Page 4 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, August 10, 1984 New plot found in old novel IN BRIEF Compiled from Associated Press and United Press international reports BOSTON (AP) - A physician believes he has discovered - and solved - a twist of plot in 'The Scarlet Letter that has eluded a century of literary critics of the classic novel. To most readers, Nathaniel Hawthorne's book is a tale of sin and guilt, subtle in meaning but straight- forward in plot. DR. JEMSHED Kahn saw something else: the poisoning of the adulterous parson by the cuckolded husband, he concluded in a report published yester- day. The story, set in Puritan Boston, revolves around Hester Prynne and her affair with minister Arthur Dim- mesdale while separated from her husband, Dr. Roger Chillingworth. The young woman bears an illegitimate daughter and is force to wear a scarlet "A." Chillingworth suspects Dimmesdale, who is consumed by guilt. Dim- mesdale's behavior grows increasingly bizarre, and he eventually confesses and dies. Kahn contends that Dimmesdale did not die of neurotic guilt, as most exper- ts presume, but instead was slowly poisoned by Chillingworth with a mur- derous potion - atropine. Among his main points: " Chillingworth knew how to derive poisons from New England plants, and certainly had a motive and opportunity to kill Dimmesdale while serving as his physician. *Poisonous plants are mentioned in the book. At one point, Hester imagines Chillingworth sinking in a barren spot of earth "where, in due course of time, would be seen deadly nightshade, dogwood, henbane..." Deadly night- shade and henbane both contain atropine. *Hawthorne checked out Sowerby's "English Botany" from the Salem Athenaeum, and the books lists deadly nightshade and henbane close together. So "it seems unlikely that references to the same toxic plants in 'The Scarlet Letter' are merely coincidental." .Atropine poisoning causes effects that, "to a remarkable degree," are described in the novel. Among those demonstrated by Dimmesdale are a flushed appearance, chest pain, muscular incoordination, convulsions, dilated pupils, hallucinations, speech difficulties and a rash. "I'm a bit skeptical," said English Professor Millicent Bell of Boston University, author of "Hawthorne's View of the Artist." HepatitisaGCinations increase Gov't moves to expand toxic-waste 'Superfund' WASHINGTON-The House moved yesterday toward approving a sixfold expansion of the "Super- fund" to clean up abandoned toxic chemical dumps, amid arguments that hazardous waste threatens the health of thousands of Americans. The bill would boost the so-called Superfund, the government's chief tool for fighting hazardous waste pollution, from $1.6 billion to $10.2 billion over the next five years. Bomb kills 3 in Beirut BEIRUT, Lebanon-A bomb tore through a busy street market in West Beirut yesterday, killing three people and wounding 25 amid a new outbreak of fighting in the moun- tains that shook Lebanon's hope for peace. Witnesses said the blast from the 15-pound bomb smashed scores of windows and blew scraps from splintered vegetable carts over a wide area. Witnesses said the bomb was placed on top of an empty oil drum by a passing motorist. Broken window sparks riot LAWRENCE, Mass.-A dozen people were injured, fires were set, and liquor stores were looted early yesterday in a riot apparently sparked by a neighborhood feud over a broken window, authorities said. Four of the injured suffered gun- shot wounds. Police said they had yet to determine who fired the shots, but Chief Joseph Tylus said no of- ficers were involved. There were six arrests. An estimated 100 Hispanics and whites threw rocks and exchanged taunts for five hours in the overnight rampage. Congress votes on military aid WASHINGTON-The House Ap- propriations Committee yesterday opened the way to a possible com- promise with the Senate on military aid to El Salvador, after Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker hin- ted he might ask President Reagan to call a special session of Congress if an agreement was not reached. House and Senate conferees were appointed following Senate passage hours earlier of a $6.9-billion sup- plemental spending bill that con- tains $117 million to help the Salvadoran army in its war against Marxist-led guerrillas. Womens' pension rights bill clears Congress WASHINGTON-A bill designed to make it easier for women to earn pension rights is on its way to President Reagan after passing the House on a voice vote yesterday. The president was expected to sign the measure, which was first in- troduced in 1981 by Rep. Geraldine Ferraro of New York, the Democratic vice presidential nominee. The bill would expand pension coverage for workers who leave jobs to raise a family and then return to work, and it would guarantee pen- sion rights of homemakers whose working spouses die before retirement. Hatfield may face criminal investigation WASHINGTON-The Senate Ethics Committee announced yesterday it is reviewing Sen. Mark Hatfield's dealings with a Greek businessman who paid $40,000 to the senator's wife, and sources said the FBI wants to open a criminal in- vestigation into the case. The latest developments unfolded as Hatfield(R-Ore.) denied allegations that the money paid to Antoinette Hatfield, a real estate agent, may have been linked to his own support for a trans-Africa oil pipeline backed by financier Basil Tsakos. De Lorean deliberations in second day LOS ANGELES-Jurors in the John De Lorean trial, operating un- der new security, began their first full day of deliberations yesterday in the cocaine trafficking case. The 59-year-old defendant awaited the verdict with his wife, fashion model Cristina Ferrare, at her mother's West Lost Angeles home. I The hepatitis outbreak which killed' one nurse and left three other nurses and a doctor ill last month has led many hospital employees to seek out hepatitis vaccinations, a hospital spokesman said. The hospital's employee health ser- vice has given about 60 vaccinations for hepatitis-B so for this month compared with an average in previous months of 50 per month, spokesman Steven Hause said. According to Dr. Dennis Schaberg, the hospital's chief infection control of-, ficer, the vaccines have been available for over a year but some employees refrained from getting the shot for fear, of contracting AIDS. Schaberg said the, fears were completely unfounded. He encouraged all employees, and especially those who deal closely with patients and blood, to get the shots. Hepatitis-B can only be transmitted through the blood and some body fluids. Schaberg said the effort to identify the patient who probably brought the virus into the hospital this spring is still going on. - Georgea Kovanis 4 Q9hIrcnrrb nIjtp 'ruioes 4 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH AND AMERICAN BAPTIST CAMPUS FOUNDATION 502 East Huron., 663-9376 (Between State and Division) Sunday Worship 9:55 a.m. August 12: "Soul Liberty" by Robert Wallace and Nadeen Bishop. Childcare provided. John Reed, Director; Janice Beck, or- ganist. Pastor and Campus Minister, Robert B. Wallace. Associate Minister, Terry Ging. LUTHERN CAMPUS MINISTRY at Lord of Light (LCA-ALC-AELC) 801 S. Forest at Hill St. 668-7622 Pastor: Galen Hora Sunday Worship: 10:30 a.m. CAMPUS CHAPEL 1236 Washtenaw Ct. A Campus Ministry of the Christian Reformed Church Pastor: Reverend Don Postema 668-7421 Sunday Morning 10:00 a.m. Service: Celebration of Trinity Sunday. 6:00 p.m. Holy Communion. UNIVERSITY LUTHERAN CHAPEL 1511 Washtenaw Robert Kavasch, Pastor 663-5560 Sunday 9:30 Worship Service. Tuesday Bible Study, 7:30. FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 1432 Washtenaw Ave., 662-4466 (Between S. University and Hill) Sunday Worship Service 9:30: Wednesday Night Fellowship, 8:00. FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 120 S. State St. (Corner of State and Huron) 662-4536 Church School and Sunday Service 9:30 only. August 12: "Your Favorite Sermon" by Gerald R. Parker. Ministers: Dr. Donald B. Strobe Dr. Gerald R. Parker Rev. Tom Wachterhauser Education Director: Rose McLean BroadcastSundays9:30a.m.-WNRS, 1290AM Televised Mondays 8:00 p.m.-Cable Chanel 9. Member of the Associated Press Vol. XCIV-- No. 35-S The Michigan Daily (ISSN 0745-967X) is published Tuesday through Sun- day during the fall and winter terms and Tuesday. Friday, and Sunday during the spring and summer terms by students at the University of Michigan. Subscription rates: September through April-$16.50 in Ann Ar- bor, $29.00 outside the city: May through August--$4.50 in Ann Arbor, $6.00 outside the city. Second-class postage paid at Ann Arbor. Michigan. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Michigan Daily. 420 Maynard Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 PHOTO STAFF Carol FrIncovilla. Rebecca Knight. Editors in Chief NEIL CHASE ARTS STAFF Byron L. Bull. L .rry Dean. Jeff Froomon KAREN TEN5A Dennis Harvey. Mork Kulkis Op.inion Page EditHr CHARLES THOMSON Business ManaRger, . TENBOM Arts Editors JOSEPH KRAUS Adsiess MRlR5r STEVEN BLOOM SrSAN MAECH FiRnce Manager.. MICHAEL MANASTER SpHrts EdiHor MIKE MCGRAW SRIe, MRRager . ROB MARKAS Assoiate Sports Editor PAUL HELGREN New Student Edition JOE ORTIZ STATF MEMBERS NEW S'AFF. Dov Cohen. Lily Eng,. Andrew Eriksen e JTAferCh CEHoERAndrSelly CytiaHNi Maria Germinario, Marla Gold. Thomas Hroch JSAES REREodSENATIVESeo lyn rthinDn oon "reKovRiR, Eri Mattson. Liso Powers. David K SALES REPRESENTATIVES iOt HHoi b orsn Ricn CFrHsyr vankr. 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