the first invention of the microscope down to the present time, among the most distinguished of which may be named Leuwenhoeck, Fontana, Prochaska, Della Torre, Swammerdam, and the Wenzels. Bauer in our own country has published observations agreeing in all the essential points. Prevost and Dumas have recently repeated the observations of Edwards, and have borne the most decided testimony to their accuracy; and Dutrochet states, that he has found all the organs of all animals to be composed of globular corpuscles; that these corpuscles are arranged either in longitudinal or linear series, or are agglomerated into a confused mass; that in all the secretory organs, such as the liver, the kidneys, the salivary glands, and so on, the disposition of the globules is of this latter kind; that so great is the similarity between all the parenchymatous organs, that in the frog, when examined with the microscope, it is almost impossible to distinguish the tissues of the brain, of the liver, of the kidney, of the spleen, of the ovary, and so on; that all these organs consist of glandular corpuscles, agglomerated in a confused manner, the assemblage of which constitutes the parenchyma of the organ. In the Autumn of last year the globular structure of the three primitive tissues was demonstrated by Dr. Southwood Smith, in the course of his lectures on Physiolology, who, by means of the microscope of Sellique, exhibited these globules to the class. From the zoophyte up to man, then, it is proved, that in the structure of all the different tissues of the animal body there is not only a most striking similarity, but an absolute identity. We already know, from the study of her laws, the simplicity of the means by which nature works; these discoveries show the simplicity of the material with which she constructs the most varied of her productions, and renders this variety, infinite as it is, still more wonderful and admirable. Many of the fluids of the animal body have also been found to consist, for the most part, of globules of the same aspect and diameter. The red globules of the blood, for example, are composed of two parts-of a sac, which is formed of the coloring matter of the fluid, and of a central corpuscle. Now this central corpuscle, when divested of its external envelope of coloring matter, is found to present the same appearance, and to be of the same diameter as the elementary globule of the different tissues. Serum, chyle, milk, pus, are found to consist, for the most part, of globules of the same appearance and diameter as the central globules of the red particles of the blood, and the elementary globule of the tissues. Thus it appears that the elementary structure of all the tissues of which the animal body is composed, from the lowest to the highest, is identical, and that the fuids contain the organic particles in the union and arrangement of which the structure consists. These discoveries, important as they are in their own nature, assume a new interest when considered in connexion with the elementary organization of vegetable bodies, and with the relation they establish between vegetable and animal life. It had long been ascertained by chemical analysis, that the constituent parts, both of plants and animals, contain precisely the same ultimate chemical principles; namely, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and azote, though it is commonly said that azote is peculiar to animal substance. The correct statement, however, is, that azote predominates in the animal substance, for the vegetable is by no means destitute of it. From this analogy of composition it was inferred that there must be analogy of structure. Careful investigation has rendered the soundness of this inference highly probable. All the researches which have been instituted relative to this point, so far as they have yet been carried, show that this analogy really exists; but the particular facts on which the conclusion rests will be better appreciated after a brief exposition of the organization of the most simple animals-a subject which naturally follows the consideration of the elementary structure of the animal tissues.- Westminster Review. To be concluded next week. MORTALITY OF PRISONS. M. Villermé, in a memoir on this subject, presented at a sitting of the French Institute, places at the head of the causes of the great mortality in prisons, poor and insufficient diet. His observations of course refer to the Parisian prisons. The daily ration of a prisoner is a pound and a half of bread, some economical soup, Count Rumford's, and an unlimited quantity of water. This diet, notwithstanding all the fancies of philosophical people, is not good enough to preserve the human body in a state of health, even among the French. Its uniformity, and the absence of animal To food, are considered by M. Viller- "If the dépot de mendicité of Saint Denis is included in the calculation, the mortality must yet be stated at one in fifteen; it was equal to one in twelve before the year 1819, when the above society So that M. Vilwas established. lermé is almost justified in saying that prisoners will live or die, just as we choose.-Biblioth. Med. The melioration in the state of the prisons of France has been very One of the most beneficial NEW MEDICINES. The following are already on this side the Atlantic. Their prices may excite a little alarm at first, but when we consider the exceeding minuteness of the doses, we shall 66 find them not much more extrava- Morphine. This is the peculiar The citrate, the sulphate, and fifty dollars the ounce. lars the ounce. MODES OF PRESCRIBING MORPHINE. 1. Pure Morphine. Dose, from of a grain or more. 4. Anodyne Drops. Take of Acetate of Morphine, 16 Distilled Water, 1 ounce. Mix. Dose, from 6 to 24 drops. 5. Solution of Acetate of Morphine. Take of Acetate of Morphine, 16 grains. Distilled Water, 6 dr'ms. Diluted Acetic Acid, 2 drachms. Make a Solution. Dose, from 6 to 24 drops. said of Morphine, our readers can Narcotine.--From what we have promises nothing as a medicine; judge of the effect of Narcotine. It and is only a chemical curiosty. It sells for the moderate price of $120 an ounce, to which circumstance perhaps is partly to be attributed its peculiar effects on the nervous system. Narcotine.--The action of this Extract of Opium deprived of substance is decidedly narcotic, only weaker. and entirely like that of Morphine, it," says Majendie, "in practice, "I have employed with advantage, especially on a young Greek Physician of the greatto est promise, who had not been able to bear well the common aqueous extract of the shops. 2. Syrup of Acetate of Morphine. Take of Perfectly clarified Syrup, 1 pound troy. Acetate of morphine, 4 grains. Make a Syrup. Dose, from 2 to 4 teaspoonfuls. 3 Syrup of Sulphate of Morphine. Sulphate of Morphine, 2 therefore, seems to deserve the at- Morphine.--Four grains of this CALISTHENIC EXERCISES. It is an admitted physiological fact, that imperfections in the fe male form have their origin for the most part in defective or irregular muscular action. The muscular exercises recommended under the above title are such as are calculated to cure deformities of the figure, whilst they tend at the same time to invigorate the system, and conduce to elegant deportment; thus combining the valuable qualities of a remedy with an agreeable vocation. A series of exercises, called from their results Calisthenic,* has been introduced under the patronage of the Duchess of Wellington and Lady Noel Byron, by Miss Marian Mason, in GeorgeStreet, Hanover Square. They have met with the approbation of Sir Astley Cooper, Messrs. Brodie, Travers, and other leading members of the profession, who have been present during their performance. These exercises are carefully accommodated to the delicate organization of the female sex, and to the peculiar circumstances of the individual; and though they have been established only a few months, they have proved very beneficial to pupils.New Monthly Magazine. From the London Med. and Phys. Journal. DROPSY. Case of Dropsy, in which large Doses of Kino appeared to be of essential Service. Communicated by Dr. PAUL, of Elgin, in a Letter to Sir JAMES M'GRIGOR. WHEN I did myself the honor of writing to you in February relative to your friend Colonel Gof the Royal African Corps, I mentioned that, as the remedies usually employed in the disease under which he labored had en * A term derived from two Greek words, signifying beauty and strength. tirely failed, we had adopted a plan of treatment founded on a principle very different from that on which the cure is generally conducted; the result of which I promised to lay before you. I would have done so long ere this time, if you had not had an opportunity of seeing the Colonel in London, and of knowing everything from himself, as I thought, which was worthy of being communicated. Colonel G-, however, assures me that he could only give you a very imperfect idea of his case; and, as you felt an interest in knowing what had been of use to him, and expressed some astonishment on hearing his own account of it, he is particularly anxious that I should give you a more circumstantial one. The Colonel, as you know, returned to Elgin in October, 1825, from the coast of Africa, where his health had suffered much from repeated attacks of fever. At that time emaciation had made alarming progress. He had constant irritative fever; pulse varying from 110 to 120; features very sharp, I may almost say hippocratic; great prostration of strength; abdomen tumid, eviable tenderness on pressure over dently containing fluid; considerthe hepatic region; anasarca of in the morning; great irregularity the feet and ankles; perspirations of the bowels; for the most part they were too open, but the discharges were not always fluid; he made about the usual quantity of urine, it was of a dark brown color. tities of the ointment, with the view of restoring healthy action in the liver, and also of promoting the absorption of the effused fluid. Strict attention was paid to the bowels, both to carry off vitiated secretions and to quiet irritability. Powerful frictions over the abdomen and along the spine, with the hand and fleshbrush, using a stimulating liniment. An attempt was made at the same time to act, if possible, powerfully on the kidneys by diuretics, and the most powerful of this class of medicines were exhibited,-namely, Tinct. Digitalis, Squills, Spiritus theris Nitrici, Acet. Potassæ, &c. variously combined. Broomtops were thought of, but there appeared to be too great relaxation of the system, and of the intestines in particular, for their ex hibition. : We persevered in the manner now specified till the 26th of December, when he had become worse in every respect the fluid in the belly had accumulated so much, that it was quite impossible to think of affording relief but by tapping. Your friend Dr. SKENE, who saw him at this time, concurred in the propriety of having the fluid drawn off, giving at the same time a very unfavorable prognosis. On the 26th of December he was tapped, and eighteen pints of fluid drawn off. The diuretics were again administered with the most scrupulous attention. The mercury was discontinued on account of increasing debility. The pain in the side on pressure was still complained of. The diuretics disturbed the stomach exceeding ly, and had no effect on the urinary secretion. The water accumulated again very rapidly in the belly, and his ankles were much swelled. He appeared now to be in the most imminent peril; indeed, so great was the prostration of strength, that we were afraid that tapping might bring on fatal syncope. It was, however, done on the 24th of January; taking the precaution of stopping the discharge seven or eight times, and giving wine: sixteen pints were discharged. During the time it was flowing, he complained a good deal of uneasiness about the right side of the thorax. For several hours after the operation, he appeared to be so exhausted that he could not be removed from the sofa. For two or three days we were afraid that he was sinking. His strength again began to rally; the fluid in the belly accumulated as rapidly as ever. The diuretics having been fully tried, and without producing the least effect, it was thought useless to continue them longer, particularly as they disturbed the stomach. It occurred to me that some advantage might be derived from acting on the following principle; to prevent, if possible, the further accumulation of the fluid, and to trust solely to the natural actions of the body for the absorption of what was effused. On the 3d of February, the Tincture of Kino was prescribed, and port wine substituted for sherry. For the first few days, he took four drachms of the tincture daily in divided doses, in port wine; and then he took daily one ounce, and fully half a bottle of port, till the 1st of April; and since that time he has taken one ounce only in the three days. When he began to take the kino he was nearly as full as before tapping; after taking it for eight |