WORLD-WIDE NOTES.
SWIMMING IN FIFTEEN MINUTES "Chuck him in ; he'll soon find out how to swim!" is the advice sometimes given to the fond parent about to teach his young hopeful to swim. According, however, to an instructor of physical education at Kan?as University, U.S.A., a man or child can be taught to swim in fifteen minutes. His system seems to be simplicity itself. He goes back, to the root of all swimming principles. All animals swim in the same position as they walk, and teaching man to swim resolves into three factors (he declares). Firstly, to keep the body in a horizontal position ; and, secondly, that It is almost impossible for the body to sink if it strikes the surface in a slanting position. Thirdly, don't be afraid. Observe these three things, and you can learn to swim in a quarter of an hour. THE MINER AND THE CANARY. Our title suggests a fable after the order of the "Lion and the Mouse," and no doubt a modern AEsopt could construct a very pleasing tale with a telling moral based upon the important part that the canary now plays in warning rescue men of the treacherous fire damp. About fifteen years ago Dr. John Scott Haldane, who had studied conditions in Cornish collieries, suggested that canaries could be used to advantage; for detecting poisonous gases. These delicate birds are very susceptible to impure atmosphere, and can thus be used to g'ive a warning before a man feels the slightest discomfort. The first test of canaries in a real mine disaster took place at the Cross Mountain mine explosion at Briceville, Tenn. Here the Government rescuers, equipped with oxygen-maliing machines, upon their backs, and carrying caged canaries, were followed by squads ot unprotected rescuers. The bird 3 were watched, and as long as they remained cheerful, all was well ; but when their wings began to droop and they gasped for breath, it was known that the men without oxygen machines must venture no farther. Th.3 canaries drew the line of safety, and' a result no volunteer rescuers were exposed to the dangers of after-damp.
ABOUT THE'CAMEL. In a school in the South of Ireland a schoolboy of tender years is said to have produced the following essay on the camel : "The cannimal is a sheep of the sert. v It is caused' a backteria because it has a hump on its back. *lhe cannimal is very patient, and will lie down and d!ie without a grown, but when it is angry it gets its back up, which is called taking the hump. The ' shepherds of cannimals is called Arabs. When they live in towns they are called street Arabs. 'When the cannimal goes on a journey it drinks as much as it can to last for many days. Such anil- - are . called accquiducks. Those that cannot carry enough are called inebrates." t CRUMB OR CRUST : WHICH IS THE BETTER? Which is the more digestible*, crumb or crust bread ? Analysis shows verj little difference in regard to the constituents of each, but, as the "Lancet" points out, the crust, oi couree, contains much less moisture, and so is richer in solid constituents. The crumb contains on an average 43 per cent, of moisture, while the crust contains , only 20 per cent. One important dietetic difference between crust and crumb is the fact that the former contains an increased amount of soluble carbohydrates owing to th< action of intense heat which the crust receives compared with the crumb during baking. Moreover, the crust has a more pronounced "bready " flavour which is attractive and which stimulates the flow of digestive juices. That the mastication of crust in the mouth is much more likely to be complete than .is the case with the crumb everyone has generally found out for himself, as the plasticity of the crumb, and especially that of new bread, prevents, to some extent the salivary attack. If new bread were as thoroughly masticated as dry stale bread is bound to be, there would be no reason why it should be less digestible, but, the "Lancet" considers, it seldom , receives the necessary treatment in the mouth.
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King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 698, 26 August 1914, Page 7
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695WORLD-WIDE NOTES. King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 698, 26 August 1914, Page 7
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