25 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, December 16, 1972

A CHRISTMAS cracker! That was the verdict of traders today as thousands of people poured into Bolton on the biggest festive shopping spree of all time. 'People seem to have more money to spend this year than ever before,' commented the manager of one town centre store. He reported an amazing boom in home music-making instruments. 'We've completely sold out of electric organs, for example,' he said.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, December 17, 1947

MR John Morrison (C) asked the Minister of Food in the Commons today, what percentage of whalemeat was now contained in the average sausage.

Dr Edith Summerskill, Parliamentary Secretary: None, sir. (Laughter).

Mr Morrison: I have seen a factory where some is incorporated in sausage. Will you inquire again?

Dr Summerskill: Your question related to the 'average sausage'. The average sausage has 50 per cent ordinary meat. If whalemeat is incorporated it would then be called 'whalemeat sausage'. (Laughter).

125 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, December 17, 1872

SUICIDE OF A BRIDEGROOM

Sir,- It has been represented to me that the account of the inquest on poor Thomas Craven, published in your second edition of Saturday, is calculated to leave to false impression on the public mind. I was not present on the occasion, it being the system of the Coroner's Court, on economic grounds, to do without medical evidence whenever possible; I had not, therefore, the opportunity of pointing out that the idea of my having told him that 'he had an abscess on his head and a cancer in his nose' was an illusion of his deranged faculties, and afforded additional testimony of the correctness of the jury's verdict. He consulted me on account (to use his own words) of 'elongation of the uvula', and as he was to be married on Saturday he promised to return in a day or two to have it removed. Judging from what I elicited during the conversation I had with the deceased, I believe he was one of the many victims of the unscrupulous quacks who are allowed to flourish in our midst.

I am, sir, &c, Frederick Waterhouse, LRCP, Lond. &c.

2 Bridgeman-street.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.