on a bed of gravel, which appears to have once been the bed of the river, by the logs and trees that are found in digging wells, at the depth of 35 feet, which is the present height of the banks of the Muskingum. Immediately back of this clayey land, on the eastern side, is a gravelly plain; this plain is 30 feet higher than the bottom lands; the gravel of which it is composed, resembles that which now makes the bed of the river; and from many circumstances we are led to believe that this plain, which is now more than 60 feet above the level of the river, was once its bed. On this plain, are situated the ancient mounds and fortifications which have already been often described. The town is laid out in regular squares, and contains about 1000 house lots, of one third of an acre each; the streets are 90 feet wide, and cross each other at right angles. Marietta, at present, contains about 180 dwelling houses, and nearly 1500 inhabitants. Many of the houses are large and elegant, and nearly half of them are brick. About 20 houses have been built within a year. The public buildings are a court house, jail, academy and two meeting houses; one of wood, large and very elegant; the other of brick, not finished-both begun since 1807. The public offices are, a post office, receiver's office, and recorder's office. A bank, the capital of which is $100,000 was established in 1807. Ship building has been carried on here for several years: the summer of 1807 saw two ships, three brigs, and two schooners building at one time; and in May last they passed the falls of the Ohio in safety. There are three large rope-walks in the place, two only of which are at present used. The soil of this country is well adapted to the growth of hemp; the crops are large and of an excellent quality, and at some future day it will be the staple of the country.

The diseases of this climate are generally of the bilious class; there are some of the pneumonic kind, but very few cases of phthisis pulmonalis: asthmatic cases are very rare, and those of the spasmodic or nervous kind, find a quick relief in this country: rheumatism is more common. The only endemic I am acquainted with, is ophthalmia membr. The attack is sudden, very violent, and often terminates in a loss of sight. Complaints of the bowels are common, particularly to strangers: of this class of diseases, cholera infantum is the most common and destructive.

The past season has been very favourable both to the vegetable and animal kingdom. The crops of grain, fruits,

and grass have been unusually large and good. Many of the sheep, large flocks of which run on the commons, have brought forth twice in the course of the season; a thing unusual in our country. Last year the crops of corn were very much injured, and in some places destroyed, by myriads of grey squirrels. They seemed migrating from the north to the south-hundreds could be seen crossing the Ohio, where it was nearly a mile wide; in this attempt thousands were drowned: they were much emaciated, and most of them covered with running ulcers, made by worms of the grub kind. By the first of January they mostly disappeared ; after that, and to this time, it was observed that on cutting hollow trees, their usual habitations, they were found in a manner filled with the bones and hair of squirrels ; some trees containing as many as 40 or 50. By this it would seem they had died of some disease; for had they died of famine, they would have been found in the fields instead of hollow trees. It will be recollected, that this was the season in which bilious fever and influenza ravaged the country. In short, such were their numbers, that the Legislature of this State passed a law, requiring each free male inhabitant to furnish one hundred squirrel scalps to the clerk of the county, or three dollars in cash. At this time there is scarcely one hundred in this county, and the law is repealed.

The weather through the last season, or 1808, has not been marked by any peculiar changes. In June it was rather warmer than usual; on the 30th, the thermometer stood at 98 in the shade, and for several preceding days at 97. On the 24th of December, 1808, after very violent rains, the ground having been covered previously with about four inches of snow, the Ohio and Muskingum began to rise; and by the 27th, some parts of the town were twelve feet under water. The Muskingum was two feet higher than has been known before, since the settlement of the country, which is twenty years. The bottom lands were swept of all their fences, stacks of grain and hay, and even some buildings; numbers of which were seen floating down the Muskingum. The people fled, with their flocks and herds, to the hills for safety. Most of the bridges were destroyed, particularly one across the mouth of the Little Muskingum; it was thrown across with one arch of 120 feet, supported by abutments of stone.

Bill of Mortality for Marietta, Ohio, for 1808.

The births for 1808, are 140.

The deaths in 1807, were 51, principally of bilious fever.

Among the medicinal plants of this neighbourhood, which the present state of our national affairs renders particularly valuable, is columbo, equal, if not superior to any imported. It has received the approbation of every one in any manner acquainted with its virtues. It is found in the greatest plenty; sufficient for the consumption of the United States. Turmeric, or curcuma, is also found in plenty, and of a good quality. Seneka snakeroot (polygala senega) is found in great abundance and of an excellent quality. Serp. virgin. and serp. canadens. or what is vulgarly called black snakeroot, are very common. There is another root resembling the rad. serp. virg. growing in clusters, that dyes a very beautiful and permanent yellow; it is powerfully antiseptic, and in great esteem for the cure of aphthæ and putrid sore throat. Spigelia is common in the woods; and some very good specimens of valerian have been shown. We have a species of ipecacuanha; the hills are covered with it in many places. It has the appearance, when pulverised, of the ipecac. of the shops. The roots are tortuous and of a light brown. It is generally used in decoction; two ounces of which are a powerful dose for an adult. Ginseng is very common, as is mezereon, and two kinds of sarsaparilla. There are several roots used for the bite of VOL. VI. 27

snakes, of which I know not the names. They are very acrid, and when pounded and applied to the skin, produce a blister in a few minutes. Dog-wood and yellow poplar answer in decoction nearly as well as peruvian bark.

This climate seems well adapted to the growth of the poppy. Some experiments were made with the papav. alb. in my garden, the last summer. The succus was collected from incisions in the head, after the fall of the flowering leaves, and inspissated in the sun. The opium was very pure, and much stronger than any I ever obtained from the shops. The next season I intend cultivating the poppy on a larger scale. The ensuing spring I propose forwarding to you some specimens of the rad. columbo, turmeric, and ipecac. with drawings of the plants; when you will be better able to judge of their identity and value.

Amongst the mineral productions of this country, which are and will be worthy of the highest consideration, are

1st. Aluminous earth, from which alum could be made in large quantities. Some very pure alum (sulph. of alumine) has been found.

2d. Large beds of pyrites are found in many parts of the country; and in some places native copperas (sulph. of iron) has been found. The pyrites are in sufficient abundance to make the manufacture of sal. mart. an object worthy attention. The waters in many parts of the country are impregnated with marine salt, and it is made in large quantities in several places in the state.

3d. Coal. This appears to be contained in large beds through all the hilly part of the state.

4th. Iron ore. This is very abundant; and large works are establishing about 70 miles above here, on the Muskingum, for its various manufacture.

5th. Clays. Of these, red, brown, blue, and white are found. Of the latter, some of a superior quality is found in this neighbourhood; when dried and mixed with oil, it makes very strong putty. Different kinds of ochre are found in the beds of almost every creek, particularly red; which, when burnt, is equal to Spanish brown.

6th. Free stone, nearly as handsome as marble, is found in inexhaustible quarries; elegant specimens of which are common in mantel pieces, and monuments of the church yard. Grit stone, from the coarsest drip stone to the finest grind stone, is very common.

7th. Lime-stone is plenty, as is gypsum: some elegant crystals of which have been found (sulph. of lime.)

8th. Nitre (sept. of potash) is found in elegant crystals in the clefts of rocks and caves, in a number of places, and in considerable quantities.

9th. Slate (schistus) is found, both of the primary and secondary kind.

10th. Seneca oil, a kind of petroleum, is found up the Muskingum. It is obtained when the water is low, in the bed of creeks and the river. It commonly rises in bubbles, which burst and float on the water. Where these are seen to rise, they enclose the place with stones, to prevent the current from carrying it away, and sometimes gather a barrel in a few days.

Besides the medicinal plants I have mentioned, we have a large number of beautiful flowering shrubs, which I have not seen described by any writer; but as I have drawn this communication to a length which I fear is tiresome, I will defer their description at present.

A CASE of DYSPEPSIA, from a scirrhous Stomach, ascertained by Dissection. By DR. RICKETSON, of NewYork.

DYSPEPSIA, like many other diseases, may be occa

sioned by various causes, some of which can only be ascertained by dissection after death.

This mode of improving Pathology cannot be too much cultivated and recommended; a useful and lasting monument of which may be seen in the elaborate and valuable work of Morgagni," De causis et sedibus morborum."

John Griffin, aged near 60, of this city, the subject of the present investigation, had laboured several months under most of the symptoms of Dyspepsia, such as eructations, heartburn, sour stomach, anorexy, nausea, and vomiting, with flatulence, costiveness, and distention of his bowels.

I did not see him until about 10 days before his death, when his symptoms had increased to an alarming degree, particularly his vomiting, so that he could retain neither drink, food, nor medicines on his stomach.

From his situation, little advantage was contemplated by