
<script>
function doIt()
{
document.getElementById('test').offsetHeight
document.getElementById('test').style.height = '500px';
}
</script>

<div id='test' style="-webkit-columns:2; height:400px; border:3px solid black; -webkit-column-fill: auto"><div style="height:150px; background-color:lime"></div>

<table style="height:300px"><tr><td style="vertical-align:middle; height:100%">Hello world<br><img style="height:250px;width:175px; background-color:purple">
<td style="vertical-align:middle; height:100%">Also world<br>
<img style="height:250px;width:175px; background-color:purple">
</table>

</div>

<script>
doIt()
</script>