few instances, only, as will be noticed in the and private manner. following collection of facts. It is stated in Clarendon's History of the Rebellion, that when his King Edward I. died in July, 1307, and son, Charles II., was desirous to remove and notwithstanding his injunctions, was buried in re-inter his corpse at Westminster Abbey, it Westminster Abbey in October of the same could not by any search be found. In conyear. It is recorded that he was embalmed, structing a mausoleum at Windsor in 1813, and orders for renewing the cere-cloth about his under the direction of George IV., then Prince body were issued in the reigns of Edward III. Regent, an accident led to the discovery of this and Henry IV. The tomb of this monarch royal body. The workmen, in forming a subwas opened, and his body examined in January, terraneous passage under the choir of St. 1774, under the direction of Sir Joseph Ay- George's Chapel, accidentally made an aperloffe, after it had been buried four hundred ture in the wall of the vault of King Henry and sixty-seven years. The following account VIII. On looking through this opening it was is extracted from a contemporaneous volume of found to contain three coffins, instead of two, the Gentleman's Magazine. as had been supposed. Two of these were "Some gentlemen of the Society of An- ascertained to be the coffins of Henry VIII. tiquaries, being desirous to see how far the and of one of his queens, Jane Seymour. The actual state of Edward First's body answered other was formally examined, after permission to the methods taken to preserve it, obtained obtained, by Sir Henry Halford, in presence of leave to open the large stone sarcophagus, in several members of the royal family, and other which it is known to have been deposited, on persons of distinction. The account since pubthe north side of Edward the Confessor's lished by Sir Henry, corroborates the one chapel. This was accordingly done on the which had been given by Mr. Herbert, a groom morning of January 2, 1774, when in a coffin of King Charles's bedchamber, and is pub of yellow stone they found the royal body in lished in Wood's Athenæ Oxonienses. perfect preservation, inclosed in two wrappers; "On removing the pall," (says the account,) one of them was of gold tissue, strongly waxed," a plain leaden coffin presented itself to view, and fresh, the other and outermost consider- with no appearance of ever having been inably decayed. The corpse was habited in a closed in wood, and bearing an inscription, rich mantle of purple, paned with white, and King Charles, 1648,' in large, legible charadorned with ornaments of gilt metal, studded acters, on a scroll of lead encircling it. A with red and blue stones and pearls. Two square opening was then made in the upper part similar ornaments lay on the hands. The of the lid, of such dimensions as to admit a mantle was fastened on the right shoulder by a clear insight into its contents. These were, an magnificent fibula of the same metal, with the internal wooden coffin, very much decayed, and same stones and pearls. His face had over it the body carefully wrapped up in cere-cloth, a silken covering, so fine, and so closely fitted into the folds of which a quantity of unctuous to it, as to preserve the features entire. Round matter, mixed with resin, as it seemed, had his temples was a gilt coronet of fleurs de lys. been melted, so as to exclude, as effectually as In his hands, which were also entire, were two possible, the external air. The coffin was comsceptres of gilt metal; that in the right sur-pletely full, and, from the tenacity of the ceremounted by a cross fleure, that in the left by three clusters of oak leaves, and a dove on a globe; this sceptre was about five feet long. The feet were enveloped in the mantle and other coverings, but sound, and the toes distinct. The whole length of the corpse was five feet two inches." cloth, great difficulty was experienced in detaching it successfully from the parts which it enveloped. Wherever the unctuous matter had insinuated itself, the separation of the cerecloth was easy; and where it came off, a correct impression of the features to which it had been applied, was observed. At length the whole face was disengaged from its covering The complexion of the skin of it was dark and discolored. The forehead and temples had lost Another instance of partial preservation, is little or nothing of their muscular substance; that of the body of King Charles I., who was the cartilage of the nose was gone; but the beheaded by his subjects in 1649. The re- left eye, in the first moment of exposure, was mains of this unfortunate monarch are known open and full, though it vanished almost immeto have been carried to Windsor, and there diately; and the pointed beard, so characterinterred by his friends without pomp, in a hastylistic of the period of the reign of King Edward I. died at Burgh-upon-Sands, in Cumberland, on his way to Scotland, July 7, 1307, in the sixty-eighth year of his age. Charles, was perfect. The shape of the face spected at the same with that of Charles, and was a long oval; many of the teeth remained; was found to contain nothing but the mere and the left ear, in consequence of the inter position of the unctuous matter between it and the cere-cloth, was found entire. DEATHS OF MASSACHUSETTS PHYSICIANS. skeleton of that king. Some portions of beard remained on the chin, but there was nothing to discriminate the personage contained in it. "It was difficult, at this moment, to withhold During the present century, the sarcophagus a declaration that, notwithstanding its disfigure- of King John has also been examined. It conment, the countenance did bear a strong retained little else than a disorganized mass of semblance to the coins, the busts, and espe-earth. The principal substances found, were cially to the picture of King Charles the First, some half decayed bones, a few vestiges of by Vandyke, by which it had been made fami- cloth and leather, and a long rusty piece of liar to us. It is true that the minds of the iron, apparently the remains of the sword-blade spectators of this interesting sight were well of that monarch. prepared to receive this impression; but it is also certain that such a facility of belief had been occasioned by the simplicity and truth of Mr. Herbert's Narrative, every part of which had been confirmed by the investigation, so far as it had advanced; and it will not be denied In 1856, quite a number of the medical that the shape of the face, the forehead, the profession were gathered to their fathers. A eye, and the beard, are the most important catalogue of them will probably be given at features by which resemblance is determined. the annual meeting of the State Society, with "When the head had been entirely disen- a short memoir of some of them, in the annual gaged from the attachments which confined it, published transactions. Among the number it was found to be loose, and without any diffi- were several prominent practitioners in the culty was taken out and held up to view. The western parts of the Commonwealth. The anback part of the scalp was entirely perfect, and nexed necrological sketches of Drs. Bassett, had a remarkably fresh appearance; the pores Perkins, White and Worthington, are too of the skin being more distinct, and the ten- short, because there might have been gathered dons and ligaments of the neck were of con- ample materials for interesting memoirs. siderable substance and firmness. The hair was thick at the back part of the head, and in appearance nearly black. A portion of it, which has since been cleaned and dried, is of a beautiful dark brown color. That of the beard was a redder brown. On the back part of the head it was not more than an inch in length, and had probably been cut so short for the convenience of the executioner, or perhaps by the piety of friends soon after death, in order to furnish memorials of the unhappy king. Dr. Joseph M. Bassett, of Egremont, died Feb. 1, 1856, aged thirty-two, of malignant scarlatina. He studied medicine at Winstead, Conn., in the year 1847. In 1850 he commenced practice in North Egremont. Dr. Bassett, I think, was not a member of this Medical Society, nor in his practice what is termed "regular." His death was sudden. and in just one week after occurred the death of his only little boy, of the same malady. He left a wife, and had buried three children. "On holding up the head, to examine the Dr. John P. Perkins, of Great Barrington, place of separation from the body, the muscles died in Joliett, Ill., of Typhoid Fever, June of the neck had evidently retracted themselves 17th, 1856, aged thirty-six. He was prose considerably; and the fourth cervical vertebra cuting a journey through the western country, was found to be cut through its substance and on arriving among friends in Illinois, was transversely, leaving the surfaces of the divided seized with fever, upon which, when near its portions perfectly smooth and even, an appear- crisis, erysipelas supervened. He predicted a ance which could have been produced only by fatal termination to his sickness, but a chera heavy blow, inflicted with a very sharp in- ished faith in the Divine Redeemer removed strument, and which furnished the last proof the fear of death. Dr. Perkins was a native wanting to identify King Charles the First." of Blanford. In 1834 his father and family The foregoing are two of the most successful removed to Southwick, where he remained instances of posthumous preservation. The until 1840, when, commencing study, he succare taken in regard to some other distinguish-ceeded, by his own unaided efforts, in obtained personages has been less fortunate in its ing a medical education. About this time he result. The coffin of Henry VIII. was in- made a profession of religion in connection with the Congregational Church in Southwick. from taking that stand in public life for which His medical studies were pursued with Dr. his abilities amply fitted him. As evidence of Humphrey of Southwick, at the Medical In- the estimation in which Dr. White was held by stitute at Albany, and completed at Boston, medical brethren, I learn that for a season he where he received his degree in the winter of was called to the presidency of this Medical 1845. In the following May he commenced Society. practise in New Marlborough, (Southfield,) Dr. Robert Worthington, of Lenox, died and continued in the town, doing business in August 3, 1856, of Consumption, aged sevthe south and north parishes, till the summer enty. He was well known as a physician, of 1854, when he removed to Great Barring- having long resided in this county. But not ton. Here he was from the first, decidedly only in the walks of professional life, but in the prosperous. His medical brethren in the town toilsome, but honorable and useful walks of received him very kindly, and his business Christian benevolence. Dr. Worthington was increased from month to month in extent and very generally known and sincerely esteemed. value. He early transferred his relation to He was a member of the Congregational the First Congregational Church, and took a Church in Lenox, and one of those brethren decided and praiseworthy position as a Chris- on whom much responsibility is imposed and tian. He was in every sense of the word a sustained with ability and constancy. He was good man; constant, candid, honest, reliable; for many years Treasurer of the Berkshire a firm friend of his pastor, and full of benevo- Bible Society, and by that Society made a Lifer lence and charity towards all men. I have Director in the American Bible Society. He been with him often in the sick-room, and can was Secretary of the County Seamen's Friend testify that every movement and bearing of the Society, and an earnest friend of every measman was just that which would commend him to ure of popular reform. His Christian faith the esteem and affection of families. He sym- was vital, energetic, active, and hence we pathized deeply with the afflicted and sorrow- must believe the true faith that works by love. ing, and loved not only to alleviate the pains He was a man whose loss will be long felt, of the body, but to be of service to the higher and his memory cherished with honor. Dr. nature the spirit, that but passes onward Worthington had buried two wives and two when "the golden bowl is broken at the foun children, leaving one surviving daughter, now tain, and the wheel is broken at the cistern." residing in New York. He left a wife-no children. MEDICAL QUESTIONS. Dr. Vassal White, of Stockbridge, (Curtisville,) died July 27th, 1856, aged fifty-four, of Pleuropneumonia, resulting in effusion of the chest. He entered his name as a medical CIRCULAR.-To Physicians: Will you be student after pursuing a preparatory course of pleased at your earliest convenience to answer study with great diligence, in the town of the following questions, or any of them, at Greenbush, N. Y., in 1816. He afterwards length, if your time permits. Due credit will studied in Burlington, Vt., and in 1819 at be given in the respective reports to any gentletended a course of lectures in Fairfield. Dur- man, who may communicate valuable facts: ing his last lecture term in 1820, by too close 1. Are you engaged in the practice of obapplication, he brought on an affection of the stetrics, and how long? heart, from which his life was for some time de- 2. Have you kept a registry of births, or spaired of. Two years after, having recovered can you, to some extent from memory, state sufficient health to ride, he commenced prac- the number of preternatural presentations that tice in the town of Washington, where he con- occurred in your practice? Their proportion tinued until 1829, when at the request of the to natural ones? The mode of treatment? inhabitants of Becket, he removed to that town, Success in regard to mother and child? and remained until 1837, when he removed to 3. Have you employed the cephalic version? Stockbridge. Here he pursued the labors of How often and with what success? his profession until about three weeks before 4. Have you employed Ergot in difficult his death. His health was never good from labor? With what result to mother and child? the period of his alarming attack while a student Is there, in your opinion, a greater proportion in 1820. It was often with great difficulty of still-born children where it is employed? and peril that he performed the duties of his 5. Have you seen cases of Puerperal Fever, profession, while he was entirely prevented Puerperal Convulsions, Puerperal Mania, 6. How many regular, how many ireegular, how many female practitioners are there in your district; how is the practice distributed among these three classes ? 7. Are you cognizant of any gross malpraxis, or of cases involving Medico-legal investigation in Midwifery? 8. Remarkable cases, particularly involving new modes of practice? 9. What are the fees in obstetric cases? 10. Have you observed any marked results of the mental operation of the mother on the physical organization of the child? Phlegmasia Dolens, Trismus Nascentium, etc.? other impending danger, and the desperate What were their causes, prodromes, symptoms, effort to get rid of it, arouses us; that sends treatment and results? on the stagnating blood, and we wake in a fright, or trembling, or perspiration, or feeling of exhaustion, according to the degree of stagnation, and the length and strength of the effort made to escape the danger. But when we are not able to escape the danger, when we do fall over the precipice, when the tumbling building crushes us, what then? That is Death! That is the death of those of whom it is said, when found lifeless in their beds in the morning, "They were as well as they ever were, the day before;" and often is it added, "and ate heartiert han common !" This last, as a frequent cause of death to these who have gone to bed well to wake no more, we give merely as a private opinion. The possibility of its truth is enough to deter any rational man from a late and hearty meal. This we do know with certainty, that waking up in the night with painful diarrhoea, or cholera, or bilious colic, ending in death in a very short time, is properly traceable to a late large meal. The truly wise will take the safer side. For persons who eat three times a day, it is amply sufficient to make the last meal of cold bread and butter and a cup of some warm drink. No one can starve on it, while a perseverance in the habit soon begets a vigorous appetite for breakfast, so promising of a day of comfort.-Hall's Jour. 11. Are there any mineral springs in your neighborhood? What mineral do they contain? Have they successfully, or otherwise, been employed in the cure of disease? 12. Have you employed the microscope on pathological researches and for the purpose of making diagnosis? What form, whose make, with what results ? Permit me, sir, to solicit your early atten tion to the above queries, and to subscribe myself, Yours fraternally, JOHN G. F. HOLSTON, Chairman Committee on Obstetrics, Member of Committee on Microscopy and Mineral Waters. Zanesville, October 1, 1856. POSITION IN SLEEPING. CONGENITAL DEFICIENCY. The A woman gave birth to her first child at about the sixth month of pregnancy. The abdominal parietes were deficient in the umIt is better to go to sleep on the right side, bilical and hypogastric regions, through which for then the stomach is very much in the posi- the peritoneum protruded as a bag, containing tion of a bottle turned upside down, and the the liver and intestines. The placenta was contents are aided in passing out by gravita- immediately attached to the bag of the perition. If one goes to sleep on the left side, toneum by apparently the usual vessels, but the operation of emptying the stomach of its the funis, as such, was wholly wanting. contents is more like drawing water from a genital organs, internal and external, were abwell. After going to sleep, let the body take sent. No urinary bladder. Kidneys sitits own position. If you sleep on your back, uated as usual, and apparently healthy in especially soon after a hearty meal, the weight structure. Right ureter could be traced into of the digestive organs, and that of the food, the iliac fossa, but was there lost in cellular resting on the great vein of the body, near the tissue; the left, less than an inch long, terminback bone, compresses it, and arrests the flow ated in a cellular body, not unlike an ovary. of the blood more or less. If the arrest is No ovary, however, could be demonstrated. partial, the sleep is disturbed, and there are nor was there any uterus. Large intestine unpleasant dreams. If the meal has been wanting, the ileum ending in a cul de sac, and recent or hearty, the arrest is more decided, hanging free in the abdominal cavity. There and the various sensations, such as falling over was, consequently, no rectum nor anal apera precipice, or the pursuit of a wild beast, or ture. The interior portion of the bony pelvis was deficient, corresponding to the ischia and ABORTION WITHOUT PAIN. BY A. P. MERRILL. COMMUNICATIONS. [Communicated for The Medical World.] POSITION OF THE WATER CURE PRACTICE. BY G. H. TAYLOR, M. D. Among the various forms of medical treatment presented to the notice of the public, that of Water Cure stands somewhat conspicuous; and its advocates, compared with those of the other deviations from the old practice, do A married woman, the mother of several not, all things considered, suffer in regard to children, the youngest being a child of sixteen respectability or numbers. This consideramonths still at the breast, had had several reg. tion will secure a proper attention to its claims ular returns of her catamenia from the time and purposes, as well as a just criticism of its the child was six months old, which finally scientific merits. History shows that heretoceased without being followed by the usual fore the ebb and flow of popular opinion on signs of pregnancy. She had worn much of medical subjects have been subject to some the time, for years, and still continues to wear, unaccountable caprice of time or place, the one of those supporters which has a pad press- influence of which we should be strongly ing upon the vulva, to relieve her of symptoms guarded against. The true physician, he of prolapsus. About three months after her last who conscientiously consecrates his talents to regular menstruation, and one month after she promote the weal of his patrons, eschews all had suffered from a slight uterine hemorrhage, time-serving, sinister, or partisan advantages, discharging coagulable blood, she took a short but magnanimously devotes himself to all the walk to the house of a neighbor, and while sources of scientific facts, in furtherance of there ascended a flight of stairs, and then re- his objects. Hence he can know no sect as turned home without suffering the least pain or his he is a man in principle, and a physiindisposition of any kind. Having occasion cian, not an ist, by profession. Every system soon afterwards to unloose the strap of her of medical practice contains somewhat of supporter to urinate, something escaped from truth, commending it to certain minds, yet afher and fell upon the floor, which on examina- fording nurture to errors also, and (of course tion, she was greatly surprised to find to be a characterized by a limited reach of thought. foetus of about three months' growth, and which While numbers of worthy citizens continue to showed signs of having been dead for several find succor in the Water Cure, it is fair that days. No signs of placenta, or the least dis- the causes of its successes or its failures charge of any kind appeared, and she contin- should be discussed for our instruction or imiued about her household duties as usual, feeling tation. little or no inconvenience from the accident. There are in this country some forty Just two weeks afterwards, she was suddenly" establishments," as they are called, for the seized with uterine hemorrhage to an alarming treatment of the sick by what is popularly extent, which was soon relieved by treatment, known as Water Cure, and there are probably when she remained in her usual state of health more than twice that number of physicians for a month, at which period she suffered an- who claims that title. Beyond the empirical other attack of hemorrhage similar to the proceedure of subjecting patients to divers former, which was also relieved without diffi- bathing operations, it would be difficult to say culty; and at the end of eight weeks from the what are the methods used by, or the princi time of the abortion, the hemorrhage return-ples actuating a majority of these practitioning, she was with some difficulty delivered of ers. There are now, and have been in centhe placenta.-Memp. Med. Rec. turies past, hundreds of others that employ water more or less liberally, as they employ antimony, wine, or bark, with a curative intention, and it would be hard to decide from |