tention to foreign languages appears a singular engagement for a man of fifty, overloaded with other concerns. But we may readily conceive that the interest which he felt in the religious advancement of the people whom he had recently visited, may have suggested an apprehension that he might find it his duty to travel through those countries again; and the experience already attained could not fail to impress the importance of acquiring sufficient knowledge of their languages to dispense with the assistance of an interpreter.

Permit me to offer a few remarks in reply to those of your correspondent T., and here, as far On meeting his brother and only child, who as I am concerned, the discussion ends. He came to Rochester to meet him, he remarks:- does not claim any experience, derived from per"Our hearts were filled with humble gratitude, sonal observation, in the question at issue; my and with the blessed Saviour's peace; my mind own, I grant, has been very limited, but, as far was bowed in thankfulness to the Father of as it goes, I will state it. I have seen the ether mercies, who had so signally supported and pre-administered on twenty different occasions, inserved me in this arduous engagement, and was restoring me to all that was dearest to me in life. I surrendered up all into His hands, and he has returned it to me again with interest."

fessors Syme and Simpson and Dr. Duncan are | ration he was rapidly recovering, without a sinnow employing the ether with great success.- gle unpleasant symptom. Dr. Ranking, in his last Half Yearly Abstract, (the first six months of the present year,) states that he has noted "upwards of one hundred cases in which the inhalation had been followed by the most perfect success; and these cases occurred in London and Edinburgh."

"Dr. Ranking also quotes a table of M. Bourguieres, a French writer, of two hundred and eleven operations performed in the French Hospitals, in which ether had been administered; and, according to this author, the comparative mortality of the different classes of operations, with and without ether, shows a gain in favour of those where the ether has been used."+

These results are strictly statistical, and published by authority, with all the necessary details.

The same surgeon, at nearly the same time and place, removed a large tumour of the mammary gland, while the patient was under the effects of ether, and the results have in all respects proved as satisfactory as in the preceding instances. We have been permitted to refer to these cases, in advance of their publication in a medical journal, because they embody strong additional evidence in favour of the ether.

Now, as respects the unfavourable results of ether in isolated cases, let us ask what active medicine could sustain itself, if judged by its exceptions? Where, for example, would opium have been at this time? I have seen persons killed by opium; others deranged and demoralised by its use. I have seen a child die from the effects of laudanum applied over the stomach The first employment of ether in Vienna oc- by a nurse to allay pain; I have seen persons casioned apprehensions of its safety, and Dr. to whom, in the smallest doses, it was a poison; Schuh, one of the first surgeons of that city, af- and one instance in which the mere application ter several trials, abandoned it. His mode of of it to the temples produced speedy nausea and administration, however, was probably faulty; vomiting. Nay, more, have we not known opium for the subsequent experience of the other sur- to demoralise a nation of people, and involve geons of that city has been altogether favourable that nation in a sanguinary war with a Euto the ether; several hundred cases have been ropean power? Witness the recent conflict beoperated on, and Dr. Schuh has himself resumed tween China and Great Britain-the opium war. its use. Again, Dr. Gibson, the distinguished If the moral of the question is to be discussed, Professor of Surgery in the University of Penn- let it be done, in respect to ether, with candour sylvania, has recently returned from a profes- and justice; and I think the letheon will be as sional visit to Europe, and stated, in my hearing, likely to retain its place in public and professionthat he had seen several hundred operations on al estimation, as any agent of its class in the etherized patients, and that they were uniform-materia medica. ly successful.

As to the success of the practice in this country, it is only necessary to turn to the pages of any unbiassed medical journal, or to inquire of any surgeon, or physician, or dentist, who has given practical attention to it, to obtain ample evidence in its favour. The experience of Drs. Gibson, Horner, Mütter and Pancoast, is already before the public; and to these names we may add that of Dr. John M'Clellan, who has employed the ether on many occasions with the most gratifying results. He was lately called to visit, in Luzerne county, in this state, a boy of nine years of age, who, for seven years of his life, had been a martyr to calculus. Dr. M. provided himself with one of Ropers' inhalers, and a bottle of rectified ether; he performed the operation of lithotomy, by what surgeons call the lateral method; and although the operation, (owing to the enormous size of the calculus, which nearly filled the containing organ, and had to be removed in fragments,) lasted thirty minutes, the patient neither felt nor expressed any sensations of pain at the time, nor has he since suffered any constitutional shock. Eighteen days after the ope

I quote these and some other statements from an able Report made by Dr. Isaac Parrish, of this city, to the Philadelphia College of Physicians, November 2, † Ibid. + Ibid.

1847.

M.

From the Spirit and Manners of the Age.

AN ANGEL VISIT.

On the evening of one thirty-first of December, I had been cherishing the humiliating and solemn reflections which are peculiarly suitable to the close of the year, and endeavouring to bring my mind to that view of the past, best calculated to influence the future. I had attempted to recall the prominent incidents of the twelve months which had elapsed; and in this endeavour I was led frequently to regret how little my memory could retain even of that which was most important to be remembered. I could not avoid, at such a period, looking forwards as well as backwards, and anticipating that fearful tribunal at which no occurrence shall be forgotten;whilst my imagination penetrated into the distant destinies which shall be dependant on its decisions. At my usual hour I retired to rest, but the train of meditation I had pursued was so important and appropriate, that imagination continued it after sense had slumbered. "In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon man," I was mentally concerned in the following scene of interest.

I imagined myself still adding, link after link, to the chain of reflection, the progress of which the time for repose had interrupted; and whilst

thus engaged I was aware that there remained | me." I was conscience stricken. In another but a few moments to complete the day. I part of the record, I read the title "Duties Perheard the clock as it tolled the knell of another year, and as it rung slowly the appointed number, each note was followed by a sting of conscience, bitterly reproaching me for my neglect of precious time. The last stroke was ringing in my ears-painful as the groan announcing the departure of a valuable friend-when, notwithstanding the meditative posture in which I was sitting, I perceived that the dimness of the apartment suddenly became brighter; and on lifting my eyes to discover the cause, I was terrified at discovering that another being was with me in my seclusion. I saw one before me whose form indeed was human; but the dazzling splendor that beamed forth from every part of his beautifully proportioned form, convinced me at a glance, that it was no mortal being that I saw. Under one arm he bore two volumes; in his hand he held a pen. I instantly knew the recording angel. With a trembling which convulsed my frame, I heard his voice. "Mortal," he said, "thou wast longing to recall the events of the past year-thou art permitted to gaze upon the record of this book. Peruse and be wise." As he spoke thus, he opened before me one of the volumes which he had brought.

In fearful apprehension, I read in it my own name, and recognized the history of my own life during the past year, with all its minutest particulars. Burning words were those which that volume contained: all the actions and circumstances of my life were registered in that dreadful book, each under its respective head. I was first struck with the title of " Mercies received." Some were there, the remembrance of which I had retained-more which were recalled, after having been forgotten-but the far greater number had never been noticed at all. Oh! what a detail of preservations, and deliverances, and invitations and warnings, and privileges, and bestowments! In observing the recapitulation, I could not but be struck with one circumstance-it was, that many dispensations which I had considered as calamities, were enumerated here as blessings. Many a wo which had riven the heart-many a cup whose bitterness seemed to designate it as poison, was there verifying the language of the poet:

"E'en crosses from his sovereign hand, are blessings in disguise."

Another catalogue was there-it was the enumeration of "Transgressions." My hand trembles as I remember them! What an immense variety of classes! My supernatural visitant here addressed me-"Dost thou observe how small a proportion thy sins of commission bear to those of omission?' As he spoke he pointed me to instances in the page like the following: "I was hungry and thou gavest me no meat"-"I was thirsty and thou gavest me no drink"-"I was sick and thou didst not visit

formed." Alas! how small was their number!
Humble as I had been accustomed to think the
estimate of my good works, I was greatly disap-
pointed to perceive that many performances on
which I had looked with pride, were omitted,
" because," my visitor informed me, "the mo-
tive was impure." It was, however, with feel-
ings of the most affecting gratification, I read be-
neath this record, small as it was, the following
passage: "Whosoever shall give a cup of cold
water only in the name of a disciple, he shall in
no wise lose his reward." Whilst I gazed on
many other similar records, such was the intense
feeling which seemed to be awakened within me,
that my brain grew dizzy, and my eye became
dim. I was awakened from this state by the
touch of my supernatural instructor, who pointed
me to the volume in which I had read my own
terrible history, now closed, and bearing a seal,
on which I read the inscription: "Reserved un-
til the day of judgment." "And now," said
the angel, "my commission is completed."-
Thou hast been permitted what was never grant-
ed to man before. What thinkest thou of the
record? Dost thou not justly tremble? How
many a line is here, which, 'dying, thou couldst
wish to blot?' I see thee already shuddering
at the thought of the disclosure of this volume
at the day of judgment, when an assembled world
shall listen to its contents. But if such be the
record of one year, what must be the guilt of thy
whole life? Seek, then, an interest in the blood
of Christ, justified by which, thou shalt indeed
hear, but not to condemnation. Pray, that when
the other books are opened, thy name may be
found in the book of life. And see, the volume
prepared for the history of another year: yet
its page is unsullied. Time is before thee-seek
to improve it; privileges are before thee-may
they prove the gate of heaven! Judgment is
before thee-prepare to meet thy God." He
turned to depart, and as I seemed to hear the
rustling which announced his flight, I awoke.
Was it all a dream?

"Whatever passes as a cloud between
The mental eye of faith and things unseen,
Causing that brighter world to disappear,
Or seem less lovely, or its hope less dear;
This is our world, our idol, though it bear
Affection's impress, or devotion's air."

EMBALMING THE DEAD.-The practice of embalming the bodies of the dead, so prevalent among the ancient Egyptians, arose more from necessity than choice, and, like many other customs of the land, may have been identified by the priests with the national religion, in order to ensure its continuance. The rites of sepulture in Egypt, grew out of circumstances, according to Champollion, peculiar to that country. The scarcity of fuel precluded the use of the funeral

pile; and the sands of the desert afforded no pro- | the churches in America, but thy husband has tection from outrage by wild beasts-while the regular inundations of the valley forbade it to be used as a charnel house, under penalty of pestilence to the living. Hence grew the use of antiseptic substances, in which the nation became so skilled as to render the bodies of their dead inaccessible to the ordinary process of decay.Frost's Pictorial History of the World.

Having a meeting at Scarborough the next day, John Richardson stayed with him, and said he had good service. He also went with him to several Friends' houses there; and he frequently spoke his sense of the state of the families but as they were near entering one house, Peter stopped, and said, "my master is not there -I will not go in :" so they turned away. Being about to part, he queried with John if the small pox was in any town on his way. John replied, "why? Peter, what hast thou to do with that?” He answered, "I am satisfied I shall die of that distemper; and my Master told me to make speed in this visit, for I had but a short time to do it in ;" repeating his promise of giving him hind's feet. John felt himself much affected; and, considering his mean appearance, asked how he was prepared for money, telling him his journey was long, it being expensive travelling in Scotland, Friends being so thin. Peter answered, "I have enough: my master told me I should not want; and now a bit of bread, and some water from a brook, refresh me as much as a set meal at a table." But John insisted to see how much money he had: it was but two half-crowns. He felt an immediate impulse to tender him some money; and, putting his hand into his pocket, took out a number of small pieces, which Peter modestly refused, saying he doubted not his Master's provision. John forced him to take it; telling him it was as free to him as his own; for so the Lord had put it into his heart. Thus they parted.

about the seventh day. He was quite sensible to the last; and in a remarkable manner was given to know the inward states of those that came to see him. And further, the money which John Richardson had handed to him, actually lasted out so as to defray the expenses of his interment and other charges incurred there.— Diary of Alexander Jaffray.

APPLES OF SODOM.

One of the first objects which attracted our notice on arriving at Ani Jidy, was a tree with singular fruit; which, without knowing at the moment whether it had been observed by former travellers or not, instantly suggested to our minds the far-famed fruits "Which grew

Near that bituminous lake where Sodom stood." This was the Osher of the Arabs, the Asclepias gigantea vel procera of botanists, which is found in abundance in Upper Egypt and Nubia, and also in Arabia Felix; but seems to be confined in Palestine to the borders of the Dead Sea. We saw it only at Ani Jidy; Hasselquist found it in the desert between Jericho and the northern shore; and Irby and Mangles met with it of a large size at the south end of the sea, and on the isthmus of the peninsula. We saw here several trees of the kind, the trunks of which were six or eight inches in diameter; and the whole height from ten to fifteen feet. It has a grayish cork-like bark, with long oval leaves; and in its general appearance and character, it might be taken for a gigantic perennial species of the milk-weed or silk-weed, found in the northern parts of the American States. Its leaves and flowers are very similar to those of the latter plant; and when broken off, it in like manner discharges copiously a milky fluid. The fruit greatly resembles externally a large smooth apple or orange, hanging in clusters of three or four together, and when ripe is of a yellow colour. It was now fair and delicious to the eye, and soft to the touch; but, on being pressed or struck, it explodes with a puff-ball, leaving in the hand only the shreds of the thin rind and a few fibres. It is, indeed, filled chiefly with air, like a bladder, which gives it the round form; while in the centre a small slender pod runs through it John Richardson further related, that after from the stem, and is connected by thin filasome time, he heard that Peter Gardner had died ments with the rind. The pod contains a small in Cumberland, on his return from Scotland; quantity of fine silk with seeds: precisely like and being attached to him in near affection, the pod of the silk weed, though very much went to inquire how he ended. John Bowstead, smaller-being, indeed, scarcely the tenth part as a Friend near Carlisle, gave account that Peter large. The Arabs collect the silk and twist it had been through Scotland, and came to Carlisle; into matches for their guns, preferring it to the the small-pox being there, he took the infection common match because it requires no sulphur to very suddenly, and lay ill with it. So John render it combustible. The most definite acBowstead went just as the pock was coming out count we have of the apples of Sodom, so called, upon him, and took him to his own house; is in Josephus, who, as a native of the country, they did not come out kindly, but swelled him is a better authority than Tacitus or other foreign very much, so that he was blind, and died writers. After speaking of the conflagration of

In about two weeks after, the man's wife, before mentioned, died, as Peter had foretold. At that time, the same man had three ships at sea; his son was master of one, his second son was on board another; and, in their voyages, they were all wrecked or foundered, and their cargoes chiefly lost; his two sons and several of the hands being drowned. So that, from considerable affluence, he was soon after reduced so low as to be maintained by Friends, though he had been in good circumstances, if not very rich, before those unexpected losses, at sea and land, in houses and children had befallen him. The woman, at whose house Peter was so uneasy at Scarborough, had put her husband to bed in a state of intoxication; which John Richardson had not known him guilty of before.