Chapter 14
DIVING BELLS. The diving bell is simply a covering made of metal which is securely fastened to a waterproof suit, the diving bell itself being an enclosure for the head. The diver dons his suit, the neck of which has a collar in the form of a screw. The diving bell is placed over his head and screwed on.
It is connected with a rubber pipe through which air is forced by an air pump, the air escaping through a valve in the belt itself. If properly constructed and manipulated, one may remain underwater for considerable time, although he is likely to be uncomfortable until he becomes used to it. It was invented about 1715.
Dramas. During 1912, 97 new plays were presented. Thirty-six were musical comedies, thirty-six of the plays were serious or sentimental, thirteen were melodramas, thirteen were comedies. One was a pantomime, two were tragedies, and fourteen were farsas.
Drugs. The safest and best rule to follow is never to take any drug without the advice of a physician. Drugs have their place and without drugs many diseases would be incurable. But drugs taken promiscuously derange the system and give but temporary relief. Hundreds of thousands of people have contracted chronic ailments from drug-taking.
Headache powders, cough mixtures, sleeping potions, and practically all of the advertised remedies should be strenuously avoided, notwithstanding that some of them are pure and would be efficacious if administered intelligently. Because one particular drug or medicine benefits a certain person, should not be considered as evidence that it will aid another.
The habit of borrowing prescriptions is dangerous. The intelligent physician writes a prescription which will benefit his patient, and the same prescription would be of no benefit and might be of positive injury to another. Many of the testimonials given to patent medicines are genuine and are written by honest persons. The effect of many of the advertised nostrums is to give immediate or transient relief.
They stimulate the system and may make it feel better for a short time, but reaction is likely to set in and the taker of them is worse off than he was in the first place. The effect of many of the advertised nostrums is to give immediate or transient relief. So henceforth among the glorious hosts of Paradise. I know that my Redeemer liveth, I die for the good old cause.
Socrates. Crito, we owe a cock to Aesculapius. Thalma. The worst is, I cannot see. Tasso.
Lord, into thy hands I commend my spirit. Vespasian. A king should die standing. William III of England. Can this last long?
Wolf. General. What? If I die, then I die happy. Brewers.
Reader's Handbook. Dynamite. This is one of the strongest explosives and is used for blasting and even for guns, although it has not as yet been successful for the firing of projectiles. It consists of infusorial and porcelain earth mixed with coal dust and siliceous ashes,
saturated with about three times its weight of nitroglycerin. It is of a grayish-brown or reddish color, damp and greasy. It has an explosive power nearly eight times greater than that of gunpowder. It is dangerous to make because the nitroglycerin which it contains will explode if not handled carefully.
End of section 14.
