First Aid to the Injured, latest edition, 2/-; Home Nursing, latest edition, 2/-; Scottish Farmer Album 1933, 2/-; Cookery' Book, 1000 Tested and Inexpensive Recipes, 1/-. Postage extra.—N.Z. BOOK DEPOT, 49-51 Esk Street, Invercargill.—Advt. Bits of broken glass in joints is how one Arthritis sufferer described his condition. Thanks to Taveners’ Arthritis Prescription he now states that he is completely cured, hasn’t an ache or pain. 5 weeks treatment 17/6 Tavener Chemist and Arthritis Specialist, 183 High St. Ch.Ch.—Advt. Weak systems crave Neil’s Iron Tonic Bitters. Valuable remedy for Indigestion, Nervousness, Anaemia, Weakness GEO. H. BROWN, Chemist.-Advt. HULLE’S POWDERED STRYCHNINE. 6/6 per ounce. Now Obtainable at STEWART’S PHARMACY. Corner Dee and Don Streets. •-Advt.