MID-SOUTH MEMORIES
25 years ago — 1995 The dangers of eating raw oysters are well known, but few people know that cooked ones can make them sick, too. Raw oysters may carry dangerous bacteria that only cooking will kill. But they also can shelter viruses that cause the stomach flu — and that aren’t killed by cooking. Testing oysters for bacteria, as is commonly done in coastal states, is no guarantee, because viruses do not show up in these tests. ”There is no way of telling whether oysters are infected,” said Dr. Kathy Kirkland of Duke University. Kirkland and Dr. Sharon Mcdonnell of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention presented separate reports Wednesday on recent outbreaks of digestive ills caused by cooked oysters. They spoke at an infectious-disease conference sponsored by the American Society for Microbiology . ... Health experts blame boaters for the problem. They say people dump their waste over the side, and the shellfish absorb it. Clare Vanderbeek of the National Fisheries Institute said the problem is rare, but real.
50 years ago — 1970 Secret Service agents held a series of meetings yesterday with law enforcement and Republican Party leaders to map security strategy for tomorrow’s visit by Vice President Spiro Agnew. Several Secret Service agents have come in from Washington to coordinate plans for protecting the vice president during groundbreaking ceremonies for the IRS Computer Center, a $100-a-person reception and $10 chicken box lunch at the Mid-south Coliseum and an overnight stay at the Albert Pick. Police Chief Henry Lux said representatives of the sheriff ’s office, state Highway Patrol and city police “met for at least two hours” at police headquarters to go over security plans.
75 years ago — 1945 Southwestern’s annual fall sorority rush season will begin today with a series of teas and parties to be given by the five campus sororities: Alpha Omicron Pi, Chi Omega, Delta Delta Delta, Kappa Delta and Zeta Tau Alpha. This year the Women’s Panhellenic Council, consisting of the president, and one representative from each sorority, headed by Jane Bigger, has agreed on a five-day rush season extending through Tuesday.
100 years ago — 1920 WASHINGTON — Consumption of wines and liquors in the United States in 1919 was less per capita than during any year since 1870, according to estimates today of the Department of Commerce. In 1870, the amount was 7.70 gallons per capita, rising to 22.79 gallons in both 1907 and 1911, and falling to 9.17 gallons last year.