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ormed about weather conditions； car drivers could be given alternative routes when there are traffic jams。 It will also be possible to make tiny translating machines。 This will enable people who do not share a common language to talk to each other without any difficulty or to read foreign publications。 It is impossible to assess the importance of a machine of this sort； for many international misunderstandings are caused simply through our failure to understand each other。 Computers will also be used in hospitals。 By providing a machine with a patient's symptoms； a doctor will be able to diagnose the nature of his illness。 Similarly； machines could be used to keep a check on a patient's health record and bring it up to date。 Doctors will therefore have immediate access to a great many facts which will help them in their work。 Book…keepers and accountants； too； could be relieved of dull clerical work； for
the tedious task of compiling and checking lists of figures could be done entirely by machines。 Computers are the most efficient servants man has ever had and there is no limit to the way they can be used to improve our lives。
Lesson52 Mud is mud
My cousin； Harry； keeps a large curiously shaped bottle on permanent display in his study。 Despite the fact that the bottle is tinted a delicate shade of green； an observant visitor would soon notice that it is filled with what looks like a thick greyish substance。 If you were to ask Harry what was in the bottle； he would tell you that it contained perfumed mud。 If you expressed doubt or surprise； he would immediately invite you to smell it and then to rub some into your skin。 This brief experiment would dispel any further doubts you might entertain。 The bottle really does contain perfumed mud。 How Harry came into the possession of this outlandish stuff makes an interesting story which he is fond of relating。 Further… more； the acquisition of this bottle cured him of a bad habit he had been developing for years。
Harry used to consider it a great joke to go into expensive cosmetic shops and make outrageous requests for goods that do not exist。 He would invent fanciful names on the spot。 On entering a shop； he would ask for a new perfume called 'Scented Shadow' or for 'insoluble bath cubes'。 If a shop girl told him she had not heard of it； he would pretend to be considerably put out。 He loved to be told that one of his imaginary products was temporarily out of stock and he would faithfully promise to call again at some future date； but of course he never did。 How Harry managed to keep a straight face during these performances is quite beyond me。
Harry does not need to be prompted to explain how he bought his precious bottle of mud。 One day； he went to an exclusive shop in London and asked for 'Myrolite'。 The shop assistant looked puzzled and Harry repeated the word； slowly stressing each syllable。 When the girl shook her head in bewilderment； Harry went on to explain that 'myrolite' was a hard； amber…like substance which could be used to remove freckles。 This explanation evidently conveyed something to the girl who searched shelf after shelf。 She produced all sorts of weird concoctions； but none of them met with Harry's requirements。 When Harry put on his act of being mildly annoyed； the girl promised to order some for him。 Intoxicated by his success； Harry then asked for perfumed mud。 He expected the girl to look at him in blank astonishment。 However； it was his turn to be surprised； for the girl's eyes immediately lit up and she 'fetched several botties which she placed on the counter for Harry to inspect。 For once； Harry had to admit defeat。 He picked up what seemed to be the smallest bottle and discreetly asked the price。 He was glad to get away with a mere five guineas and he beat a hasty retreat； clutching the precious bottle under his arm。 From then on； Harry decided that this little game he had invented might prove to be expensive。 The curious bottle which now adorns the bookcase in his study was his first and last purchase of rare cosmetics。
Lesson53 In the public interest
The Scandinavian countries are much admired all over the world for their enlightened social policies。 Sweden has evolved an excellent system for protecting the individual citizen from high…handed or incompetent public officers。 The system has worked so well； that it has been adopted in other countries like Denmark； Norway； Finland； and New Zealand。 Even countries with large populations like Britain and the United States are seriously considering imitating the Swedes。
The Swedes were the first to recognize that public officials like civil servants； collectors can make mistakes or act over…zealously in the belief that they are serving the public。 As long ago as 1809； the Swedish Parliament introduced a scheme to safeguard the interest of the individual。 A parliamentary committee representing all political parties appoints a person who is suitably qualified to investigate private grievances against the State。 The official title of the person is 'Justiteombudsman'； but the Swedes commonly refer to him as the 'J。O。' or 'Ombudsman'。 The Ombudsman is not subject to political pressure。 He investigates complaints large and small that come to him from all levels of society。 As complaints must be made in writing； the Ombudsman receives an average of 1200 letters a year。 He has eight lawyer assistants to help him and he examines every single letter in detail。 There is nothing secretive about the Ombudsman's work； for his correspondence is open to public inspection。 If a citizen's complaint is justified； the Ombudsman will act on his behalf。 The action he takes varies according to the nature of the complaint。 He may gently reprimand an official or even suggest to parliament that a law be altered。 The following case is a typical example of the Ombudsman's work。
A foreigner living in a Swedish village wrote to the Ombudsman complaining that he had been ill…treated by the police； simply because he was a foreigner。 The Ombudsman immediately wrote to the Chief of Police in the district asking him to send a record of the case。 There was nothing in the record to show that the foreigner's complaint was justified and the Chief of Police stoutly denied the accusation。 It was impossible for the Ombudsman to take action； but when he received a similar complaint from another foreigner in the same village； he immediately sent one of his lawyers to investigate the matter。 The lawyer ascertained that a policeman had indeed dealt roughly with foreigners on several occasions。 The fact that the policeman was prejudiced against foreigners could not be recorded in he official files。 It was only possible for the Ombudsman to
find this out by sending one of his representatives to check the facts。 The policeman in question was severely reprimanded and was informed that if any further complaints were lodged against him； he would be prosecuted。 The Ombudsman's prompt action at once put an end to an unpleasant practice which might have gone unnoticed。
Lesson54 Instinct or cleverness？
We have been brought up to fear insects。 We regard them as unnecessary creatures that do more harm than good。 Man continually wages war on item； f