impulse given to the vice of intemperance, by the vending of ardent spirit, has relinquished this part of his business. The Jacob Street Spring in New York promises to become a great blessing to the inhabitants of that city. It is mentioned in the Commercial Advertiser, that the well belongs to the city. A committee of the Common Council has been appointed to examine the subject, and report what shall be done, to make the use of the water convenient to the citizens. SHOCKING. On the 4th inst. near Detroit, in a quarrel occasioned by intemperance, Levi Willard killed his brother Abner by stabbing him with a butcherknife. Heretofore the brothers bore a good character for industry and sobriety,-now one is dead, leaving a widow and five children, and the other in prison awaiting the consequence of his dreadful act, another victim to the accursed habit of drinking to excess.-N.P. A. of drachms, as he conjectures it should have been. The recipe is this: R. Acid. Nitrosi, one drachm, Mist. Camphoræ, 8 ounces, Mix and add, Tinct. Opii, 40 drops. Mark, one fourth part to be taken every three or four hours. The American testimony in favor of the grateful and beneficial effects of this remedy is very considerable in addition to what Mr. Hope says, and to what may be found in the 4th vol. p. 582, &c. of the Med. Intelligencer. Mr. Hope further says in the Edin. Med. and Surg. Journal, vol. 26, p. 39, the first dose was frequently considerable quantity of green, gelarejected by vomiting, along with a tinous fluid,—but I remarked that all such cases were the most rapid in their recovery. Flannels wrung out of hot water and laid on the abdomen, and bottles of hot water applied to the feet, procured, in general, a profuse sweating, and the second dose of the medicine caused them, for the most part, to fall into a sound and refreshing sleep. In BOSTON, TUESDAY, AUG. 14, 1827. certain cases, I have found two A Barnstable county subscriber is informed, that not being able at this moment to obtain the N. Amer. Med. and Surg. Journal, from which Mr. Hope's formula was copied, we are unable to decide whether the deviation from this formula is chargeable to us, or to those from whom we took it. We have, however, the Edin. Med. and Surg. Journal for July, 1826, by which the error can be corrected, wherever it may have originated. The camphorated mixture was expressed in ounces instead ounces to produce headache, though the quantity of laudanum has been only ten drops. On these occasions, the pain of the bowels having been found considerably relieved, the medicine was ordered to be taken at longer intervals, unless the griping pains and purging returned. A few of the patients complained of hardness of the belly after the purging was stopped, which was always relieved by thirty drops of sulphuric ether in peppermint water. I have administered the remedy to patients of both sexes, and of all ages, with and diarrhoea. equal success, in dysentery, cholera, of the Society the sum of one hundred dollars to pay for the instruction of such number of pupils as Dr. Lieber will receive. The article on Venous Absorption in this day's paper, is an interesting essay and worthy of attention. The author of it regards it as perfectly conclusive, and as fully answering the objection to those experiments of Magendie and others, founded on the supposed communication of the extreme veins and absorbents. These experiments are also strongly in favor of the absorption of alimentary substances by the veins. The Committee decided that a communication of the above act of the Trustees should be made to the School Committee, and an invitation given them to request the several instructers of the public schools to designate the scholars to be benefited by the above appropriation so soon as the number to be admitted should be made known. FRANCIS J. OLIVER, Rec. Sec'y. Dr. Lieber, desirous of giving all the aid in his power to the benevoAt a regular meeting of the Trusmane Society, and in expression of his lent object of the Massachusetts Hutees of the Humane Society, on Friday, 3d intstant—the following proposition was submitted, and unanimously approved, and a Committee, consisting of Dr. Wm. Spooner, President of the Society, Dr. Warren and the Recording Secretary, was appointed to adopt such measures as they should deem expedient in fur therance of the object. Considering the numerous cases which are presented to the notice of this Society, of men and boys who annually lose their lives from their ignorance of the art of Swimming, and believing it to be fully within the objects of the Society to aid the means of preventing death by drowning, as well as to resuscitate those in whom animation is suspended, The Trustees view with peculiar pleasure the establishment of a Swimming School in this city. under the immediate charge of a gentleman of high literary and scientific acquirements, and who has shown himself to be peculiarly well qualified to instruct in every branch of the Gymnastic art. With these impressions, it is unanimously voted, to recommend to the inhabitants of Boston to avail themselves of the opportunity now offered to acquire the practical knowledge of so important an art; and the Trustees appropriate from the funds deep sense of the approbation bestowed on his undertaking by so respectable a body, has determined to appropriate four hours daily, namely:-from past 5 to past 7, and from 10 to 11 o'clock, A. M.—and from past 4 to past 5 o'clock, P. M., to the instruction of the beneficiaries of the Humane Society, and he is now ready to receive four pupils from each of the public schools in this city. DICTIONARY. Cardiac and pyloric extremities of the stomach, are the pylorus, or lower, and cardia, or upper.extremities of this organ. Crusta lactea, an eruption affecting some part of the face of infants. Duodenum, the first portion of intestine commencing from the stomach. Hepatic and pancreatic secretions, the fluids secreted or separated from the liver and pancreas; the latter is a glandular viscus of the abdomen, situated under the stomach. It conveys a fluid, similar to saliva, into the intestines. Herpes, tetter; an eruptive disease of the skin. Vena porte, the great vein which carries blood to the liver. ADVERTISEMENTS. PHILADELPHIA MONTHLY JOUR- THE publication of this work ing and of Curing Diseases, Vol. 4th, bound or unbound. A Treatise on Verminous Diseases, preceded by the Natural History of Intestinal Worms, and their origin in the Human Body. V. L. BRERA, Professor The Ped in June last, and is contin- of Clinical Medicine in the University of ued monthly. Its design embraces four departments.-1. Original Essays; 2. Adversaria; 3. Analytical Reviews; 4. Abstract of Foreign Medicine. Its average contents are 50 close octavo pages, 150 quarterly. It is printed on paper of the best quality.-Its price is 3 dollars a year if paid in advance,-four if paid subsequently.-Subscribers can have the back numbers. Its conductor makes no invidious comparisons; specimens of the work are before the public: qui invidet mi nor est." 66 Communications to be addressed, alrays posipaid, to N. R. Smith, M. D., Philadelphia, 141, Spruce Street. Ο JOSEPH KIDDER, 70, Court St., FFERS for sale a full assortment of Drugs and Medicines of the best quality. Confining himself principally to the retail business, every attention will be given to meet the wishes of Physicians and others in the preparation and delivery of medicines. Prescriptions will receive constant personal attention. Rochelle and Soda Powders carefully prepared as above. Also, constantly for sale, Black Currant Wine, prepared by Mr. Pomeroy. RETAIL DRUG STORE. H friends and the public, that he has now established himself as a retail druggist, at No. 188, Washington Street, opposite the Marlboro' Hotel, where Physicians and Families may depend on the most strict and personal attention to their orders.-No Medicines will be put up unless of the first quality. N. B. Medicines delivered at any of the night. hour Pavia, &c. BICHAT on the Membranes. Remarks on the Dangers and Duties of The LANCET, a weekly London publication. Published weekly, by John Cotton, at 184, Washington St. corner of Franklin St. -The price of this paper will vary with the time of payment. If paid on subscribing, or within 3 months after, the price will be 3 dollars per annum; if paid after 3 months but within the year, it will be $ 3,50; but if not paid within the year, it will be 4 dolalrs. No paper to be discontinued till arrearages are paid.-All communications relating to the present or future concerns of this paper, to be addressed, always postpaid, to John G. Coffin.-Advertisements, 1 dollar a square. MEDICAL INTELLIGENCER. JOHN G. COFFIN, EDITOR. DEVOTED TO THE CAUSE OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION, AND TO VOL. 5. TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 1827. The terms on which this paper is sent to subscribers, are published at the end of every number. From the Medical Recorder. ON THE CONVULSIONS OF INFANTS. Practical Observations on the Convulsions of Infants. By JOHN NORTH, Surgeon Accoucheur, Member of the Royal College of Surgeons. London, 1826. THIS work is offered to the medical public as the result of experience and observation. From the importance of the subject on which it professes to treat, and the highly respectable source from whence it emanates, we are induced to believe its analysis will be acceptable to our readers. On the frequency, the causes, &c. of Infantile Convulsions.-That there exists in children a peculiar susceptibility to convulsions every one must admit, since by "a report of Dr. Clarke, made in the year 1792, out of 17,650 children, born in the Lying in Hospital of Dublin, a sixth part died during the first year of their existence, and that nineteen out of twenty fell victims to convulsions. Dr. Lange has recorded, that at Copenhagen, during a period of thirteen years, no less than 12,769 children perished from epilepsy." In infancy the slightest impressions are productive of very powerful and sudden effects in conse THE MEANS OF PRE NO. 14. quence of the large developement of the brain and nervous system. The nerves resemble medullary pulps; the muscles are pale, soft and fragile; their contractions are quick, frequent and feeble; and the body being covered by a very thin cuticle, possesses a high degree of sensibility. In tropical climates, as the sensibility to mental and corporeal impressions is augmented, we find a corresponding prevalence of convulsive diseases. Numerous instances might be adduced to show that a predisposition to convulsive affections may be transmitted from parent to offspring. Many writers consider it as an established axiom, that children born with large heads, or whose heads increase in size disproportionately to their bodies, will have convulsions. Our author has met with convulsions frequently in children with small heads; but surely, the inference is by no means conclusive, that convulsions may not also occur in the former. He also adverts to a fact which, if established by general observation, may lead to much curious research, and become very important in prosecuting the study of our species. He states that "the children of parents who marry at too early, or too advanced an age, are more susceptible of convulsions, than the progeny of those persons who marry in the prime of life." Mr. North proceeds to define the term convulsion: "when," he says, p. 15, "there is either an alternate and involuntary contraction and relaxation of the muscles, or a permanent contraction of the muscles, convulsion exists. The contraction may be so trifling as scarcely to attract attention; or it may be exerted in the highest possible degree which the muscular structure is capable of supporting without rupture of its fibres. When the muscular contraction is permanent, it is then termed a tonic convulsion. In this species, the involuntary contraction of the muscles renders them motionless, and incapable of renewing their motion till the entire cessation of the convulsion. When there is an alternate contraction and relaxation, a rapid succession of irregular action and rest in the muscles affected, the term clonic convulsions is employed." In describing the disease, Mr. North remarks, that its usual seat is the eyes, features of the face, superior and inferior extremities, and the respiratory muscles; at p. 19 he continues in positive language that neither fever nor disturbance of the intellectual functions, forms a part of the symptoms of a paroxysm of simple convulsions. A child may not be able to hear during the paroxysm; but this is not a proof that its faculties are destroyed." We conceive that our author had not evidence sufficient to warrant him in drawing this conclusion, since it is so difficult to ascertain at an early age, whether or not a child enjoys in perfection, the exercise of its intellect. And further, we are inclined to think that in every case of convulsion, the disturbance of the sentient and intellectual functions corresponds in degree with the intensity of the paroxysm. This is frequently attended with a total suspension during the attack, and if the disease continues its course, may ultimately induce a state of permanent idiocy. After confessing much difficulty in establishing clear distinctions between the various species of nervous affections, Mr. N. goes on to state, that "there is a strict analogy between epilepsy and simple convulsions: the muscular system is, in each disorder, affected in a very similar manner." But he makes this obvious exception, that in the former the senses and intellect are for a time destroyed. In illustration of the periodical return of many nervous diseases, our author relates two cases, and after some general observations on the violence of convulsive action, quotes Dr. Clarke for a description of the phenomena that occur in a common case of convulsions; and, after a slight notice of subsultus and palpitation, he proceeds to consider the proximate cause or nature of convulsions, of which he thinks we shall probably ever remain in doubt. Mr. N. questions the propriety of the usual division into idiopathic and symptomatic, and maintains that a very great majority of cases are purely symptomatic, and thinks it probable they are never idiopathic. His arguments in support of this position, appear to be the result of sound reasoning and legitimate induction. On education, as a fruitful source of convulsions, we transcribe the following just remarks, p. 32: "It is undoubtedly too much the custom of the |