WOULD KILL A MILLION

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 834, 30 November 1929, Page 30

WOULD KILL A MILLION

SFOONFUL OF DEADLY TOXIN ' TO MAKE ARMS USELESS A toxin that could be employed to slay men by the million was mentioned by Professor Leonard Hill, iij his presidential address to the Sanitary Inspectors’ Association at Lowestoft. England, recently, says “The Evening News.” “I would call your attention,” he said, “to a certain bacillus which shall be nameless, but is easily cultivated. “If men are as susceptible-as guinea pigs are to the toxin produced by this bacillus —and there is reason to think they are —it would appear that one gramme, say a salt-spoonful of the dry toxin would suffice to till a million. 'S “The toxin acts if inhaled or if it falls on the eye as a powder. “If men set out*to prepare such a toxin and scatter it by airplanes, what would be the use of the panoply of war ?” In another part of his address Professor Hill gave some hints on health, and advised men f o wear lighter clothes. “Women have reduced their clothing to a weight of two or three pounds, while man continues to overclothe himself with three or four times this weight,” he said. ■“The reform most needed at the moment is the open neck. Let us get rid of the tight collar. “The loose trouser is convenient and comfortable for this climate, and underclothing can and should be lightened.” On the question of drink, Professor Hill said: “The cocktail habit is not a good one. It has been proved conclusively by exact resarch that alcohol in doses above small ones diminshes skill and lessens efficiency. “Alcohol is thought to exhilarate it really lessens control and so loosens the tongue. For motor-drivers and airpilots, alcohol is, therefore, dangerous. while useful for after-dinner speakers and those who want to be slightly anaesthetised and forget troubles’.’