MISCELLANEOUS.

Waikato Times, Volume VI, Issue 312, 14 May 1874, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

I An instance of (he danger to human life that may accompany some of our mo3t commonplace a\ oc.it ions is furnished by a case which has occurred at Ballanit, Victoria, inducing the belief that a most ordinary culinary process may be beset with risk to health, and perhaps to life, that h but little considered or suspected. The matter at least deserves the attention of every head of u family, and it is important to the well-being of every household that, a matter involving so grave a question should bo thoroughly investigated. The caso is this- A little girl, three and a-half years old, three or four minutes after taking her dinner, became ill. A medical man was »ent for, and emetics were administered, but tho child grew worse. A second doctor was sent for, and the best advice nnd assistance procured, but the child suddenly died. Both doctors then refused a certificate to allow her bunal in the ordinary way. A post mortem examination followed, and the evidence of a Dr Jakni9 showed that a meal of boiled beef, cabbage, and carrots had caused death ! Dr Jakins explained that the vegetables bad fermented iv tho child's stomach, inflammation was caused, nnd death ensued. He said meat and vegetables stewed together frequently caused vomiting in healthy persons, and especially during thundery weather. Vegetables boiled separately from meat are not injurious, but with meat the constituents of yeast are formed, and under circumstances favorable to fermentation sickness to adults is caused, and death to in fants is likely to ensue. — Colonist. It is predicted that the task of civilising Africa will fall to England. From Capo Colony, Englishmen are pushing their way up to the equator ; and from Egypt it seems likely that they will push their way down to the equator, and there meet and spread their love of fair play to east and west. But all concerned will do well to remember that in this civilising kingdom of ours more than twenty million gallons of spirits were drunk in nine months (January to Septembor) of 1873, and we do hope it will be found possible to civilise Africa witheut this element. — Spectator.