give Fridel his violin, who, receiving it with a secret | in the mouths of the people. So well did he contrive, feeling of joy, began to draw the bow across the that he escaped many threatened dangers, and strings; immediately all the children and those around attained to a good old age. On his death, the strings the scaffold began to dance. The executioner him- of his violin suddenly distended; they endeavoured self exclaimed, "I cannot resist it any longer, I must to remount them, but they could never be properly dance also," and began dancing on the platform of the adjusted; and besides, the sound part of the instruscaffold. ment was gone, and when one attempted to play on it, no sound was produced-all was still! D.H. C.

Then the mayor, after casting a glance at the assembly and perceiving that even the constable had mingled with the dancers, having placed the gun of the condemned behind the ladder that he might trip it with more ease, and seeing that everybody around was in motion, exclaimed,

"Since everybody dances, why should not I?" so saying, he began to skip and jump with everybody else. The monk, observing this, cried out, "I should like a dance, too," and immediately mixed among the moving mass; but he was soon tired out, being too encumbered with fat for such an exercise. Addressing the mayor, "For goodness sake," exclaimed he, "your worship, order him to stop! It is a disgrace to us thus to dance, mixed and confounded with the populace. Did the steward not warn you? he knew what would happen!"

But the judge, who had taken a liking to the amusement, and who was becoming more and more inspirited, contented himself with replying, "Dance on, my reverend sir-dance on; I have no desire to give over yet; the air is much too lively and sprightly."

THE NEW ANESTHETIC AGENT. Our notice of this highly important discovery will be best prefaced by the definition of the very expressive, but less euphonious adjective at the head of this article, " Anæsthetic." It is a term borrowed from the Greek, that tongue more wealthy than our own, and signifies "rendering insensible." From this explanation it will be easy to conjecture what is to be the nature of the subsequent remarks. A few months since we had the satisfaction of introducing to the notice of our readers that inestimable gift of science to humanity—the painless system of operations. In these cases, ether only, of a pure description, was the pain-annulling agent, and as such it has already acquired a world-wide reputation, in the most literal acceptation of the expression, operations under its influence having been performed in some of the

"Yes, is it not?" remarked Fridel. "And now, to vary your pleasure, I will give you a jig. You know it, Sir Steward,-do you not? It is a nice dance! Is it not,-eh? Come, confess!" So say-remotest corners of the earth. By one of those ing, he began the jig.

The surrounding crowd, with constable, mayor, steward, monk, women, men, children, executioner and assistants, all commenced immediately to dance one with another, so that there was nothing but a pell-mell around and on the scaffold, and a clapping of hands as in the "Macabre," but a thousand times more loud and eager than the famous "Ronde du Sabbot;' many were hurraing and hallooing, and never was so much gaiety seen at an execution.

Our little fellow, intended for the gallows, had no inclination to have his throat tickled with a thick, ugly, rough rope, nor his body made to dance at an inconvenient height from the ground, therefore, leisurely descending the scaffold, still playing the lively jig, he took his famous gun, which he put under his arm, opened a passage through the dancing crowd, and retreated as fast as possible.

sudden revolutions which shake the dominion of
medicines as well as that of empires, ether, before
the knowledge thereof can reach the distant boundaries
of its kingdom, will probably have been dethroned,
and its high position occupied by another anæsthetic
power, chloroform. This was one of the results we
confess ourselves to have anticipated from the revival
of the long-neglected, much-despised department of
medicine, Pneumatic Chemistry. Ether was by no
means perfect as a remedy, yet in its time we hailed
it as the most precious boon yet bestowed
fering mankind. Much was, therefore, to be expected
from the newly-directed investigations of the acute
intellect of our time; and, we believe, much may
still be anticipated from the same source, much in the
treatment, alleviation, or cure of human maladies.

upon

suf

The mayor, monk, steward, policeman, executioner, old and young, men, women, and children, followed him Our subject belongs in strictness to the science of dancing, all infected with the dancing mania, which medicine. But the great question it has solved, being did not leave them till, worn out, they fell on the one in which the whole world, generally and indiground incapable of movement. The fat steward was vidually, claims a deep interest, the partial annihilathe first to fall, puffing and blowing like a whale, for tion of suffering, we deem an apology for noticing it he had danced his uttermost; next, the mayor; in our pages both superfluous and impertinent. We then, heavily, the constable; then the hangman; owe the valuable discovery we have thus announced then a couple of children here, another there, and so The little Fridel still played on, and still men, to Professor J. Y. Simpson of Edinburgh. It appears women, and children, were falling down from exhaus-that ever since he saw etherization put into successful tion, and at last the dance ceased for want of dancers. When the urchin saw them lying on the ground, he burst out laughing. "Ah!" exclaimed he, "it is to my good violin that I owe my life!"

on.

He visited other towns and villages, amassing large sums of money with his violin, and playing such amusing tricks that from one end of the country to the other, nothing else but Fridel and his violin were

practice, Professor Simpson was deeply impressed with the conviction that other remedial agents of equal, if not of greater efficacy, were in reserve for the culti vator of this branch of the science. With this view

several experiments were instituted during the course of the summer and autumn upon the effects of ethereal tinctures. More recently, in order to avoid

if possible some of the inconveniences attending the | ficially by the decomposition of the alcohol, but it is exhibition of ether vapour, the inhalation of other identical with that which is the theoretical radical of volatile fluids was commenced, the principal object of the acid of ants, or formic acid. It is hoped this search being the discovery of a more agreeable liquid succinct statement will be readily comprehended, but, than that. Many were thus inhaled with various believing as we do that this is the kind of knowledge effects, until at length, at the suggestion of a chemical most valuable in a scientific communication, though friend, the chloroform, or perchloride of formyle, was the mastery of it may prove a little distasteful, we tried, the great desideratum was discovered, and in make no excuse for its introduction. As thus obthat day, we speak without hyperbole, when we say tained it is, when pure, a heavy, colourless, transthat we believe the ethereal kingdom was moved to parent liquid, possessing a very agreeable ethereal, its very centre. The news rapidly spread, experiments, fruit-like odour, somewhat like that of apples, and a which were easy of performance, were instituted with pleasant saccharine taste. It readily evaporates, boilavidity, and in every case within our knowledge were ing at 141° of Fahrenheit's thermometer. It is next attended with success; and amid these triumphant to uninflammable, and this is an advantage which the victories over pain, neither ordinary nor unvaried, Professor appears to have overlooked, as there was chloroform began its career. always a great risk attending the employment of so highly combustible a liquid as ether in large quantities. A bottle upset, and an accidental light falling upon the spilled fluid, would fill an apartment with a sea of fire. No such consequences would attach to a similar misfortune with chloroform. Such are the chemical and physical properties of this extraordinary fluid.

In reference to the subject of anæsthetic agents generally, Professor Simpson makes the following observation, which goes to demonstrate that while we extensively may employ the substance, yet we are ignorant of the manner in which its valued effects are produced. "It is now well ascertained that three compound chemical bodies possess, when inhaled

Although new in its application, chloroform is by no means a new substance. It was discovered separately, yet about the same time, by the eminent chemists Liebig and Soubeiran, about sixteen years ago, and it underwent a careful examination in 1835 at the hands of Professor Dumas, who we may mention was present at the operations and witnessed with evident delight the application to the noblest purpose of a substance which he had hitherto regarded only with the eyes of a chemist. "It is, perhaps, not unworthy of remark," writes Professor Simpson, "that when Soubeiran, Liebig, and Dumas, engaged a few years back in those inquiries and experiments by which the formation and composition of chloro-into the lungs, the power of superinducing a state of form was first discovered, their sole and only object was the investigation of a point in philosophical chemistry. They laboured for the pure love and extension of knowledge. They had no idea that the substance to which they called the attention of their chemical brethren could or would be turned to any practical purpose, or that it possessed any physiological or therepeutic effects upon the animal economy. I mention this to show that the cui bono argument against philosophical investigations, on the ground that there may be at first no apparent practical benefit to be derived from them, has been amply refuted in this, as it has been in many other instances." This substance has been also used medically, but in minute doses, for the relief of asthma. Its inhalation, its crowning application, is due entirely to Professor Simpson. At the risk of employing one or two chemical terms, we will shortly mention the manner in which this interesting fluid is formed.

The stinging sensation produced by ants has been attributed to the presence of a peculiar acid in the liquid injected into the wound, called "formic acid." Formyle is what is termed the hypothetical radical of this acid of ants. When formyle unites with chlorine gas it forms a chloride, of which there are several; and the highest of these is the perchloride of formyle, or chloroform, the wonderful agent in question. In practice, it is easily procured by distilling in a capacious retort chloride of lime, water, and pure alcohol together; the chloroform distils over, and after undergoing a few simple processes, is fit for use. In this experiment, formyle is (hypothetically) produced arti

anaesthesia, or insensibility to pain in surgical operations, namely, nitrous oxide," (or "laughing gas,") "sulphuric ether, and perchloride of formyle. These agents are entirely different from each other in their chemical constitution, and hence their elementary composition affords no apparent clue to the explanation of their anaesthetic properties."

In speaking of its physiological powers, the following are the advantages which this agent possesses over sulphuric ether. It is much more powerful; usually a hundred, or a hundred and twenty drops are equal to the production of complete anæsthesia; in some cases, even so minute a portion as thirty drops of this potent fluid has induced insensibility. It is much more rapid and complete in its action; and its effects are more persistent. A few, perhaps twenty, deep inspirations of its magical vapour reduce most persons to a death-like condition, of course only of a temporary character, thus much time is saved, and the preliminary stage of excitement is often altogether avoided. We have, therefore, no such amusing and extraordinary cases to relate, as we adduced in treating of etherization. Chloroform does not impel elderly gentlemen to dance the polka, or young gentlemen to exhibit feats of amateur pugilism, or young ladies to wink at the spectators, nor does it reveal seraphic views of bliss, nor unfold terrorizing scenes of horror, as ether did. It breathes over a man, and he becomes as stone. Besides this very obvious advantage, the odour of chloroform is infinitely more agreeable than the suffocative smell of ether, so that it is inhaled without the smallest repugnance by all

persons. Nor does the odour remain long in the expired air from the lungs, nor exhale for the rest of the day, or for two or three days from the person and clothes, as in the case of ether. And the last, and in our opinion a pre-eminent advantage is that no special inhaling apparatus is requisite. Thus the terrifying and costly array of ether apparatus is swept away at a blow. A hollow sponge or a handkerchief slightly saturated with the fluid is all the apparatus necessary. This is a fact the importance of which cannot be too highly estimated, as at all times medical apparatus of any complication is to be avoided if possible, and cases will arise in which it is impossible to obtain it, as in country practice medical men have often experienced.

nothing. His first act when apparently about half awake, was to clutch up the sponge with which the chloroform was exhibited, and re-adjust it to his mouth, obviously implying that he had found the inhalation of it anything but a disagreeable duty. The third was a young man, who was thrown into an equally insensible state, and on awaking after a severe operation, gratefully declared his entire and perfect freedom from all pain and uneasiness during its performance. It is deserving of remark that the consumption of the chloroform in these three instances did not exceed half an ounce, whereas several ounces of ether would have been required for the production of the same effects, thus demonstrating its greatly superior energies. A young lady was also operated upon, under its influence, and she was as manageable as a wax doll or lay-figure; and declared she had experienced only the most pleasing and agreeable sensations. A large number of operations have been also performed in the metropolis by the late Mr. Liston, Messrs. Lawrence, Ferguson, and others, and in each case with success equally gratifying and complete. Altogether Professor Simpson, to whose "account" of the properties of this agent this article is much indebted, states that he has exhibited it to about fifty individuals, and that in not a single instance has the slightest bad result of any kind occurred from its employment.

It remains for us now to relate several cases in which the powers of this new remedy have been displayed. Professor Simpson has employed it with entire success in obstetric practice, also in the performance of some minor surgical operations. One of these was the case of a dentist, who had formerly had a tooth extracted under the influence of ether, having felt no pain, although perfectly conscious of the operation, wishing the extraction of a second, he inhaled thirty drops of chloroform, in a few seconds he became perfectly insensible, but he was so completely dead, that he was not in the very slightest degree aware of anything that took place. The subsequent stupifying effects disappeared almost We would, in conclusion, while congratulating the immediately, and he was perfectly well, and able medical science upon this invaluable addition to its again for his work in a few minutes. Besides these resources, beg to add a word of caution which we cases, several tumours were removed, abscesses opened, believe to be of some moment. Having thus learned deep, and otherwise painful punctures made, all with the vast powers of this medicine, may we not be the same delightful results. More recently, it was allowed to express a fear of their perversion to evil determined to test the powers of chloroform before a purposes, by the designing, unless some restrictions large concourse of eminent members of the profession, are laid upon it? Let those who prepare it be proamong whom were M. Dumas of Paris, and Dr.hibited from selling it to any but accredited members Milne Edwards, in the Royal Infirmary. The first was a little Gaelic lad, wholly innocent of a word of English. A handkerchief on which some of the liquid had been spilled was held to his face, which rather alarmed him, but being gently held, the vapour soon entranced him, and he fell into a deep stertorous sleep. An incision was then made, and a large portion of one of the bones of the forearm was removed, without the slightest evidence of the suffering of pain. The operation was concluded, and the child carried in a sweet sleep back to his bed. Half an hour after he was found like a child newly awakened from a refreshing sleep, with a clear merry eye, and placid expression of countenance, wholly unlike what is found to obtain after ordinary etherization. A Gaelic interpreter having questioned him, he stated that he had not felt the least pain, and that he felt none then; on being shown his wounded arm, he expressed much surprise.

The next case was that of a soldier, who had previously undergone two minor operations, which he bore very ill, proving unusually unsteady, and bitterly complaining of severe pain. On the present occasion he neither winced nor moaned, and when he returned to consciousness declared that he had felt

of the medical profession, or to dentists. Thus some
check will be placed upon its use, and its newly
awakened energies, instead of serving the purpose of
the malevolent, will be purely directed to the alleviation
of the sufferings of mankind.
R. E.

THE FACTORY SYSTEM.
A FABLE.
F. R.

THE gossamer insect, floating in the air one fine autumn morning, paused to gaze upon the gigantic and symmetric web of the diadem-spider. Thrown from shrub to shrub in a flower-garden, it sparkled with silvery dew-drops in the sunshine.

"Observe," said the queen of weavers, "the perfection of my work, the fineness of the threads, the accuracy of the angles, the correctness of the circles—”

"Methinks," interposed the little aeronaut, "it is sadly disfigured by the quantity of dead and dying that are involved in its meshes."

For the queen of spiders there was no alternative, she must murder to exist. Will the queen of commerce long continue in silence to behold the thousands that perish in order that half-a-dozen great manufacturers may wear coronets in the next generation?

The only instance of the orthography being Kneel down in that shelter, and through the low door decidedly changed, that at present suggests itself to me, occurs in our great Dramatist : "And tailor cries, and falls into a cough,