Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 91, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 February 1918 — SCRAPS [ARTICLE]

SCRAPS

New Mexico has a lizard which is reputed to squirt blood from Its eyes. The Presbyterian board of foreign missions has 1,353 missionaries on its rolls. In time of peace the Transvaal mines are the largest consumers of explosives in the world. One of the easiest ways to cool an over-heated oven is to stand a basin of cold water in It. The Methodist church in Japan has gained about 12 per cent in membership during the last year. Most of Japan’s pearl divers are women, who begin to learn the trade at the age of thirteen or fourteen. France is the best foreign patron of the United States patent office, with Great Britain following closely. Iron imbedded in concrete in Germany has been found to be free from rust after more than fortyfive years. A Swedish physician, Dr. Carl Kling, has discovered a serum for scarlet fever which reduces the death rate in severest cases from 70 per cent to 17 per cent. He began his experiments during a widespread epidemic of the disease in Stockholm. Blood was taken from healthy patients who had recovered and a serum made from this was injected into the veins olf the sick. The habit of monkeys to imitate the actions of man is utilized by wild animals catchers in taking the agile creatures captive. The hunters’ method is to walk about for some time within sight of the wild monkeys, wearing short boots. Then the boots are taken oft and gum is placed in them, after which the men withdraw from the scene. Before long the curiosity of the imitative animals gets the better of their caution and they try on the boots. Their feet stick, and they are easily captured.—Popular Mechanics.