a few corkscrew touches over his bump of constructiveness, we qualify him architecturally to that degree, that Brindley would dilute into "treble skimm'd sky blue" beside him, and he might produce an impromptu of a pump that would astonish even Mr. Pecksniff. So, with a little management, we could change a poltroon into a hero, a booby into a poet of the first water, and in short "draw out" their talents from persons who never had any. Extraordinary science, fit to be ranked with astrology and alchemy, and the gentle craft of palmistry, all doubted as they are and snubbed in these unphilosophical days.

The "Zoist," if he does not aspire to the crown of martyrdom, anticipates it: "The science of Cerebral Physiology experienced strong opposition before even its first principles were recognized, or the truth of its most obvious facts conceded. The science of Mesmerism has been destined to pass through the same ordeal. There is one curious and melancholy feature which deserves especial notice, and which proves how little Cerebral Physiologists have profited by the difficulties they encountered during the infancy of their own science. Men of science denounced Gall as an enthusiast and visionary, and proclaimed his facts to be fallacious. Men of science and even Cerebral Physiologists denounce him who is convinced by his senses of the truth of Mesmerism as an enthusiast and visionary, and proclaim the extraordinary phenomena which are developed in the trance to be gross impositions. Thus the very course which Cerebral Physiologists condemn in the opponents of their own views, many of them are the first to adopt on the proclamation of a new and startling truth; and this is the more extraordinary, because many of the phenomena illustrate in a most beautiful manner the excited action of the cerebral organs. How great the difference between theory and practice! They believe in a philosophy which teaches them an opposite course of conduct and yet feel not its influence!

“However, those who are investigating nature and recording facts know that in a short time opposition must cease, and they turn from the gloomy to the bright side of the picture and contemplate in the distance the results of their labours. They look for their reward in the plentiful harvests of the future, rather than in the reapings and gleanings of the present or the past. Glorious, heroic, fruitful for his own Time and for all Time and all Eternity, is the constant speaker and doer of truth.' The assertor of truth may be crushed and we may breathe a sigh over the martyr as he passes from the field of his labours,-ignorance and prejudice may for a time reign triumphant, and the abettors of sloth and selfishness be considered the great, the good, and the wise, -but Time rolls on, and Reason will assert her dominion."

It certainly does seem, at first sight, ungrateful on the part of the phrenologists, to disbelieve in Mesmerism, seeing what disbelief was long extended to themselves. But this may be said in their defence, that if the mere circumstance of having met with incredulity, is to constitute a reason why they should never exhibit any, they may as well proclaim belief in any thing and every thing. The bottle conjurer may employ the same argument, and utter the same complaint the directors of the aerial steam carriage company may consider themselves ill-used individuals-in short, every description of humbug must be welcomed with a bow, and no questions asked.

This is one of the fallacies with which enthusiasts deceive themselves. Because new truths have met with opposition on their first promulgation, therefore every thing new that is opposed is true, and all opposition to what is new is bigotry. The persecution of Galileo has been the ruin and the consolation of many a projector-the neglect of Milton has been the undoing of many a rhymester-and the discredit shewn to Harvey has comforted, if it has not generated a host of theorists. This is the way in which the followers of Johanna Southcote, of Hohenloë, and of Irving, steeled themselves against the derision of the world. The Saviour was mocked-so were they; their mission was, conse

quently, as divine as the Saviour's. The moralist may deem this a happy dispensation, the very hopelessness of the delusion constituting its alleviation; and perhaps, after all, a fool's paradise is not a bad one.

If the Zoist hugs himself with the fond idea, that his science and himself will be famous by-and-bye, well and good. It is a comfortable hallucination, and he does right to make the most of it. These pleasures of imagination are probably all he will ever get; and it were a pity to deprive him of them. But, like his "science," they are imagination, and one airy nothing will dissolve away

with the other.

We laugh at the folly, we pity the madness of the Mesmerists. Many of them are neither better nor worse than arrant charlatans-more are weak dupes of knaves or of themselves-and a few are sincere, high-principled fanatics, led away by a love of the extravagant and marvellous, and trying very earnestly, but with small success, to hold the eel of philosophy by the tail.

The Editors of the Zoist promise that :—

66

They will bestow great attention upon the practical department of the two sciences which they have undertaken to cultivate, but at the same time will not be regardless of their vivifying power. They will not forget that man, Eternal Man, is the theme; and, while they survey his past history and point out how his best interests have been neglected, they will indicate the manner in which these two sciences may be made subservient to the great end in view,—the progressive improvement and increasing happiness of the race."

We should be sorry to dispute the sincerity of these declarations, nay, we do believe that these gentlemen are actuated by the feelings they profess. But however estimable such sentiments may be, and however we may respect an earnest aspiration for the improvement of mankind, we must recollect that such sentiments and such desires, if not regulated by a sound and cautious judgment, run into enthusiasm, visionary at the best, and, perhaps, dangerous. In science, there can be no compromise with truth. Whatever leads to its establishment must be encouraged, whatever deviates from it, however amiable the feelings of the individual, must be sternly and resolutley reprobated. For our parts we view Mesmerism as a ludicrous, if not a mischievous, delusion; and, without regard to persons, it should be laughed at and put down.

ON THE TREATMENT OF CYNANCHE TONSILLARIS. By
DR. ROBERTSON.*

Surprised at the number of deaths which occurred in cases of croup under the usual treatment, Dr. Robertson determined to try a different plan of which the following is a sketch.

If the child is stout, an antimonial emetic is to be instantly administered; if young, or weak, or of a delicate constitution, a large proportion of ipecacuanha is given with the tartrate. Warm water ordered to be in readiness for a bath, if required. The moment the emetic has ceased acting, a stimulating liniment is applied to the neck and upper part of the chest, by moistening a piece of fine flannel, lint, or cotton wadding with the stimulant. These liniments vary according to the appearance of the skin, age of the patient, &c. A very good composition is about equal parts of oil of turpentine, compound camphor liniment, and olive oil: if the child is young, less turpentine. Occasionally iodine or ammoniacal preparations are employed; or tincture of cantharides: mustard sometimes, but its effects on the skin are often severe. If it does not redden

Lancet, May 27.

the skin and cause acute pain in from two to five minutes, it must be strengthened. When once it acts freely, a very short time will answer. The inflammation should extend from the top of the thyroid cartilage to the top of the sternum, two or three inches broad above, and wider below. As soon as small vesicles occur, and a very red skin, with the papillæ much enlarged, the rubefacient should be removed, and replaced by a light soft poultice of bread and milk, or water, and some oil or lard, which must be changed or cleaned occasionally. The patient to be soothed and pleased, by trying to play with it, instead of crying or being dull; the less use they make of the nasal organs the better; a little liquorice to keep in the mouth, and if the cough is troublesome, pectoral mixture, with a very small quantity of opiate preparation, either compound tincture of camphor or one of the salts of morphía. Care must be taken in administering these, not to give a very large dose, or any if there is not much irritation; the stimulation of the liniment is often of service. Soon after the stomach has recovered from the effects of the emetic, calomel is given and is repeated every two, four, or six hours, and in doses proportionate to the age and strength of the child, narrowly watching the gums. When the least swelling or redness of the gums or throat is observed, stop for some hours and watch its constitutional effects. The bowels to be freely opened with castor oil, rhubarb, tartrate of potass, or some such medicine. If the skin is dry and hot, a warm bath is a good application; but if the patient's surface is moist, and itself weak or languid, we must be cautious in its application, taking care to cover the body the moment he is taken out, and instantly dry it with towels. If the medicines and applications do not produce the desired effect, they must be changed and others of somewhat a similar kind administered. Should any other disease, local or constitutional, be present, or come on during the attack, it must be properly attended to; proper temperature, &c. being adopted all the time.

During convalescence, the greatest care and attention must be paid to the patient; no exposure to cold or damp or any sudden transition of temperature: the neck, chest, and feet to be kept warm, and the diet simple: air and exercise in the arms, walking, or in a carriage, according to circumstances.

Under this treatment, Dr. Robertson states that very few patients have been lost.

ON POLYPI OF THE RECTUM IN YOUNG CHILDREN. By DR. GIGON.*

After relating six cases of this affection, three of which were under his own care, and three under the charge of his colleague, M. Brun, Dr. Gigon makes the following remarks.

Nature of the Tumors.-These are stated to be fleshy, red, resembling a large cherry deprived of its epidermis, and with a bleeding surface, suspended by a narrow pedicle or stalk. Cut in pieces, it was found to be fleshy, of variable consistence, but usually having about the firmness of a portion of liver. To the naked eye there was no appearance of vessels; nothing like fibres, the mass was compact; in one case, however, by the aid of the microscope, some vascular traces were discovered, while, in another, in which the disease had lasted for a long time, a well-marked fibrous disposition was seen. In other respects, there was no difference of aspect in the six cases, there was always a globular tumor, of blood-red colour, and varying from the size of a cherry to that of a nut.

The pedicles were membranous, smooth, soft, of a greyish colour, and of the size of a small pea: they did not appear to be at all vascular, and their implant

* L'Expérience, June 1st 1843.

ation took place at a height varying from some millimetres to six centimetres above the anus; they were insensible and endowed with but moderate powers of resistance; in one of these cases, the pedicle was not sufficiently firm to support the ligature, but broke, without giving rise to any consecutive hæmorrhage; this would, at first sight, appear to prove that the pedicle was not vascular, and that the discharge of blood which so often accompanies this disease comes from the rectum irritated by the presence of the polypus; this was, however, afterwards shewn not to be the case, because in one instance, after applying a ligature to the polypus, blood no longer exuded, notwithstanding the presence of the tumor in the intestine, and, in another, the excision of the pedicle was followed by severe hæmorrhage, proving that it is to the vessels which traverse the pedicle that the sanguineous exudations and hæmorrhages are due.

Two other species of polypous tumors of the rectum in infancy have already been noted, viz. mucous tumors, formed by the mucous membrane of the rectum, strangulated and distended, as observed by M. Stolz; vegetant tumors, as pointed out by M. Boyer, and, finally, fleshy pediculated tumors, as shewn in the present paper.

Symptoms and Signs.-The commencement of these tumors is attended with much obscurity; the rectal mucous membrane with too little sensibility to allow a body of such small size to occasion any sensation whatever. After some time, when the tumor has become well developed, the symptom most constantly observed is, an exudation, or even a flow of blood by the anus; the fæcal matters are then stained, and sometimes bathed in, and softened by pure blood, without any adınixture of mucus. When this bloody discharge exists, and especially when it has continued for some time, without the presence of any general symptom, and without there being any reason for referring to some severe lesion of the intestine, the parents ought to be asked whether, when the patient goes to the water-closet, any reddish body appears at the orifice of the anus; if this has been observed, there is no longer any doubt, the nature of the disease is known; if not, the patient may be made to strain, the tumor will then usually project externally.

In some cases, in consequence of the shortness of the pedicle, or from its being attached very high up, the polypus cannot be brought into view, the finger may then be introduced without any difficulty, even in very young children, or the speculum ani may be employed.

The diseases with which this affection may possibly be confounded are, dysentery, hæmorrhoids, and prolapsus of the rectum.

From dysentery it may be distinguished by the absence of glairy matter, of abdominal pain, fever, heat, and, in fact, of every symptom with the exception of the presence of loose fæcal matter stained with blood.

From piles it may be distinguished by the colour of the tumor and its place of insertion; the age of the patient will also serve as a diagnostic mark.

With prolapsus of the rectum, this disease has been occasionally confounded; on examining the part, however, you find in prolapsus an opening in the centre of the tumor by which the fæcal matter escapes, whilst in polypus, the fæces escape by the side; in fact, a careful examination can leave no doubt upon the subject.

Supposing these tumors left to themselves, what would happen? Would they attain an indefinite size? M. Gigon is of opinion that they would not. The largest which he has seen was about the size of a nut, and in that case the discharge of blood had existed for upwards of a year. In some cases, these tumors may be detached spontaneously; the pedicle being ruptured during the passage of hardened fæces, or the polypus may be protruded, and finally separated by the action of the sphincter. However, the disease is one which ought not to be

neglected, especially when the discharge of blood is abundant, as emaciation, hectic fever, marasmus may ensue.

Treatment. The treatment to be employed in these cases, is at once simple and successful; the ligature must be had recourse to with or without section of the pedicle. Nothing is more simple than this little operation. The little patient is placed on his stomach, and made to strain till the tumor projects externally, it is then seized with a pair of forceps and drawn outwards; this may be easily done, for the mucous membrane is so lax at this age that very slight traction will enable you to get at the pedicle. When the polypus is thus drawn out it is somewhat difficult to distinguish where the pedicle ends, and where the mucous membrane begins, on account of the colour being the same; it is necessary, however, to pay some attention to this point in order that too much of the mucous membrane may not be included in the ligature, as this would be attended with inconvenience. A waxed thread is then passed round the pedicle, but must not be tied very tightly for fear of cutting through the pedicle. It is better then to return the whole into the rectum, without cutting it off below the ligature, as in one case in which excision was practised some hæmorrhage took place subsequently. The tumor left to itself in the rectum falls off on the second or third day, and is discharged at stool. In none of the cases observed by M. Gigon, was there any pain from the application of the ligature, or any accident after the operation. On the contrary, all the bad symptoms, such as the discharge of blood, loss of appetite, emaciation, &c. speedily disappeared.

CLIMATE OF VAN DIEMAN'S LAND.*

Van Dieman's Land, like most newly-colonised countries, has been represented as, in climate, an earthly paradise, and lauded as enjoying immunity from that great scourge of the human race-consumption. Mr. Power, Assistant-surgeon, 5th Dragoon Guards, has resided in the colony for three years, and visited every part of it where settlement has been made. He observes:

"Van Dieman's Land is situated between the degrees, 41° and 44° south latitude, and 144° and 149° east longitude. This situation, though in fact ten degrees nearer the equator than Great Britain, affords a very similar climate in point of temperature,† to that which is experienced in the latter place; for, though more immediately under the influence of the sun's heat, the effect to be expected from such a locality is counter-balanced by the winds, which blowing uninterruptedly over the ocean from the perpetually frozen regions of the south, arrive there, without having their coldness modified, as occurs in the northern hemisphere, by a transit over large tracts of land. In this way, a medium temperature, a kind of balance as it were, is established, and extremes of heat or cold seldom continue for more than a very short period.

"This constant struggle between the cold winds of the south, and the heated air of the land, constitutes the premises from which has been inferred the great equability of temperature supposed by strangers to exist in that country; but, though the inference is just in general terms, experience proves that it is not so correct when examined more in detail. Thus it may be observed, that between the different seasons, the variation is comparatively trifling, the thermometer

Dublin Journal, March, 1843.

+ The thermometer, one season with another, ranges from about 42° to 74° in the shade; but when a hot wind blows, it sometimes rises suddenly as high as 108 or 110° in the shade.