File:TheFamilyDoctorNov9 1889page170.png

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PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF MIDNIGHT.-If it be a fact that murderous deeds are done in cold hlood, the proper time for Fuch Bins is betwefn eleven at night and one in the morning; for it is in this interval t.hat the temperature of the human falls to its minimum. From some research€5, lately communif'ated to the ROYfll Societ" ~ it appear8 that healthy heings go regularly through a daily cycle of variable warmth. The mflximurIl hp-at is rfached at 9 a.m.~ when in persons under tw€ntv-five, the temperature of flesh st;inds at 990 Fuh., and this is maintained till 6 pm., when it slowly and steadily falls till an hour before midnight: the amount of decrease by this time is something over two degrees. At about 3 a.m., the upward turn is taken, and the heat increa~es tin 9 o'clock. It is curious that this extent of change only occurs in youngo bodies; old folks preserve a nearly fqual degree of warmth all the twenty four hours through. Other notable facts are, that feeding has nothin~ to do with the variations, and that hot and cold baths do not fLppear to interfere with the regulal"ity of the su('cessi ve cbanf!e~. THJ~KING -Thinking is an important prepar .. ation for 8peaking; but in the heat of an argument there is not alwavs time for it. A friend of ours gets over the difficulty, to some extl-nt. by arming himself 1!Ol a knotty di8cu~sion with a cigar: be 8ays that a long draw and a protracted puff, give him a few moments to look around the point at istue, and to frame a safe reply-the opposite pal ty attribufing the delay to the rf'quirements of the weed. But thiDkin~ before writin~ is still more important. Do you know how L')rd Palmerston kept his pen waiting for hjs brain? He wrote standing', and had his desk at one end of the room and his inkstand at the other. Every dip involved a walk, and a brief cogitation that prevented rash expression. 110reover, the body was kept in healthy exercise and the blood in constant circulation. RECENT PATENTS. Tki, list u ,peciallll compiled for th8 FAMIL~ DOCTOR by Messrs. Rayner and (JasseU, Patet~t Agents, 37, Ohancery-lane, W. C.,jrom whom all information concerning Patent, may be obtained gratuitously. .. _ 16,211. Improvements in or relating to infanta' feeding appliances. A. J. BOULT (J(~an l\larie Gabriel Alphonze Pannetier). 16,224. Digestive medical compound and process of prep'irin~ such compound. JOHN CARNRICK. 16,225. Prepared milk food for infants and invalids. JOHX CARNRICK. 16,226. Effervescing medical conlpound. JOHN CAR~RICK. SPEOIFICATIONS PUBLISHED. 9,932. Smith and ~Iu1ford. Pills, &0. (1889), Sd, 2,858. Daniels. Antiseptic compound (1889), ·id. 12,303. Garbutt. Shower bath (1889), Bd. The above specifications may be had from Messrs. Rayner and Caasell, Patent Agents, 37, Chancery-lane, at the prices quoted.

CORRESPONDENCE.

--:o:--

CORSET DISCIPLINE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FAMILY DOCTOR.

SIR.,--I have before me the letter of "Carl" in your impression of the 28th September, describing the mode he adopted of imparting a good carriage to his daughters, in reply to "Old Fashioned." I cannot agree with him as to such strict discipline, for he does not mention that his daughters suffered from spinal weakness, so as to be obliged to take such steps to relieve the hack.

I remember feeing some years ago several persons (male and female) wearing a steel apparatus bent over their heads and fastened to the back by a plate of iron or steel covered with leather, in the centre of which there was a sort of catch wherewith the bars of steel (I think tour in number) could be raised or lowered. To these rods over the head were fixed a leather band covered with velvet passed under the chin to keep the head up, and could be raised or lowered by another person and not by the wearer. This instrument was obtained from a medical man residing at Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire, who treated patients suffering from spinal complaint

When a schoolboy I had a weak back caused by standing too long in class, and obliged to have recourse to a medical man, who treated me. My parents were advised to obtain the steel instrument for me to wear, but my father handed me over to a drill sergeant, who obliged me to wear a high stiff leather stock (the same as was worn in the army). This I always had on at a hearding school by day; it did me good, for afterwards I got stronger and very upright, and went into the army (a commission), and wore a leather stock, which I don't consider a discomfort in the least.

I may remark that the feet stocks were formerly used at the dancing academy for girls to learn to turn their feet in a proper direction for dancing --- Yours truly. MILES.

EAR AND NOSERINGS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FAMILY DOCTOR.

SIR.-I have waited to f:ee if any of YOllr c')rres· pondent~ answered to the query asked hy 'l'. H." on piercing two holes in hiS no~e, as he ask;; if it is pos~ible to put two in. He may put as many a:;; he wishes in thp, following way without notice :-Pierce the nose (pull down the centre at same tinle RO as to Iniss t.he gristle) and insert a 'Piece uf short wire, and bend it upwards, say about three-quarters of an inch long; let it stop in about two days and night~. then take it out and bathe it, and thel! let it stop in one night. Ba1.jhe again, then put a sewing needle through head first occasionally till quite healed, then you may wear a ~leepf'r or allY other earring4 as you think proper. When I go in a ~trange place I often wear a sleeper ~,~ well ag in my ears When "T. H." has put the one in hi~ nose he will like it quite as well as in the ear. I have two in ea' h ear, hut whpn I put one in my no"e I only have one in f ach. If English people. especially ladies, took to it they would like it; it h~ {)nly the thought of boring the no~e. When HT. H." pierc~s his nose the quicker he gets the piercer through the less pain he will get. T. S.

P.S.-Let me know how you go on with it.

EAR-PIERCING.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FAMILY DOCTOR.

SIR.,-I have just read the inte"e~tin~ l~t,ter written hy your practi'~al corrARpondent, " Aunt Nettle" As I think ~he looks at the que·tioll fronl an intpll'gent standpoint., I think she might furtber inform me whether she h~8 derived any t,herapeutic heoefit from having her ears pierced. This I opine to he the main qlH'stion at is:me. and I feel sure your readers gener .. ally will be interested in any practical tedtimony to that effect. I ~hould likwise feel gratified if your corresp'lndent would supply some details of the ear· piercer menti med in her letter, and whether it is on the same principle as the German artide mentioned hyanother corre:;· pondent. Lead earrings ha,ve also been lnent.ioned in your columns, and it is worthy of notice th ~t they are useful for in::ertion immediatelv the ear-lobe;; are pierced. I feel interested in knowing what metal the ear-piercer mentioned by "Aunt Nettie" was IDHde of. In Germany it is m'lode of steel. and j u~t hefl)re 1 he operation is heated to a red heat, and so is p8ioleS8 in its effect. I read the di~cugsi')n in VOUt" columns With much interest. Awaiting further iofonnatioll, I am, Sir, you'S. dIc.. P. JOHNSON. London, N.\V. HYPNOTIS\tI. TO rI'HE EDITOR OF THE FAMILY DOCTOR. SIR.-In anSWfr to your correspondent, Arthur J oinson, I think, like hiIn, we want more light on this important subject. He a;;k~ for more light. and I will endeavour to give what little I know about it to your readers with your kind p~rmis;sion In the first pla~e, the name of mesmerism is derivpd from the faet t hat Dr. Mesmer in the year 1776 brought the subject hypnoti8m b~fore the public, and from that time it has been ca,lled mesmerism. But there are undoubted pro·Jfd that Dr. M:es'-Uer was not the di!o"coverer of this ~cience. This influence or force was known to a select few most probably from the earliest ages in the history of the world. Scientific men have discovered that this force was known and made. praf'tkal u~e of by the Ancient Romans, the Hreeks, thti Persians, and otber nations. The ancient Egyptians were well acquainted with the seerets of this science. as on SOln:} of their monuments. dating back sorne hundreds of years, are to be found representations of the Inanipulations known as mesmeric pa"ses-thi~ kno \vledge was then ia the hands of the high prie~ t who practised it in their temples. It a1;;;:) has been practised in India by the priests and f::lkit s from time immemor:al, bat its lawd have been shrouded in Iny~tery, and even at the present time VEry few persons know anything definite about the matter The name of animal ruagneti'lm is a far better one than that of meslnerism, as m.agnetisrn is constantly generated by the chemic:ll changes that are g()in~ on in the human systenl. It i3 als' known by the names of vital magnetisnl, human electri~ity. psychology, and electra-bIOlogy. I will now proceed tJ explain some of the mysteries of animal magnetism. In the first place, if a number of friends go to see a person that is sic.k, the presence of the friends is felt by the patient, by him Ieeling much better for their vbit. Let nle explain this further. ~la5netism is thrown off from our bodies. and is absol'beet by those persons in contact who are weaker than ourselves, for lllagneti::nn 1S like water, it must find its leveL and therefore must be equal with the stron~ and the weak corning in contact· with each other. Now. if several frIends go to see a sick person and they join hands, allowing the bail of each thumb to come in contact and form a circle of themselves, and let the two end persons get hold of the sick person. they would infuse magnetism into the weak, ;),nd so stren~hten them, and would assist Nature to

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