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THE “RAILWAY BRAIN.”
A Case Much Resembling “ Railway
Spine’*«—Question for Neurologists.
At a recent meeting of the Society of
Physicians of the <! barite hospital in Ber
lin, Thomsen exhibited a patient whose
case he described as one of ‘‘railway
brain,” a neurosis resembling in many
respects the condition already well known
under the name of “railway spine.” A
healthy railway employe, aged 30, with
out history of alcoholism or of any pre
disposing neurotic condition, by the sud
den motion of his train was thiown \io*
lently against the side of a car, striking
his head. He sustained no wound, and
at the time of injury consciousness was
preserved. Some hours afterward, how
ever, he was suddenly seized with syncope,
with mental terror, lost all sense of loca
tion, could not recognize the simplest
familiar object, and described what he
saw erroneously; his one objective symp
tom was absolute anaesthesia of the entire
body. On the fourth day after his in jury
he had violent headaches, a pulse rate of
44, and, in addition to the cutaneous anses
thesia, loss of olfactory and taste sensa¬
tions, with difficult healing. On the fifth
day the psychic symptoms suddenly
ceased, he could remember nothing which
had happened, and had no explanation
for his condition.
The patient subsequently became very
melancholy, complaining of insomnia,
headache, spinal pain, weariness and
failure of appetite; no sensations of terror
or disordered dreams were present. The
objective symptoms remaining were well
marked cranial and spinal hyperesthesia;
failure to distinguish between white and
colors; loss of smell and taste and im
paired hearing; numbness and at times
paresis and spasms of the region sup
plied by the facial nerve were also pres¬
ent. He w as discharged from the hos¬
pital as improved, but two months after¬
ward his condition was unchanged: he
was unable to work on account of head¬
ache and weakness. Thomsen’s diagnosis
was “railway brain,” a condition of pro¬
found disturbance of cerebral functions
from shock.
The increase in mechanical appliances
and the immense extension of railways
afford abundant opportunities for obser¬
vation of nervous shock, both in its fatal
and milder forms. While postmortem
demonstration of hemorrhage and struc¬
tural lesions explains the course of these
cases when fatal, it is evident that we
must rely upon the continued observation
of surviving patients to determine the
development of lesions which will illus¬
trate the pathology of this condition.
The possibility of the production 4 of de¬
generative changes in nervous matter
and cerebral conditions causing perma¬
nent mental impairment is an interesting
question for neurologists, and. in its
medico-legal aspects, for the corporation
whose property may cause such injuries
to their patrons and employes.—Medical
News.
\ * Life of the Lowly In Barcelona.
some exceptions the ladies stiU
-ear the poetic Andalusian hwidgear,
Aeir glossy treses piled h IK h, the black
lace covering them drooping in front in a
point. The Barcelona shop gal or scam
stress, however, instead of the mantilla,
prefers a crimson or deep yellow sfik ker
chief, that suits to perfection^ lier dark
skin, jetty locks and glorious orbs. Prob
ibly their eyes become trained by the
bonstant contemplation of vivid colors in
lountain and skv, Selection for even in such slight
natters as the of a flower to
lace in the liair, or tlie choice of a stock
incr to match the petticoat, the Spanish
lass never errs on tho score of harmony.
Hie peasant, too, is no less romantic
than artistic. In dres^. deportment and
physiognomy, in fact from head to foot,
his an*aratice is characteristic. His
woolen cap is in reafity shaped like the
leg of » stocking—happily he does not
stiffen or distend it to its full length
capacity, the effect would be too gro
tesque for even his inborn gravity; the
lavish superfluity he draws forward, and,
folding it in a scroll over the forehead, it
not only shades the eyes, but is most be
coming. It is generally red and thus not
altogether unlike the Phrygian cap; old
men, however, often choose a dark
brown, purple, or gray color. His short
jacket is of black or blue velveteen, with
clusters of tiny silver filagree buttons; he
wears knee breeches, knitted hose, and
round Iris waist a red sash no less than
five yards in length. To put this on he
lets 'it trail on the ground, and winds
himself into it by turning round and
round. In the folds of this scarf he car
ries a claspknife of singular shape, pre
sumably of Moorish origin and peculiar
to Catalonia. The blade is from five to
seven inches in length, and, laying it flat
in the right hand palm, with the point
touching the tip of the two forefingers,
the “muchacho” knows how to throw it
with deadly accuracy. A pair of sandals,
light and suitable for the climate, com
plete his equipment and no doubt con¬
tribute greatly to the marvelous feats of
peed and endurance for which he is re¬
markable.—Gentleman’s Magazine.
Balloons in High Altitudes.
The recent attempt made by some
French aeronauts to reach a great height
above the earth has not been productive
of any particular scientific results. T.ho
balloon in winch the ascent was made
reached an altitude of over 20,000 feet
without the occupants of the car ex
periencing any ill effects, except a ten
dency to faintness on the part of one of
them. When about twelve years ago a
similar attempt was made, and the height
of 25,000 feet was reached, it was with
fatal . , . results to three out of the four * aero
nauts. The success of the piesent ex
periment is explained by the allegation
that the difficulties due to the rarefac
tion of the atmosphere only begin at an
altitude of 23,000 or 24,000 feet. This
view seems supported by the fact that in
the Himalayas and the Andes heights of
about 20,000 feet have been on several
occasions reached without any incon
venience. In such cases, liovvever, the
ascent has alwavs been gradual. The ill
effects experienced in balloons are pos
siblv due to the suddenness of the change.
T/mdnn Snectator *
To Stop Bleeding of the Nose.
If applying cold water to the neck and
face has no effect, dissolve a little alum
in a basin of water and inject a sniff of it
up the nostrils; hold the head back and
do not attempt to blow the nose.--Herald
of Health.
The Sardine Crop * ft Failure.
Another , pronounced failure. , ..
crop » a
domestic canning of .ai dnies, oi heiinig,
amounted last year to PA000 cases or
000,000 boxes. So far this year the pack
been almost a failure, on account of the
ure of the small fish to run m shore.
criminate fishing durin B the spawning
and killing off the old ones in winter,
made a seal city ill oui natcls,on le
^i^Tp™ . IVy,^“,.1*.. proving °
flsherics of France are also a
thisyeal .. Some home dealers are said to
making up the (h-ficiency by using
^ oU ........ of.,live reed oil, as in
and Portugal, and by catching large
herring, cutting them up >" proper lengths
and branding them as sardines.-Newport
, , 0 p 0 Rtal Cardtt
The Paris Figaro demands , the suppre».n>i/
of tbe open postal cards on the plea that they
^ fm l uo " t y used—or a use r;n ier
for tbe perpetn. aon of “ nw [yi" 0 i”
culuP ' llt ®’ to ll ^ , se de ig,U 1
r« Remove Ink .Stains.
y or the removal c." ink stains from
skin, b«^,t oxakc acid ftAnuuviij is probably the simi>lest
c «--• t .tains of i,-n
ink. A m vtu.-e of equal part, ox.be and
cif-nr oft i v -h»i letter, a^ic ^ to h.
n: *
rea y “ ll » wit«• taixttiit
of alcohol *u*u act-iic acid.
STORIES OF CHILDREN.
One Youngster W o have a nice canopy
top to cover our carriage. Other Youngster
—That’s nothin’, we have a chattel mortgage
on ours that will more than cover it, pa says.
Tid Bits.
A Main street mother was whipping her
boy yesterday, and as she applied the rod she
shouted, “Will you behave?” “Yes,” blub
bered the throbbdpg boy, “I will if you will.”
—New Ijondon Day.
U | ti jotii.gly-Tomn.y, when are you
going to marry? Tommy, 8 j-ears old and
v*cry susceptible_Well, I don’t think I’ll ever
marry. 1 love so many little girls, if I mar
Hed one all the rest would be jealous.—The
Epoch.
Qld gent i OIU eu (putting a few question*)
Now, boys—ah—cau you tell me what com
mandnieut Adam broke when he took the
forbidden fruit I Small scholar (like a shot)
—Please, sir, th’ warn’t no commandments
then, sir!—Boston Beacon,
Little 2-year-old Robert at tbe hrtikfust
table tbe other day heard his father and
mother exchange the coniDliments of tbe
morning with their guests until he > could
stand it no longer, and interrupted them
with: “Pupa, let me tell mv >to.y now. I
want some lm,li.”-<Joiicor.l (N. H.) Monitor.
“Where did you get a*l those buttons?’
asked a lady of a little boy who bad a thou
„<f “ ore OK *,, „ y °"
."plied tbe ladv, * • but what has that
. to do with it!*’
“Everything,” said the boy; “because he
Las t h e sorting of the collection basket.”—
Epoch,
A little girl wishing to make her father a
present was very ranch at fault to knew what
^uy f 0r purpose. After puzzling her
^rain considerably *■ d getting uliat sug
gestions she could from the other members of
the family, she finally went to her mother in
despair and said: “Only think, mamma, 1
don’t know what to get papa for a Christum*
present; ho don’t smoke, nor drink, nor notb
ing.”—Eastern Argus,
Something About Mineral Waters.
“It is easy to gull the public,” said a young
man who tends the fountain in d down town
cigar store. “The people who drink mineral
waters under the impression that they will do
them as much benefit us if they visited the
springs little know that nearly all of the stuff
is made up in University place. Borne of the
foreign waters are genuine, but the domestic
brands aae merely Croton water cleaned with
marble dust ami impregnated with alkalies.
It doesn’t pay to bring water from the springs
so long as the public are ratistled with a
counterfeit article. People know very little
aliout mineral waters, and when the boss
started the fountain the manufacturer came
down “ ‘As and B ave l;im just S starting omo tip. iu the business,
you are
„ r _ Bhmk> , Mid be<wooM My clmt ,.„ u
w ,ji fl n d it neceswiry to get only two kinds of
min0Iill „ ater There „ re mp, ,'but „„ the foun
{of sjx djfferent ,p,.i llB8 1 will at
h , hrM (mceta to eocl , o( ., ie tw0 , ipholtt
go us to save you trouble anu expense. You
call t , lu ^ s ,| your Corner, with what
erer u , ty cull (QT< nn( , no onp „ |U , vw Ik , , |ie
Jf y ou ghould hap|ien to run out of
miners water at any time, you mo, just giro
p
,,„!.r?t t] w , WtUmTleK mineral waters do no cood
t f'omThet nimiVcordial? InthlsthOTtUffer wdotivk
* b y fo obsh people Ime' get and intefhe habit that of
° Thore fashions in drug. a. well
osin |s( , Tho q , lhllne fever of a
few yeftrs ago h slowly dyill g out . Bromide
of potassium, chloral, and absinthe are uow
mostly in favor, and when once a man be
comes a slave to these it is but an easy stap0
to cocaine and opium. Otir counter trade is
eonfitwd almoat entirely to men, but I think
wouien a ,^ the worst drug fiend*, because
they buy tbe stuff in buik ami keep sipping
at it all day at home. The women who take
through their veins by injection «>oube
come nnyital and physical wrecks, am gen
°*’ a *‘ rK y 1611 •” ’ '
-
,
J™‘* ^ teti Jeemsto ]e The nastier the Uiaugl.t”!!*
it m1L”-N«w York Evening
The fin miner Hotel Hand.
“Do you call this a bond of pick'd muse
clans?'* said a liotel manager to the leader *
u summer hand. “Ach, dot vosso; I bit
» om mineselkf,” replied the band innate
-Well, then, }ou picked them before tluy
were ripe.”—Christian Union.
Only That and Nothing More.
Only a sweet lionquet.
Set w.th exquisite grace;
Only a choice nosegay.
And a passing pretty face;
Only a dainty curl.
And a murmuring, lingering hum;
Only a Pittsburg girl
Chewing a roll of gum.
—National Weekly.
Literal.
Elderly L'uly (as cars toll station)—I;
this my train?
Now Baggage Master—If you’re one of
them m got in o«* the ground fitter in tae la
stock deni, you may have nil interest in it,
inarm; otherwise it belongs to the railroad.—
Tid Bits,
Then It In Different.
Wbat fun it is o-boating,
With pretty girl t a-flouting
Upon th. tranquil bo».m of ti» Wro, tat.-, lab :
Jnd wbl"e mshowiu*:',. 4
Ob, I tow we all of us begiu to quake, quake, quake!
—0 tarispteWA Enterprise,
Bangles in Mounting.
Young Ditninwck—Did yon enter Ita.gl
atM.*.y«. V.l.*»howf
Mis* Huktekoper—Oh, no, indeed! You
know, since poor grandpa’s death, wo hau>
of « s —Puck,
The Only Tiling She Fears.
The girl now In tho hammock sits,
Her f How clone bc'si4 • her,
And naught ran tcaro her from that plaet-,
Anil from that young man’s firm embrace,
Exctpt a “horrid spider.'’
- Cbtti le town Enterprise.
1‘eogreiMing Flnoly.
CiJ/izen (to l»u»ebali nmnugeij—How is the
third Umeman’s hand ge tting on?
Manager (bojiefuily)—Nicely. lie think s
that by i tbe end of ibo w oe* ho will be able to
draw salary.—Tid Bits,
A rira.
He slew ma and pa In a cold blooded way,
But on trial, Ids honor to soften,
He »4ed iu a childlike and hrauccnf way,
* >on 1 lm rd, judge, upon a I*** orphan.”
* ge *
They Want Everything.
Tbrre on* some men so pnMiigal
In wealth they no < r edvnueo;
E’en when tin y have two <!<> :« they think
They act'd a pair of pent.;.
Wiu»him*ton C. itic.
ami Minall Audiences.
A large audience has the ad vantage of
enthusiasm; a small audience has the ad¬
vantage of impressibility. A largo an
dience gives more to tbe speaker. Hen*
it is that, while the winter gatherings i
church or Sunday ccb.ool are more attrac¬
tive, the midsummer /groups in tho san
fields are more receptive. Tho nearer
congregation comes to being the oi
speaker to tbe one hearer the larger tl
hope of a personal message being recti v
os personal by him who listens to it.—
PbiUulelpliia Sunday School Times.
First Cost of Hair Dye.
A recent analysis of a popular hair
“jrenewer” shows that it was made <
sixty grains of sugar of lead, sixty graii
of sulphur, a little glycerine and wate
with a drop or two of perfume. The sul ¬
phur gradually combines with the lead,
forming a brown or black sulphide < V
lead, action which that slowly the darkens purchaser the hair-sky persi
in may <
in its use. Cost three and a half cents p
bottle; retail price, $1.—Chicago Time
Microscopic air and liquid bubbles exi t
in many crystals of minerals, no less tlu>..
4,000,000 having been estimated to haw
a place in a cube of quartz one-twent;
fifth erf an Mick square.—Arkansaw Tmv*
