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Litebatube , though more inactive than usual even at this " dull season , " has , nevertheless , some agreeable prospects . Meanwhile cholera forms the great topic of conversation , and almost rivals hotel charges in epistolary inspiration of the puhlic press . Every one who has a remedy to propound , propounds it as a panacea . We may take occasion to give the simple rationale of one of those remedial means
almost universally prescribed , namely , warmth . It has long been known that sudden lowering of the temperature to a certain degree , causes death in all mammalia . It is also known that in cases of poisoning there is a remarkahle lowering of . the temperature . Connecting these facts with the known diminution of temperature resulting from wounds , from diarrhoea , from cholera , &c , it occurred to the celebrated , physiologist , M . Brown Sequard , that diminution of temperature was in all these cases the proximate cause of death . He tested this hypothesis by experiment , and in the first vol .
of Les Memoires de la Soctete de Biologie , p . 102 , the reader will find a communication he addressed to the society in July , 1849 . We give briefly his results . He found that a dose of poison , which would , under ordinary circumstances , destroy an animal , was ineffectual , if the animal ' s normal temperature could be maintained . Thus , a dose given to an animal , kept in an atmosphere of from eight to ten degrees centigrade ( 46 to 50 deg . Fahrenheit ) , destroyed it , in periods varying from 4 to 48 hours . But a similar dose , given to a similar animal , whose temperature was maintained by keeping it in an atmosphere of 28 to 30 deg . centigrade ( 82 to 86 Fahrenheit ) did not take effect . The animal survived .
Not only did diminution of temperature in these cases , appear the proximate cause of death , —temperature being the only condition which was varied in the experiments , —but M . Brown Sequard proved it in another way . It had repeatedly been shown , by Majendie Breschet and others , that animals entirely covered with coatings of oil or varnish , which prevented transpiration , were invariably killed poisoned , as it was supposed , by the substance eliminated from the blood , which could no longer pass away through the skin . Now M ^ Brown Sequard performed this experiment , varying the condition of temperature ; and he found that , when kept in an atmosphere of 82 cleg . Fahrenheit , they invariably survived . These experiments demonstrate the fact , that the diminution of temperature resulting from
poisons and many other disturbances of the system , is tho proximate cause of death . The reader therefore will understand the indispensable necessity of attending to the maintenance of temperature , on the very first symptoms of cholera . The physician will tell him to do so ; we have told him why .
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Wo were thought somewhat irreverent in speaking recently of tho British Association as a reunion for twaddle and gossip , redeemed from utter frivolity by streaks of seriousness . That a great deal of sorious and very interesting discussion takes place , it wore idlo to doubt ; but in tho sections that wo look to with most interest , wo arc painfully struck with tho poverty and laborious frivolity often displayed . In tho last report , for instance , thoro occurs this spociinon : " On a curioua Exemplification of Instinct in Birds , " by tho Rov . F . F . Statham . —Tho author commenced stating that lua communication partook more of tho nature of an anecdote than of any elaborate disquisition , —but that ho
apprehended that a great portion of tho science of Natural History consisted in tho careful collation of mich anecdotes , with the inferences to which they naturally led . Ho mado some references to the theory of tho facial angle , as indicativo of the amount of sagacity observable in tho animal race—but expressed his conviction that this theory was utterly at fault in tho case of birds : many of those having a very acuto facial angle being considerably more intelligent than othora having noarcoly any facial angle at all . Sizo also seemed to present another anomaly between tho two races of beasts and birda—for while the elephant and tho horno were among tho moat distinguished of quadrupeds for sagnoity aud
instinct , tho largor birds Keemed scarcely comparable to tho nmaller onon In the possession of these attributed . Tho writer instanced thin by comparing tho ostric h and the goose with tho wren , the robin , tho canary , tho pigeon , and tho crow ; and mado Homo amusing allusions to tho holding of parliaments or convocations by birdfj of tho last species , while tho ostrich is characterized in Scripture aH the typo of folly . Tho author then proceeded to describo in detail the particular case of instinct which formed the burden of his papor . It roforred to the poisoning of two young blackbirds by the parent birda when they found that they could neither liborato them nor permanently uharo thoir captivit y . The two Jlodgelinga had . been
taken from a blackbird ' s nest in the garden of S . Swonnell , Esq ., of Snrrey-square j London , and had been placed in a room overlooking the garden in a wicker cage . I For some time the old birds attended to their wants , visited them regularly , and fed them with appropriate food ; but at last , getting wearied of the task , or despairing of effecting their liberation , they appear to have poisoned them . They were both found suddenly dead one morning shortly after having been seen in good health : and on opening their bodies , a small leaf—supposed to be that of Solanum nigrum—was found in the stomach of each . The old birds immediately deserted the spot , as though aware of the nefarious deed . befitting their name . " We are told that the reading of this paper " led to the notice of several instances of instinct amongst animals ; " but we are not told that any one present rose up to protest , in the name of zoology and common sense , against so preposterous and far-fetched an explanation . The facts are , that the blackbirds fed their young , and that one morning these birds were found poisoned ; and upon such a slight basis as this , we are asked to believe—] st , that the parent birds had such high republican sentiments , that they thought death preferable to imperfect liberty , and , Brutus like , destroyed their offspring for a principle ; 2 nd , that they knew the poisoning properties of the deadly nightshade ; and 3 rd , that aware of the imperfect republicanism of " S . Swonnell , Esq ., of Surrey-square , London , " which would induce him to look upon such ornithocide as criminal—or , to quote the reverend and learned reporter , " as though aware of the nefarious deed befitting their name , " - —the old birds immediately deserted the spot ! Surely a simpler explanation would be , that they poisoned their fledgelings by mistake ; and their own disappearance would be caused by their having poisoned themselves at the same time ? At any rate , the explanation offered , and tacitly accepted hymen calling themselves men of science , is worthy of a passing comment . Among the remarks which this anecdote drew forth . there " is one so eminent in absurdity , that we paused in incredulity , and were slovr to believe it possible that any one could utter such remarks in such a place , and not be called to order : — " Dr . Redfern drew attention to the distinction to be mads between instinct , intelligence , and reason . Instinctive actions were dependent on the nerves intelligence on the brain , but that which constituted the peculiar qualities of the mind of man had no material organ . " This sentence is very remarkable . Instinctive actions being dependent on the nerves is a novelty as great in physiology as in psychology . And on what nerves does Dr . Redfern think instinct is dependent ? On the solar plexus ? on the pneumo-gastric ? or the glosso-pharygeal ? Instinct dependent on tho nerves ! What charming precision in a man who draws attention to the distinction between instinct , intelligence , and reason ! Not satisfied with this novelty , Dr . Redfern tells us that intelligence is dependent on the brain ; but he makes a distinction between intelligence and mind , and tells us that the mind has no material organ , for which fact wo ou ^ ht to be grateful , it being so entirely novel . Many men believe that the mind uses the brain as its organ , but wo do not remember even tho most rabid immaterialist maintaining that tho mind had mo material organ . In short , whon we read such reports as theso , wo ccaao to wonder at tho low state of biology in this country !
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POPE AND THK 18 m OKNTURY . The Poetical Works of Alexander 1 ' opc . Edited by Unhurt Cnrriitlim . Illustrated 1 , 3- j ) or traits and originul designs . In lour volume . Vol . I . Iiigmm , Cook . ; , and Co Tins promises to be both a cheap and excellent edition of tho works of oiu great Satirist . It is designed to occupy " a middle place between tho expensive and elaborate editions of Warton , Bowlos , and Roscoo , and those ordinary reprints in which no attempt is made to illustrate tho fcoxft , and from which most of tho author's own notes are excluded . " Tho volume now published contains tho life of Pope , by tho editor , Mr . Robert Carruthers ; its careful compilation , impartiality , and literary nun-it , gives ua every hope of finding in him an accomplished editor .
In reading over this Life we are again struck with tho painful-picture Literature presented during tho wholo of tho I nth century . With abundan t cleverness , there was an utter want of chivalry , a want of that delicacy of sentiment , earnestness of purpose , candour , and high nobility of tone , which is at any rato the ideal of our own period , as it notoriously was of tho 17 th century . When these liith century authors are not distinctively blackguards , thoy arc painfully and deliberately mean , spiteful , slanderous , reckless , and unfjcntlemanly . Tho way they lampoon each other from reckless lovo of mischief , or from irritability oxnspcmtod into malignity by tho most trivial offences—tho dirt and personality in which thoy indulge tho cowardly frauds under which thoy endeavour to shield thomaolvos their indelicacy , which ia not at all voluptuous , Imt purely indecent—and the low
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Critics are riot , tn > 5 legislators , bu . t fclae judges and police of literature . / They do not make laws—they interpret " and try to . enforce them—Edinburgh Roview . . '
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October . 1 , 1853 . ] . THE LEAD EB , 353
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Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 1, 1853, page 953, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2006/page/17/
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