Items of Interest Gleaned from Everywhere

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 593, 4 January 1916, Page 3

Items of Interest Gleaned from Everywhere

GOTLAND has seut out a call for American made toys. The English factories are too busy to pay any attention to toy manufacturing nowadays, and Gorman made toys are. of course, tabooed on the British Isles, so the only recourse is America. Toys made iu Hie United States are said to be higher in price than the toys of any other country, but they are also said to be more novel, more durable, more attractive, and the finish of the American toy is usually better than that of other toys. The toy dealers in Scotland have found their stocks running low for the last year. A leading toy dealer said recently:—'The British toy makers are giving attention to more important matters, and now that the stock here is almost exhausted and much space for new and varied toys could be found, there should be a much increased demand for American'toys, not forgetting, of course, the rigid: assortment at prices to meet the times." This dealer has already sent in a large order for American toys and he is particularly anxious to get a large supply of American toy express wagons. American made dolls and animals of all sorts are also in demand in Scotland. Dried, finely powdered fresh bone mixed to the consistency of paste with petrolatum is the new method of treating fractures announced by Dr. H. .T. Kauffer, of England. Dr. Kanffer sterilizes the mixture, then inserts it by means of a syringe with a long needle between the fractured ends. The petrolatum and the bone cells, lie asserts, act as medium for the formation of new bone. Great care must be taken in inserting the bone mixture. The fracture is first located by means of the X-ray, then the syringe is introduced between the fractured parts and the warm mixture slowly expelled. This process is repeated from several sides, that the entire surface between the fractured ends may lie filled with Hie bone mixture. The latest Edison invention is the "telescribe," an instrument for recording on wax cylinders the entire telephone conversation, including the remarks of both sides and the voice of central. A business man may now refer to any hack telephone conversation by simply placing the telescribe record on his dictating machine, and he may use it as evidence in case the other person denies his telephone conversation. The device is operated by a small electric motor which runs at even speed a revolving barrel that carries a phonograph cylinder and a micro-recorder that fits over the cylinder and is connected with the telephone extension box, ]t is only necessary to remove the receiver from its regular hook, place if in the socket of the telescribe and take up the telescribe receiver. Japan and I he head hunting savages of Formosa are fighting for the control of the camphor tree forests, which are found only in the mountainous sections of that island. The natives fiercely resisted all other peoples until the Japanese got control of the island after a campaign against China in 1890. The Japanese have used modern warfare methods in gaining control of tin- camphor trees. They have made roads through the wildest portions

of (he forest and have built guardhouses 120 feet apart along the entire distance. They have also constructed fort intrenchments, with barbed wire entanglements, and have mounted machine guns at close intervals. In spite of their elaborate telephonic communications and scientific military measures, the head hunters have proved unconquerable enemies, and they slay hundreds of the Japanese camphor gatherers each year.