HERE AND THERE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 11 August 1909, Page 87

HERE AND THERE.

— To Save a Sister's Life. — The transfusion of blood from a healthy to an anaemic person, by which many lives have been saved in the United •States in receni 1 years, has failed -to .restore Mrs Horace Jayne, the wife of a prominent physician, and herself a well-known -artist. Despite the sacrifice of her brother, Mr William Henry Furness, an African explorer, whose blood was transferred to her, she has died in her home at Philadelphia. Mrs Jayne, who was the daughter of Dr- Horace Rnssell Furness, the authority on Shakespeare, had an attack of typhoid fever, which left her at the point of death from anaemia. Her physician, :n: n the last resort, determined to try the extreme measure of blood transfusion. By this means Dr Alexis Carrel, of the Rockefeller Institute, recently re-s-tored a dying baby to health in a few days, the father making the sacrifice. Mis Jayne' s brother unhesitatingly volunteered to make the sacrifice. They were laid side by side on the operating table, anc' an artery in the explorer's arm was opened and connected by a rubber tube with glass ends with an open win in liis sister's arm. His blood was allowed to p:'i>r into her veins until Mr JFurneps was faint and weak, while his sifter's cheeks took on an unaccustomed flush. Mrs Jayne revived immediately, but the transfusion was followed by a return oi fevpr, and she gradually sank til d->ath supervened. Her brother was grerily v. eakened, but a few days' reel and medical care are expected to restore h-"n to normal hea-lth. — Colouring Flowers. — The day appears to be not f-:r dis-tant wh"n Germary, the land of applied ■chemistry, will be able to send us fiov. e'\of any prescribed colour. TII3 task of influencing the colours of flowi-i^ I\\ the u«-e of chfinicalr- is one that has occupies! i-hemi-ts for «ome time, and tl:o result? have not been wholly s-atisf.°.Ci<;r\ because so many of the modifications obtain^'! prov-d rot to b" permanent. Pioi'essor Henry Kraeiner, by using various

■ chemicals to modify the colour principles of plants, has obtained some curious effects. The chemicals were supplied to the plants in the form of solutions of varying strength or were added to the soil in solid form, solution gradually taking place. Probably the most striking result was the production of a red colour in the petals of the white rose Kaiserine. The red pigment comes out at the base of the petals of roses which have been supplied with potassium hydrate, calcium hydrate, and lead acetate. Kraemer surmises that either the added chemical has reacted directly with a chemical already in the petals and has formed a new substance, or that the colour substance in other parts of the plants, as in the leaves, has been transported to the petals through the influence of the chemical. In some experiments with the Ted. flowering hydrangea blue flowers were produced by plants when the soil or sand in which they were growing was supplied with potassium and aluminium sulphate or aluminium sulphate and calcium hydrate. In plants fed on the lead acetate the pink, or red colour was considerably intensified. — Stimulating Growth by Electricity. — The Kaiser has introduced on his private estates at Dahlen. a few miles from Berlin, the, new system oosf s stimulating the growth of plants b\ electricity. Experiments systematically conducted under tlie supervision of Dr Hochstermann have already demonstrated that the growth of plants, flowers, cereals, and, in fact, all kinds of vegetation thus far tested can be stimulated by charging the air above and around them with electricity. Further, systematic experiments are now being carried out to ascertain the precise differences in the growth of plants in an atmosphere -charged with electricity and plants which grow under normal conditions, and also to find a cheap and simple method of charging the atmosphere with the necessary electricity. On approaching the fields where the experiments are in progress one notices red poles supporting a network of wires. In one corner of this* area machines are vorking to produce an electric current of 250,000 volts. A wire connects the negative pole with the earth, while the positive pole is connectei with the network of wires, spread over the fields. By this rneafns between the negative earth electricity and the positive air electricity there is a discharge, and in this atmosphere charged 1 with electricity plants grow moro rapidly and attain greater size. — A Honeymoon in the Sky. — The "honeymoon in the sky" ot Mr Roger Burnham, the sculptor, and his bride lasted only three hours and fifty minutes. The couple ascended in a. balloon from the Berkshire hills and came to earth 15 miles from the Massachusetts coastline- after some exciting experiences. They had travelled 175 miles, reiched an altitude of 4500 ft, and breakfasted half a mile above ground. The crowd of 5000 who witnessed the start from Pititsfield at midnight threatened the safety of the aeronauts by attempting to carry cigars within the " danger zone" enclosure ol ropes. Mr Vansleet, the pilot, got safely away, but several articles had to be jettisoned to lighten the balloon. Then, the electric lamps failed, and the aeronauts were left in darkness. At 3 a.m. they breakfasted on sandwiches, Madeira, and hot coffee. An hour later Mr Vansle«t, the pilot, observed that they were approaching a large body of water — Boston Harbour. He lost no time in descending. The anchor caught in a tree in a farmer's orchard, and a landing was made with not even a jar. —The New. Theology. — After considerable discussion, and by a majority of 59 to 36, the New York Presbytery (writes the correspondent of the T)aily Telegraph) has licensed three students of the L/nion Theological Seminary; and, unless the decision is reversed by the Presbyterian Synod, Archibald Black, John Stesn, and" George Fitch will be enabled to preach the doctrines of the Presbyterian faith. Much interest has b&en aroused in their fate, for it was understood that these young men were not entirely orthodox. They were placed upon the rostrum in the First Presbyterian Church, and learned divines fired question after question at them. The students regarded the Bible as their only infallible rule of faith, but they declined to accept ] the story of Adam and Eve historically. I Dr Buchanan, who was examiner-in- j chief, wanted to know if Mr Black did not believe that the fall of man hsd' been caused by the eating of the forbidden fruit. Mr Black was not positive on the subject, but cleverly escaped the awkward quej-t'-on by declaring that the story was probably an allegory, containing a pro- i feu.id truth to which everyone could sub*eiihe. .Ail three candidates said they believed that Christ had risen from the | tiea r l in the body, but they doubted if it was the same body He had before He v-j.- buvi^d. They admitted the divinity \ of Chi; t. but w«re not prepared to ac- i cspt a.s literal the account of His birth as de. c ci il>3d :n the Bible. "When the Presbytery had voted in . favour of the student?, several ministers £4i 'd the orricil was almost as severe as | t^e pclicp "third degree." One divine, as | 1)p left the church, excla-m-ad, "I don't believe there were five ministers in that sather'ii'^ who could honestly say they accepted tlw* f-tory of Adam and Eve as a hifloiirpl fnct." — Egyptian Matrimonial Methods. — The archJEolog : tsts (says the Daily Telegraph) hive discovered a pleasan-* thing. ' Aiv.iv in Alexandria, soon after its foundation. 22 centuries ago, husbands found , their wive.-, trying and wives regretted their hu>bnnds' ways. It was, in fact, a f'vilLsed city. In these regrettable cirf uni'-uui-es, the authorities appointed a t curt of arbitration for matrimonial causes. Its business was not, like our matriarchal *

courts, to grant separations and divorce^ and to abolish maoriag^s generally wit.i more or less ease and expedition. The i judges were there to pour oil on troubled waters, to rebuke, perhaps, but chiefly to reconcile. In fact, the court played the part of the common friend, and we may piously hope that the Alexandrians liked it better than folk generally like the third party in their matrimonial troubles". It is tempting to suggest that the establishment of a' similar court, the just impartial friend of husband and -wife, would be valuable to our age. No doubt there are a good many married folk making themselves miserable in ridiculous "ways -who could be set right by a few plair words of sense from someone speaking with authority. But if they brough* all their woes into court, even a. court in camera, if they solemnly thought out all their woes for pleading like a legal cause, would they, ever come happily together again? On© doubts. — Peace Day in Schools. — A proposal in favour of annual peace days in schools, universities, and, churches was discussed with vigour at the International "Council of Women, meeting at Toronto. The majority of the council approved the recommendation. The Umitied States, Canada, Denmaj^k, the Netherlands, Austria-Hungary, and Belgium voted "Yes." Germany, Sweden, Italy, and France voted "No." The British aaid Norwegian delegates were divided. Of the former two voted for the motion and eight against it.