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HYDROPATHY. Hydropathyr; or, the Natural...
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Recollections of a Visit to the United S...
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a?i . rTi L " Ajbljv v2hI0 • ^ *
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FINE ART IN THE CRYSTAL PALAOP If ever h...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Humble Creatures. Uunible Creatures; The...
nothing more nor less than rudimentary feet to aid the worn in its progress . They nre retractile at the . ' -will of the animal , and operate so as not to impede its on-• ward progress ; but when a portion of its body is once extended , and has penetrated into the soil , they keep it firmly fixed , whilst the remaining part is drawn after it by muscular contraction . As regards the fl v and its mode of walking upon the ceilmg with its feefc upwards , or progressing upon the smooth , vertical pane of the window , the mystery is solved if we examine the foot of a fly under the microscope . At its extremity it is furnished-with a pair of menibranoriS discs , on which there are disposed countless minute suckers , that operate upon the inverted ceiling , or smooth glazed surface over which the fly is marching , in the same manner as does the leather sucker with which boys amuse "" themselves in lifting stones .
The value of the . earth-worm ' as a fertilising ' , agent lias long been admitted , let us see what is the chief use of the humble fly : — Go into the fields and lanes and seek the body of some recently killed animal ; or if you reside near the sea look at the carcase of one of the naany creatures that are cast up by the wave . See -what myriads of maggots are writhing throughout its frame ! Thousands And thousands of these are the maggots of flies , and if you
let urn a few days after your first inspection you will find that they have devoured the whole carcase , save a little skin and the indigestible bones .. The elements of the tissues , instead of decomposing into poisonous and illsavoured compounds , and filling the air with miasma pregnant with pestilential disease and death , at once spring phoenix-like into life again , and in a few days there appears the animated form of the fly , which only an Omnipotent head could have moulded with such rapidity and accurate design .
lhese extracts show tbe pleasant style of the work , free alike from scientific details and phraseology . '; It is a book to be read with equal pleasure both / by the novice and the scientific student , and will make many of the . former desirous of possessing a good Stanhope leas and a student's microscope .
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Hydropathy. Hydropathyr; Or, The Natural...
HYDROPATHY . Hydropathyr ; or , the Natural System of Medical Treatment . By E . W . Lane , M . A ., & IJ > . J . Churchill . The extension of the hydropathic ' system of treatinentis the best evidence of its value as a new element in the science of therapeutics . It was predicted , at the death of "Vincent Priessnitz , that the dispersion of the water-cure establishment at Grafenberg would follow as a matter of course , and the novelty pass away as rapidly as it had been called into existence by its founder . But , fortunately for suffering humanity , hydropathy had
already attracted the attention of educated medical practitioners ; they had looked dispassionately into the principles on -which the new curative process was asserted to vest ; they ha < l discovered , amid much that was erroneous , more that wa 3 sound and conformable to the laws of nature as developed l > y investigation , and with braving that ridicule , which the ignorant and the interested were still disposed to assail it , they lent the influence of their names and their reputation to the new process , which , under sagacious adaptation and scientific investigation , has now taken permanent root , and ranks
among the most powerful means of restoring decayed health and of arresting almost every form of disease . Dr . Lane bestows a warm and welldeserved eulogium on Preissnitz for the daring manner in which he seized hold of a great truth , and reduced an idea to a system which , before , was "without settled rules to guide the practitioner . At -the same time , Dr . Lane does not deny that the want of educational training , the utter absence of -Jf 8 ! 11 ** TOedical knowledge , exposed the LucU wujthal peasant to mistakes of a serious character , wfeiclii a competent knowledge of medical science would have shielded him fronu
The great error of Preissiutz was , that ho held water to be tlie sole curative agent . He had no conception of tlie important action which pure nir change of scene , mental tranquillity , and regulated diet had on the animal economy , or the large share they had in producing those marvellous cures which tool the world so much by surprise , and created so much doubt and opposition in the medical world . Preissnitz laboured under tlio grievous mistake of supposing that water was a " universal solvent , " no matter hov indigestible the food , or Low fearful to a depraved or feeble stomach . Drink but water enough , and sound digestion must ho the result . Hence his Grafenberg diet of black or rye -bread , potatoes , salt-butter , grensy soups , pickled
cucumbers , sour-krout , hard dumplings , and other dietetic abominations which constituted the daily bill of fare at Grafenberg ; and when we add that tobacco was permitted to smokers , -without stint , we . can easily understand how disgust was created in sensitive minds , and how delicate natures shrank from the coarse application of the severities which were characteristic of tlie Grafenberg system . Dr . Lane very justly remarks that " hydropathy " is a misnomer ; but there are difficulties in the way of changing the name -which he conceives outweigh the mischief of the misleading word . Dr . Lane ' s system is based on personal experience , and
on an examination of the practice of others . He combines pure air , sufficient exercise , regulated and by no means sparing diet , with internal and external applications of > yater . j and by adapting these powerful agents to individual cases , succeeds in extirpating incipient disease , and renovating health that may have been impaired by causes which are to be abundantly found in . the structure of everyday life . Dr . Lane does not entirely discard medicine , but he resorts to it as a secondary , never as a primary , agent . A considerable portion of Dr . Lane ' s work is devoted to consumption , and the mitigating and curative '' action of the water system . For gout , rheumatism , dyspepsia , and disorders of a congenial character , we know nothing comparable to judicious treatment on the hydropathic system .
Recollections Of A Visit To The United S...
Recollections of a Visit to the United Slates and British Provinces of North America , in 1817-1 V By Robert Playfair . ( Edinburgh : Constable and Co . ) - —Ten years is an age in tlie history of the United States . The traveller of L 858 would be considerably at a loss to . ' reconcile the description of places given by the traveller of 1847 . \ Ve must therefore regard this look as a picture of what © nee existed , rather than of -what now exists . The author has bean somewhat too communicative of his private affairs ; lie has published rather too much of his domestic diary , 'mid has chronicled many matters that the general public can take but little interest in , especially since so long a time has elapsed . But the book has one excellent quality—it is unprejudiced and truthful , and the author has dune his very best to give tbe . reader all the information iu his power respecting places and peoples he encountered in his three years' rambles .
Household Economy . By Margaret Maria Brewster . ( Edinburgh : Constable and Co . )—Somewhat grave and didactic in tone , but replete with excellent counsel and morality . Young wives may read it-with , advantage . ¦ ' . . "'' ¦ ¦ ¦ ' . ' . ' : ' ' ¦ Midnight Scenes and Social Photographs . ( Glasgow : Murray and Co . )—Thi $ is a week ' s sketches of life in the streets , wynds , and dens of Glasgow ; full of power , full of dreadful truth , and oppressive as a nightmare , from their power and truth . Let the authorities of Glasgow take heed ; let them bestir themselves . If they cunuot exterminate the social cankers in their city they can at least mitigate them .
Ancient Iltstorj , Geography , and Chronology . By T . Slater . ( Longman and Co . )—A ' careful and laborious compendium of the history of ancient times , the purpose of which is to compare the testimony and show the agreement between sacred and profane history . The wide field over which the work ranges is a proof at once of the industry and ability of the author . Mark Wilton , the Merchant ' s Clerk : a Booh for Youmj Men . By the licv . O . B . Taylor , » LA . ( Simpkin and Co . )—The author in his preface says : — I know , not only from your words , but from your character and
conduct , that you . will approve the principle which I have sought to illustrato in the following pages , and agree with me that there arc no principles worthy of the name but godly principles . I have thrown my views on this subject into tlie form of a narrative for two reasons — first , because , if I have any talent to benefit others by my pen , I believe it is rather in this style of writing than in any other ; and secondly , because I am well aware that those whom I am most anxious to servo by this volume would perhaps turn away from tho same lessons in a didactic shape . I have a high aim under-what uuiy seem to some a mere tale of amusement . " This is all
-we shall give tho reader , referring liim to the volume itavlf , iu order that he may satisfy himself of the admirable way in which tho author has worked out his moral . The Photographic Art Journal Illustrated . ( Vra . Lay ) . —The sixth number is now issued to tlio public , and we may consider this novel experiment in illustrated literature a success . The Photoyrujjhic Art Journal has for its object u to pine © tho choicest productions of the
new nrt within tbe reach of all who possess a taste for pictorial worka—portraits , groups from nature , landscaiiuH , scene * of historical ami biographical interest , BtoreograpLs , and architectural subjectu . " As far as the work has proceeded tlie proprietors have well rc < loi ! inud their promise to tho public * . The illustrations Tot tliu AugtiHt numberconsiatof " Madame lUstoii aiul "Windsor Castle , " and so well are the subjects renderod , that we have no doubt whatever this journal will Had a constant place in every drawing-room .
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Fine Art In The Crystal Palaop If Ever H...
FINE ART IN THE CRYSTAL PALAOP If ever human intelligence and commercial en { er pnse combined clearly to provid e a medium wherdn might be tested the interesting progress of human knowledge , that result is more readilj tobe obtB with larger , grander illustration , in the Crystal pXe than hitherto has been produced , either ¦ bV ! £ pressure of necessity or tlie inducements of luxuiV Nothing like it existed through the ages of E < rvn ! 5 n sovereignty , Grecian sway , or Roman suprema ^ . neither in the days of Charlemagne or ih ? 3 SS ! 2 conqueror ; nothing of the kind from tlie PlantSe nets to tho Stuarts , nor from them to the end of the Georgian era . And it is no less remarkable than noteworthy to observe how the material age of nre sent time has achieved that , which the poetical fer " vour of former periods failed to induce
As life is demonstrated by vital energy , manifested through impulsive throbs and pulsation so is mental progress indicated by storms and calms gentle undulations and surging waves . Now "the toe of the peasant Rails the kibe of the courtier , " and the necessities of civilisation have impelled wise and thinking men to study the means of applying the powers of nature to serve mankind , and to mould the organic and inorganic materiel to meet tlie necessities of human life .
At one period we find mankind developing itself in spiritual influences pregnant with poetical imaginings , idealising or embodying the superstitions of the time ; at another , by " patient - search and vigil long , " endeavouring to detect ' the' ¦ secret . springs which move and rule the phenomena that has attracted their '* -obscrrntion . ; The first causes the poetical phase , tlie second the mechanical ; in the combination is ' . ' . found the highest - "development of human intelligence , and--in proportion as it is used so rapid will be" the - ' advancement , of the arts and progression of . .. manufactures . We -. have written thus
much because we believe it to be as ' stfietly applicable to individuals as it is to '" . periods . Tlie pootieheartcd visitor of the Crystal Palace will conjure finest imaginings illustrated by actual embodiments , the ? material philosopher can solve abstract theory by mechanical ' . development , and tlie combiner of both can exclaim with Hamlet , " Wluifc a piece of work is man 3 how noble in reason ! how infinitein faculty !" whilst the " Sir Charles Coldstream" genus , whom " man delights nor woman neither , " will be allowed to maunder through the glorious demesne without let or hindrance , murmuring , " There ' s nothing in it , " never heeding that the " it" is him and not the Palace .
The Crystal Palace directors have-opened anew gallerj' for the display of pictures . Their former gallery was situated on tlie south-east wing , and very admirably calculated for the purpose it was . The present gallery is situated in the first-floor of the western wing , near to the entrance , and is by no means so well adapted for the purposes of exhibition as the former one . Now comes a startling enigma : the first gallery wna seldom ' visited—the lust attracts numbers ! As the mountain would not come to Mahomet , Mahomet was obliged to ro to the mountain . One would fancy , on the first blush of the thin " , that the directors had not used a sound
judgment ; but the result proves that they have exerted , a wise discretion . The obvious solution of this apparent paradox is , thnt the quantity of objects for amusement are too many for casual ' visitor ? , and tlie specific one of pictures not good enough to attract real lovers of painting- That we believe to he the henrt of the whole mystery . Speaking from private impression , we should say , if our readers wish thoroughly to enjoy what tlio directors have laid before them , k « e \> to tlie grounds for physical enjoyment , ami a portion at a time of the Palace for mental . It will have no "divided duty ; " to attempt to "< W tlio whole is , to n thinking mind , most depressing ; by pans , tlio most delightful nml instructive .
As a part , then , we will now ' proceed to ft consideration of the Fino Arts , its requirements and its shortcomings . The first thing , then , required i * a gallery so constructcl that you mi |? lit see tliu pictures on the walls . This is almost impossible with regard to that portion whereon nro liuug the " Old Muster * , " because tlio top li ^ ht is overcome by wu > preponderating amount of liprht that comes by reflexion from tlio side and Hour of the nave anil tfiilleries opposite . The pictures antagonistic to , anil tlie
overcoming , the modified light from above ; consequence is a Blindow on , niul a reflexion in , iho I " '" turo you may bo looking at . Hut , however , as affecting this portion of thu exhibition , it is of »<» great moment—rather an advantn (? i ' , inOi-ed—for , with an oxecption of half a dozen pictures , a moro worthless mass of incompetent ^ production has fleldom been huddled together . There is amongst tliu exceptions a , very fine jm : turo by thnt rare Florentine master , Poiitormo ( Giucomo Carucci da ) , it is well worth the effort of trying to
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 28, 1858, page 876, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/ldr_28081858/page/20/
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