intensity of an ardent temperament, to calm the turbulent volcano of passion, and act at that late date according to the dictates of common sense. If there is any hope of influencing him, it can only be by convincing his judgment before his feelings have become too much interested.

But the love of a mother for her offspring is often so pure, so unselfish, yet so burning and inextinguishable, that in it we may trust with strong hope-that to it we may appeal with every confidence of success.

If there is anything in the world which will bring about this reform, it is the love which already burns in the boson of a chaste and refined maiden for the offspring she hopes, after forming ties consonant with her judgment and with her feelings, to rear as the pride of her own heart, and as the ornament of her country, to whose service she designs to dedicate these "jewels."

But where will be her pride, where her happiness, where the precious gifts designed for patriotic purposes, if she finds that instead of the bright gleam from the eye of the darling infant, she meets naught but a sightless orb; if, instead of the charming cooing and prattle of soon-expanding articulate sounds, betokening powers which may one day arouse a Senate, deaf-mute motion chill the senses; if, in lieu of the dimpled cheek, the laughing eye, the intelligent recognition of a mother's devotion, that mother presses to her bosom only a shapeless mass of humanity, only the drivelled, idiotic semblance of that which aspires to be the noblest work of God. When the mother sees all this, and knows that she wittingly, not ignorantly, transgressed His Divine Laws, where is her hope, where the blessing of offspring, where her maternal happiness? Crushed, blighted, annihilated forever, serving only as a beacon of warning to save others from the same destruction.

This sad but conscientiously revealed lesson is not likely to reach the eye of youthful womanhood, but it may, at least, point the father, whose daughter expects soon to enter upon the holy duties of wedded life, to some assistant arguments by which he may possibly deter that daughter

from injuring herself and society, when she becomes thoroughly impressed with the conviction how deep a sin it is to contract marriage where close ties of consanguinity already exist.

Dying at Will.

In Dr. Cheyne's "English Malady," we find the extraordinary case of a Colonel Townshend related, which, being singular, we will insert in Dr. C.'s own words:

"Colonel Townshend, a gentleman of excellent natural parts, and of great honor and integrity, had for many years been afflicted with a nephritic complaint which made his life miserable. During one of his attacks of illness, he sent for Dr. Baynard and myself. We waited upon him with Mr. Skrine, his apothecary. We found his senses clear and mind calm; his nurse and several servants were about him. He had made his will and settled his affairs. He told us he had sent for us to give some account of an odd sensation he had for some time observed and felt within himself; which was, that of so composing himself that he could die or expire whenever he pleased by an effort of the will, and by another effort could come to life again-which it seems he had sometimes tried before he had sent for us. We heard this with surprise; but as it was to be accounted for on no common principles, we could hardly believe the facts. he had related to us, much less give any account of it, unless he should please to make the experiment before us, which we were unwilling he should do, lest in his weak condition he might carry it too far. He continued to talk very distinctly and sensibly for above a quarter of an hour about this surprising sensation, and insisted so much on our seeing the trial made, that we were at last forced to comply. We all three felt his pulse first; it was distinct, although small and steady, and his heart had its usual beating. He composed himself on his back and lay in a still posture for some time; while I held his right hand, Dr. Baynard laid his hand on his heart, and Mr. Skrine held a clean looking

glass to his mouth. I found his pulse sink gradually, until at last I could not feel any by the most exact and nice touch. Dr. Baynard could not feel the least motion in his heart, nor Mr. Skrine perceive the least soil of breath on the bright mirror he held to his mouth. Each of us then by turns examined his arm, heart and breath, but could not, by the nicest scrutiny, discover the least symptom of life in him. We reasoned a long time about his odd appearance, as well as we could, and all of us judging it inexplicable and unaccountable, and finding he still continued thus, we began to conclude that he had indeed carried the experiment too far, and at last were satisfied he was actually dead, and were just ready to leave him. This continued for half an hour. As we were leaving we observed some motion about the body, and upon examination we found his pulse and the motion of the heart gradually returning. He began to breathe gently and to speak softly, and after some conversation with him we left him. He afterwards sent for his attorney, added a codicil to his will, settled legacies on his servants, received the sacrament, and calmly and composedly expired about five or six o'clock that evening."

Fluid Extract of Veratrum Viride.

[From the Journal of Materia Medica.]

The attention which has been given within the last three years to the therapeutic properties of Veratrum Viride, has fully confirmed the observations of Dr. Tully, as stated at length by Dr. Osgood in his very able paper upon this agent, published in the American Journal of Medical Sciences in 1835. Recent observations and a more general experience have extended its application.

Its properties are a resin and an alkaloidal principle, which are yielded to alcohol and diluted alcohol.

Its therapeutic properties are stated to be an arterial sedative of great power-reducing the frequency of the pulse to forty per minute-expectorant, diaphoretic, altera

tive, deobstruent, emetic, nervine, somewhat narcotic, &c. These properties are published at length in a pamphlet upon its powers and properties.

Having for some time prepared a fluid extract of this article, I state, in answer to the many inquiries made as to the strength and manner of preparing it, that each fluid ounce represents one ounce of the crude root, or dram for dram, calculating 60 minims or 120 drops to the fluid dram. Each grain is represented by one minim or two drops.

The root is digested in alcohol of 90° for ten days, then diluted alcohol is added until it is exhausted of all its medicinal properties. The solutions are evaporated in a vacuum at 100°, and alcohol again added of sufficient specific gravity to hold its medicinal properties without deposition, and give one pint of fluid extract for every pound of root treated.

In all cases the root should be collected in the fall, immediately as the leaves begin to wither. Such is taken as the standard, and all other roots are brought to this standard by careful analysis, that the preparation shall yield an uniform or equal amount of active constituents.

Prepared in this way, the dose is much less than that stated for the tincture, assuming the minimum dose of the tincture to be four drops. The dose of this preparation should be two drops, as all the trials and observations we have made show it to possess double the strength of the tincture as recommended by Norwood. The opinion of physicians generally is that the minimum dose should be stated at one-half of that we have uniformly named. We have, therefore, reduced the dose to commence with to two drops, increasing one drop every portion given; but for greater convenience and certainty of administration it is suggested to combine it with an equal measure of milk, simple syrup, or syrup of squill, and give, as the minimum dose, four drops, increasing each portion given one or two drops, according to circumstances.

In combination with ipecac or compounds of cherry, &c., the dose is easily and accurately regulated.

An over dose is promptly relieved by laudanum or brandy, or by a syrup of sulphate of morphia and tincture of ginger. In fact, morphia and laudanum, in sufficient doses, are said to be perfect antidotes to the ill effects of an over dose.

Supposed Origin of Periodical Fevers.

[From the New Orleans Medical and Surgical Journal.] Lancisi, in 1695, ascribed the origin of periodical fevers to marsh miasm, which, he affirmed, consisted of effluvia of inorganic and animalcular constitution.

Henry Holland and others believe that these fevers are produced by a distinct host of animalcules which float about in the air.

Elliotson says that an exhalation from decaying vegetable matter is the true indispensable and exciting cause of ague and fever.

Annesley, a writer on the diseases of British India, concludes that the cause is the product of the different elements which are found in the rich soils, when acted on by heat, the air and moisture.

Armstrong rejects, altogether, the doctrine of a specific poison in accounting for their origin.

Dr. Wood admits that periodical fevers may originate without any emanation from vegetable decomposition to poison the atmosphere.

Dr. Bell, of Philadelphia, and Pritchett, in his accounts of the African remittent fever, think that the known and appreciable states of the earth's surface, superincumbent atmosphere, and modes of life, will account for the origin of these fevers.

The celebrated Roman physician, Folchi, who had bestowed much time and attention upon this subject, thought the moisture, dampness, and the chilling effects of the dews of night, and not miasmata, produced these diseases..