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particularly in a malady characterized by depression of the vital force, and accompanied by vitiated secretions.

Of the climate of Naples, Dr. Burgess entertains equally unfavorable opinions. He states that the African blasts, the sirocco and libeccio, together with the boisterous mistral, the plague of the northern extremity of the Italian peninsula, render this climate fatal to consumptive patients.

From the foregoing review of the results, obtained by careful scientific analysis of the climates of those regions, whither our consumptive invalids are in the habit of flocking, the reader will no doubt draw the inference, that the ideas generally current as to the proper mode of treating this domestic plague, consumption, are founded in error; and that there may be more truth in the doctrines of hydropaths in this respect, than prejudice and routine are willing to allow. essence of consumption is a lowered vitality of the whole system: it is a want of energy in the nutritive functions-a constitutional torpor; and the indications of treatment are to excite the flagging powers; to impart

The

THE SMALLPOX 'THE Semaphore de Marseilles of the 30th ult. contains the following letter, dated Zanzibar, September 6, 1852:-The Caroline, whose first visit to Marseilles your readers have not forgotten, is about to sail for your harbor. It was Abd-Allah, the second captain of the vessel, who was to command her; but the letter of advice of the Imaum reached from Muscat on the very day of Abd-Allah's death, now a week ago. The unfortunate man died of smallpox. A sort of fatality appears to pursue all the officers of that vessel, the first that made a trip to Europe. Captain Welther disappeared with the vessel, England, of which no account has been received since her departure, eighteen months ago. Derwisch, the private secretary of the Imaum, whom you must have often seen in the streets of Marseilles, dressed in his rich Indian costume, returned three months ago from Muscat completely blind. Behold now poor Abd-Allah falling a victim to the prevailing epidemic! That cruel malady has made frightful ravages both at Zanzibar and in the neighboring country. Senabilis, Hindoos, blacks-in short, the entire population, with the exception of the Europeans-paid their tribute to the terrible scourge, the germ of which was brought from Muscat by a vessel of the Imaum. In the Persian Gulf, and in that of Oman, where cholera had already raged, thousands of victims have succumbed. The discase has spread with frightful rapidity,

tone and freshness; to whip up, as it were, sleeping nature. Now this can never be effected by brilliant and cloudless skies, nor by balmy zephyrs, nor the languid fragances of roses or orange-groves, nor by any of the other delights of gay and sunny Italy. The influence of southern lands, has always been to enervate, physically and morally, the race of men by whom they are possessed. The nursery of robust bodies, and iron constitutions, and heroic qualities, is the North; and when in the North, from any cause, its inhabitants have fallen into a degenerate state of body, it is certainly not into the South that these individuals should be sent to gather strength and the power of endurance. Whatever may be the correct treatment, this is incorrect; and before many years are past, unless we are grievously mistaken, the custom now prevailing of sending the victims to consumption to the hot and humid climates of Italy and Madeira, will be reckoned among those unaccountable medical fashions, which, one after the other, rule the world, long after their inutility has been demonstrated and their absurdity exposed.

AT ZANZIBAR.

not only along the eastern coast of Africa, but also in the interior of that continent. Mortality was there so great that caravans have ceased to circulate from want of a sufficient number of able-bodied persons to effect the carriage of goods from the interior to the seashore. Along the coast, hands are likewise wanting for the conveyance from the sea to Zanzibar. Our market, consequently, suffers from it, and the small quantity of merchandise now in the stores, has become the object of the most extravagant competition among the merchants of the place, who cannot, without the greatest difficulty, and at immense sacrifices, complete the cargoes of their vessels. The disease is now on the decline at Zanzibar, and hitherto no European resident or seaman has been attacked by it. It is true we only allow our seamen to communicate with the shore for the wants of the service; and, moreover, the blessings of vaccination preserve us from contagion. The natives of the country, seeing the happy effect of that preservative, which they declined using when it was still time, now crowd to demand the favor of being vaccinated by one of our countrymen, who, though not a physician, is very skilful in performing the operation. In order to encourage them by example, we caused all our servants to be vaccinated; and I need not tell you, that they all escaped the effects of the disease.Times, Jan. 3, 1853.

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GLEANINGS ON HEALTH TOPICS.

A TALE OF FEVER.

A FAMILY in the city of London had occupied the same house for many years, enjoying good health. One day a nurserymaid was seized with typhus fever. She was removed from the house, and there came another in her place. In a short time the new nurserymaid was attacked by typhus fever, and was also sent away. A few weeks afterwards typhus fever attacked one of the children. The medical man then saw that there must be some local cause at work, and instituted an inquiry. He brought out these factsthat the nursery was situated on the second floor of the house, and that, two or three weeks before the first case of fever occurred, a sink had been placed in the corner of the room for the purpose of saving labor to the servants. This sink was found to communicate with the common sewer, and to be quite open or untrapped. It was effectually trapped, and there was no more fever in the house.-DICKENS'S Household Words.

HYDROPHOBIA.

Ir will be recollected that it was stated a month or two since that Admiral Tremlett had in his possession a powder, which was a certain cure for the bite of a mad dog; this notice attracted the attention of a clergyman in Ireland, one of whose parishioners had had the misfortune to be bitten by a mad dog. Application was made, by letter, to the gallant admiral, who instantly forwarded supplies; the medicine was regularly taken by the man, and on Christmas-day the admiral had the satisfaction of receiving a letter, dated December 22, from the clergyman, stating "The man called at my house yesterday to thank me, and you, through me, for the medicine, and to show me that he is still quite well, and not suffering any inconvenience either from the bite or the remedy. I can assure you that his expressions of grateful feeling were very warm, and, I believe, sincere.' We are again authorized by Admiral Tremlett to state that he has still a supply of the powder, and that he will be most happy to send it to any one who may unfortunately require it.-Plymouth Herald,

AN IMPERIAL VEGETARIAN.

GEMELLE gives an account of the Emperor Aurenzebe, who, from the time of his usurpation of the throne, never tasted flesh, fish, nor strong liquors, and lived in good health to near a hundred years. (p. 33.)—DR. MACKENZIE,

FREDERIC HOFFMANN'S SEVEN RULES OF

HEALTH.

1. AVOID all excess, because it is inimical to nature.

2. Do not suddenly change a habit, because custom is second nature.

3. Be of a mirthful and tranquil disposition, because this is the best aid to health and longevity.

4. Love a pure and temperate air, because it much conduces to vigor of mind and body.

5. As much as possible select aliments congenial to the body, and those which are easily digested and pass through the body.

6. Always seek a due proportion between food and bodily exercise.

7. Avoid physic and physicians, as you value your health.

INDIGESTION.-NOVEL REMEDY.

AMONG the papers read of the last sitting of the Academy of Sciences at Paris, was one by M. Corvisart, the great nephew of the celebrated man of that name, on the improvement of the digestion of persons of weak stomachs, by the use of the gastric juice taken from animals. A great deal has been said and written on this subject; but as yet we have very few, if any, proofs of the efficacy of the means as a general plan of treatment, although there may have been cases in which the gastric juice, taken from the bodies of slaughtered domestic animals, may have been used by man with temporary advantage. Nor does M. Corvisart furnish any practical proofs of the correctness of his theory. He contents himself with discussion; but appears to have no doubt, in his own mind, that indigestion in the human stomach arises entirely from the want of a sufficient quantity of gastric juice, and that if the deficiency were supplied from the sources of which he speaks, the digestion would be perfect. As this gastric juice, in its natural state, is of a taste and appearance which would be repulsive to most patients, M. Corvisart has proposed that it shall be reduced to the state of powder, paste, etc. and mixed with the aliments.-Illustrated London News, Sept. 25th, 1852.

UNCLE TOM'S HYDROPATHIC TREATMENT. It was late at night, and Tom lay groaning, and bleeding alone, in an old forsaken room of the gin-house, among pieces of machinery, piles of damaged cotton, and other rubbish, which had there accumulated. The night was damp and close, and the thick air

swarmed with myriads of mosquitos, which increased the restless torture of his wounds; whilst a burning thirst-a torture beyond all others-filled up the uttermost measure of physical anguish. O, good Lord! Do look down-give me the victory! give me the victory over all!' prayed poor Tom in his anguish. A footstep entered the room behind him, and the light of a lantern flashed on his eyes. Who's there? Oh, for the Lord's massy, please give me some water!' The woman Cassy-for it was she-set down her lantern, and pouring water from a bottle, raised his head, and gave him drink. Another and another cup was drained with feverish eagerness. Drink all ye want,' she said; 'I knew how it would be. It isn't the first time I've been out in the night carrying water to such as you.' Thank you, missis,' said Tom, when he had done drinking. Don't call me missis! I'm a miserable slave like yourself-a lower one than you can ever be!' she said bitterly. 'But now,' said she, going to the door, and dragging in a small paillasse, over which she had spread linen cloths wet with cold water: "Try, my poor fellow, to roll yourself on to this."

Stiff with wounds and bruises, Tom was a long time in accomplishing this movement; but when done, he felt a sensible relief from the cooling application to his wounds!

HYDROPATHY IN THE OLDEN TIME.

GULIELMUS Fabricius tells us that it is the Custom of those People, (inhabitants of the North) coming off a Journey, to rub their extreme Parts almost congealed by the nipping Frosts, such as their Fingers and Toes, their Ears and Nose, with Snow, before they enter their Stoves, least otherwise, at the sudden Approach of the Fire, they mortify and drop off: A signal Instance of this Practice he gives, which was related to him by a Nobleman, who travelling in those Parts happen'd to see a poor Carter by the Highway-Side fallen down and frozen Stiff, and seeming dead with Cold, who being lifted up and layd into his Cart, was carry'd to the next Inn they came to, when the Host instead of suffering him to be brought to the Fire, order'd him presently to be plunged into the cold Water, and upon taking him out the Frost breaking forth (says the noble Man, who stood by to behold the Passages) of his Body, had cover'd the whole Surface thereof with Ice, so that his Breast seem'd as hard as Iron: Then pouring a Cup of Metheglin with some Spices down his Throat, he was put to Bed, when a Sweat presently and plentifully breaking forth, he soon came to himself and was recover'd: And this Effect

is brought to pass by Mears of what the Learned call the 'αντιπερίστασις of the Air, by which the Heat suddenly concenter'd, riseth up with a redoubled Force to expel its Adversary: And thus both Heat and Cold beset with the contrary Antagonist, is the more increased: For this it is that Springs are said to be much hotter in Winter than they are in Summer; for the same Reason Apples or Eggs being frozen, shall recover themselves put into cold water, when if thrown into hot, they will become rotten, wither'd, and dead.-A Treatise on Diseases Incident to the Skin, by D. TURNER, 1714. WATER OF SEINE AND THAMES COMPARED, WITH RESPECT TO THE QUANTITY IODINE WHICH THEY CONTAIN.

OF

M. CHATIN has presented to the Academy of Medicine a paper giving an account of his experiments on the water of Paris, of London, and of Turin. Of the water with which Paris is supplied, he prefers that of the Seine as being lighter and more iodurated than those of the Marne, the Ourcq, etc.; but at the same time he expresses his surprise that means are not adopted to take this water from a more distant point, such as Charenton, and bring it to the locality of the Jardin des Plantes, for distribution from thence to the whole of Paris, instead of taking it from a part where it has received contamination from the filth that has drained into it. As regards the water of London, M. Chatin speaks favorably of that of the New River, as being very similar to that of the Seine; but objects decidedly, to that of the Thames, which, he says, resembles that of the Canal and l'Ourcq, which contains four times less iodine than the water of the Seine. The water of Turin, even including the famous spring of the Valentina Palace, is, says M. Chatin, very inferior to the Seine water; it is no better than that which is found in the springs of Belleville and Suresne, and which is largely impregnated with gypsum.-Illus. London News, Sept. 25, 1852.

THE FOOD OF THE HALLENGA.

THE Hallenga (a tribe of Bellad Sudan) take for food chiefly milk and agaide (meat soup); in such meat dishes as they have, they put so much of a small red pepper (schiteta) that an European can hardly eat them. They ascribe various powers to this schiteta. They eat in defiance of the Koran, the tortoise, as well as the hog, and also the locust or grasshopper, from which they sear off the wings, and then roast it in the fire. They have neither wheat nor maize, although the ground is well adapted to them.WERNE'S Afric. Wanderings, v. ii. p. 226, 7.

145

SPRING.

Of blushing flowerets intertwined with moss
Fair Spring her fragrant garland weaves again;-
And from the penance of his wintry chains
The genius of the earth reprieves again :-
Thro' every hardy plant the green blood thrills
And birds' soft breast with passion heaves again:-
The languid soul, unquench'd by winter's chill,
The flowing hopes of life receives again :-
The sick man's blessing greets the balmy time,
That wakes the joys, to which he cleaves, again :

And love's soft vows-such influence hath the Spring-
The maiden, basely wrong'd, believes again,
Until some brighter eye or sweeter smile
Her heart of all it prized bereaves again.

IN the following paper we intend to speak of the Spring, as it appears in an ordinary year, when the seasons are marked by their proper peculiarities, and may readily be distinguished from each other, independently of the almanack or the church-service. With that abnormal season which we sometimes see-Spring by name but Winter by nature-nor indeed with any other meteorological vagary, shall we here concern ourselves. Our subject is Spring, the genuine, mutable, windy, rainy, sunshiny, flowery Spring.

The Winter, whose vanishing skirts we see floating up there in the sky like a thin grey cloud, was, take him for all in all, a decent specimen of what a winter ought to be, (Remember, good reader, we are not speaking of the winter 1852-53, which is as sorry a season as heart can desire; but of the typical average year, which you and I are now so pleasantly enjoying in our arm chairs); and therefore we may repeat of this winter of ours, whose requiem we are singing, that it was by no means the worst of its long line of ancestors. It is true that at times there was a good deal of blustering weather, and one read now and then of shipwrecks and sad disasters at sea-there

7

was ice upon the ground and snow in the air; and of a morning quite a comabout the window-sill for their expected pany of robins used to come hopping crumbs. It was bitterly cold too, as many a chilblained finger and pinched blue nose might testify, but for all that it was a racy and hilarious season. Many a morning the bright clear sun shone upon the frozen lake, and enlivened the gambols of the merry the rapid sleigh darted athwart iceskaters, and in regions more northerly bound rivers, scattering the while a clang of bells, loud enough to awaken the seven sleepers. But it is now about to go, this said roystering Winter; and merits, most of us rejoice thereat and in truth, preach what we will of its give praise; for the long dark nights, and short days, with only glimpses of sunshine, and the bare ghostly trees, and the howling of the wind round the corners of the house, and the absence of the companionable birds, are beginning longing for a brighter and warmer and to affect our spirits, and create in us a more cheerful time. Winter is the sleep death; and in winter, whenever we look of nature-and sleep is the image of abroad, this saddening image forces itself upon our attention. There is a

great hush in the air-the voices of bird and insect, that in the autumn made even the nights vocal, are now silent, and the only interruption that breaks the stillness of the tune, is the mournful piping of the wind, which seems as it were lamenting the havoc which it has committed far away by the rocky sea-bourd on many a goodly vessel, and its hapless crew. The gorgeous robe worn by nature in summer and autumn is now thrown aside, and she stands, as an offender in the primitive catholic church, clad in a white sheet of penance. The purple roses, and all their briliant sisters, are departed; the gay colors are faded; the sweet odors are fled; and in the place of that luxurious vegetation, which was wont to charm every sense, we find in the garden only a few dry and withered sticks-an odious metamorphosis which strikes a chill into the heart, like that experienced by Cinderella when, upon her return from the ball, her splendid carriage became again converted into a pumpkin; the beautiful horses and golden liveried footmen into little grey mice, and her own magnificent apparel, which had enabled her to win the heart of a prince, into a heap of dirty rags. Winter is a deprivation of the beautiful, a locking up of the casket of nature, a sleep, a death. The singing birds have taken their flight to a happier clime; the rainbow-colored insects have perished, leaving behind them, swathed in mummy cerecloths, only dark-colored torpid grubs; the green groves have shed their verdure, and stand, like the remnant of a shipwrecked fleet, a cluster of bare poles; the rippling stream is checked in its course: all that is bright and glorious lies prostrate beneath the icy sceptre of the winter-tyrant.

The heart of man feels the universal chill; contend against it as bravely as he may, at length the influence of the time will overmaster him. His blood seems to flow more languidly; a sternness of demeanor becomes apparent, and dim feelings of melancholy, waxing each day more and more powerful, absorb his spirit. In the colder climes of the North, where it may be said to be always winter, this effect upon the mind is very perceptible. The inhabitants are

taciturn, reserved, unenthusiastic, quiet, severe, and almost sad of countenance, in all respects the opposites of the men of the South, who are nursed in the lap of a brilliant and indulgent nature. A cold and gloomy season tends to form a cold and gloomy disposition, and to nurture splenetic fancies; and such more or less is the influence of every winter upon the mind. Upon some characters it is very strongly, upon others it is only faintly marked; yet it is felt by almost all, if the winter be more than usually prolonged, or more than usually turbulent.

But when after the long dark winter the first warm breath of Spring is felt in the meadows; when the first shrill chirp is heard in the hedges; when the first violet opens its blue eyes in the wood; then indeed there runs a thrill of pleasure through every vein; a sensation is experienced, as though a load which had long weighed upon the spirit were removed-feelings of kindness animate the breast-a sort of reconciliation of internally jarring elements takes place; the future opens out before to us bright and hopeful, and we forget or laugh at our previously cheerless disposition, as a moody fancy to which we were weak enough to give way. Spring is preeminently the season of promise. We see the trees begin, one after the other, to clothe themselves with green; in scattered spots here and there in the wood, by the brook, and upon the hill-side, the pale Spring flowers make their appearance by two's and by three's, for

Swiftly down the long cerulean way The angels hurry earthward, and fulfil

Their task of love, (for love brooks no delay). A band of seraphs, wandering o'er the hill, Awakens from their sleep the rosy hours;

Or in the vale unlocks the crystal rill; And ever as they pass, in sparkling showers Bright rainbow hues from their soft wings descend,

Steeping in beauty the half-open'd flowers,

Which way their impulse the light Zephyrs lend.

With the first burst of sunshine thousands of little green creeping things come out of their coffins; aptera and coleoptera, and the other minute insect races spread themselves over the verdant

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