General News.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4645, 23 November 1883, Page 2

General News.

De Moncktony an old "and respected member of the medical staff of the colony -—and now on the permanent staff of the Government Insurance department—haa just shown us the design of what is termed '" Moncktou's Whip Accident Bedstead." The contrivance which is very ingenious, and yet simple consists of, as it were, a double bed or frame—on the upper one of which is stretched canvas—add is intended for sick persons and those suffering from severe accidents which reader shifting dangerous. By means of a steelyard-like contrivance with graduating weight, the patient who lies on the upper frame can be lifted quite easily and bed-clothes changed &c., with little or no trouble. The invention, which has been spoken of highly by the Press, is said to admirably answer the purpose of which it is intended. —Exchange. - Tobacco smokers cannot be too careful in attending to the cleanliness x>f their pipes, as a resident of a country district a few miles from Wellington has discovered to his cost. He is in the employ of the local road board, and has resided in the locality for over a score of years. A few months ago he borrowed apipe, which proved to be a very dirty one, from one of bis. fellow* workmen, and in the course of two or three weeks his under lip commenced to feel rather painful, but, as it had been cracked by the sun prior to the smoking of the pipe he thought little of the matter, and on a medical man being consulted, the sufferer was horrified to learn "that be had contracted cancer. The disease is making serious inroads on his life, despite all that medical skill can do, and it is doubtful whether its progress can be arrested. - To cure sneezing, plug the nostrils with cotton wool. The effect is instantaneous.