Today in Hystery

(An occasional feature)

By BRUCE LOWITT

MARCH 30

In 1822, Florida became a United States territory. In 1861 it seceded from the Union – but to the dismay of millions of future Americans it rejoined the United States seven years later. In the years since then, attempts to force re-secession have failed. Also, why a duck?

In 1842, Dr. Crawford W. Long of Jefferson, Georgia, first used ether as an anesthetic during an operation to remove a patient’s neck tumor. Dr. Long, who performed the surgery after inhaling the ether, said he barely heard the screams of his unanesthetized patient.

In 1870, the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibited denying citizens the right to vote and hold office on the basis of race, was declared in effect by Secretary of State Hamilton Fish. Due to a printer’s error, fish also were granted the right to vote.

In 1923, the Cunard liner RMS Laconia became the first passenger ship to circle the globe as it arrived in New York. It was a desktop globe thrown into the water in Boston Harbor, which the ship left after circling the globe the previous day.

In 1975, Communist forces occupied the Vietnamese city of Da Nang. In 1993 it was renamed Bada Bing when the Italian Army drove out the Communists.

Ten years ago: The Associated Press became the first international news agency to open a bureau in Myanmar. Editors at United Press International, the New York Times and the Washington Post asked The Associated Press, “What the hell is a Myanmar?”

One year ago: With the help of the Hubble telescope, astronomers discovered the most distant star to date, a super-hot, super-bright giant that formed nearly 13 billion years ago. They named it Dolly Parton.

(With thanks to The Associated Press)