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soap allowed for the week's consumption, as also of tea and sugar. Of the two latter a reasonable quantity is three ounces of tea and three quarters of a pound of loaf-sugar, or one pound of moist, and half a pound of butter. Calculating by this allowance. a pretty correct estimate of what should be the week's expenditure may be made, varying occasionally with circumstances. Regularity and punctuality are paramount qualifications in domestick management.

SURPRISING EFFECTS OF CAMPHOR ON
VEGETABLES.

THE stimulant effects of camphor upon the human and some other animal bodies, are well known ; but those on vegetables are not only new, but astonishing in their nature. A piece of the woody stem of the tulip-tree, with one flower, and two leaves, taken out of a pot of water, containing several other flowers of the same plant, all to appearance in the same state, was placed in eight ounces of water, All orders should be given to servants in as which had been stirred up for some time with one few words as possible, with decision and gentle- scruple of good camphor. In a httle while, an ness, never varying (unless in particular circum- unusually lively appearance became remarkable in stances) or breaking a promise, otherwise they will the flower in the camphor; while the others, though learn to disregard orders and become disrespectful. they had the benefit of a larger quantity of water, It is a good plan always to give the cook a bill of were sensibly drooping. The two leaves first confare when dinner is ordered, to prevent the possi- siderably elevated themselves upon their footstalks, bility of mistakes and omissions, and this may be the flower expanded, more than in a natural state; best done by keeping a small slate hanging in some the stamina orchives receded from the pistillum; appropriate place with a bit of sponge and a pencil and the three leaves of the calix, or flower-cup, were attached to it. When families reside in the country, remarkably reflected back, and grew extremely rigid and have an opportunity of sending to a town only and elastick. The internal surface of the petals of once or twice a week, it is quite necessary to keep the flower perspired considerably, though a similar a good-sized slate in an accessible place, in order perspiration could not be perceived in the flowers of that every member of the family may, when sensi- the same plant in the same room and temperature. ble of a want, make a memorandum of it at once, and The camphorated plant continued in a very invigthus avoid the discomfort of having forgotten some-orated state for two whole days, after which it began thing (perhaps of importance) a few minutes after the messenger is despatched.

A good housewife always keeps a memorandumbook and pencil in her pocket, in case she should meet with any information worth recording.

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In the proper season, potherbs should be gathered in, and the successive crops of camomile flowers, taking care to do it always in dry weather; put them when dry into paper bags to preserve from dust and cobwebs.

When fruit is very plentiful, it may be preserved for winter use by boiling it with a small quantity of sugar for a long time; and it comes in very usefully and economically for puddings in farm-houses or

large establishments of servants.

Butter should also be potted down for winter use; this is the the season for laying in a stock of honey. Towards the end of the month, jam, gelly, &c., made in July, should be examined, and if there appears any tendency to fermentation, it must be reboiled and fresh prepared: there is much more trouble on this head during some seasons than others. Hams should be examined, to see if they are safe at the bone, which is done by sticking a clean knife into them in the direction of the bone, and the appearance and smell of the knife afford the means of judging of their condition; if it is not quite as it should be, have it separated at the bone immediately, as it is possible that the taint may not have affected the whole ham.

It is a good plan to prepare crockery and glass which will be used to hold hot water, by boiling it, which is effected by putting the articles into a kettle of cold water over the fire, letting them just boil, then taking the kettle off, and allowing them to remain in the water till cold. You should be very careful also, when about to pour hot water into vessels of glass and crockery, always to do this gradually, and if possible to warm them, before they are used for this purpose; much breakage may thus be prevented.

to droop; but the leaves drooped and decayed sooner than the flower. The other flowers and leaves of the tulip-tree left in simple water did not live more than half as long as that in the water impregnated with camphor. Notwithstanding these surprising effects, no odour of camphor could be traced in any part of the branch, except what was immersed in the fluid. This circumstance seems to render it probable that the camphor was not absorbed by the plant, but that it exerted its remarkable influence entirely through the solids to which it was immediately applied. The appearance, however was very striking, and might be compared with the beneficial effects of opium on the human constitution.

Several other experiments were made with camphor on plants, in all of which it was very evident that camphor operated as a powerful and wholesome stimulant. A stalk of yellow iris, with one expanded flower, was taken out of a vial of water, in which it had been placed more than a day. The flower had commenced drooping; but a very few minutes after being put in a vial of the same size, containing a few grains of camphire, it began to revive, and continued in a vigorous state for many hours. As camphor is but very sparingly soluble in water, it is natural to conclude that the stimulant effects were produced by a very small part of the quantity mingled with water.

This discovery might induce us to make experiments with camphor as a manure, if the expense of trying them on a scale sufficiently large, were not excessive. But still, we may apply the camphor in the manner before mentioned; and can that be termed a useless purpose? A few grains of camphor, acting as a cordial, will revive a drooping plant, increase its beauty, and prolong its existence. In the eye of the florist these are objects not of mean importance. All those who are fond of flowers, and whose opportunities for procuring them are rare, will be pleased to have the power of prolonging their existence by this simple mode.

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LAMMERGEYER, OR VULTURE OF THE ALPS. destroyed, in consequence of the good they do, by consuming the bodies of animals that might, but for THE hird represented above is one of the larges the assistance of the vultures, breed a pestilence of the feathered race, and one of the most remarka- in the hot climates where they most abound. ble of the class to which it belongs. Vultures are traveller in Africa, having killed two buffaloes, and nearly allied to the eagles in point of size and some directed his party to cut them up piecemeal, and of their habits; they yet differ from them consider- hang the various joints on the branches round their ably in others generally speaking, they may be tents, that they might be dried up under the scorcheasily distinguished by the head and part of the necking beams of a burning sun, found himself suddenly being either quite naked, or covered with a short surrounded by a flight of these birds, who actually down. Instead of ranging over hill and valley in carried off the flesh, notwithstanding the efforts made pursuit of living game, they confine their search to to drive away or destroy them by shouting, throwdead and putrefying carcasses, which they prefer; ing, and even shooting at them. As fast as one and justly merit, by the voracity with which they dropped, others supplied his place. Another Endevour the most offensive carrion, the name of scav-glish traveller, who marched for some days with an engers, in some countries, where they are never army in Abyssinia. in a different part of Africa,

times shaking his head, and pulling with his beak, or sometimes pushing with his leg.

speaks of their numbers as to be compared to the sand of the sea, extending over the troops like a black cloud; they were also more courageous than "As the man approached, one of them, which apsome other species, for he once saw one strike an peared to be gorged, rose up, and flew about filly eagle to the ground, which had accidentally strag-yards off, when it alighted, and he rode up to it, and gled into a host of vultures, assembled to feed on the dead soon after a battle.

then jumped down, seized the bird by the neck. The contest was severe, and never probably was such a battle seen before. The man declared he never had had such a trial of strength in his life, that he put his knee upon the bird's breast, and tried with all his might to twist its neck, but that the con

They are, however, sometimes more dainty in their choice of food; as in Egypt, where, during the season when crocodiles and alligators lay their eggs in the sand, these cunning birds will sit, hid in the leaves of the trees, watching the females com-dor, objecting to this, struggled most violently, and ing on shore to lay their eggs, which, when laid, they cover carefully with sand, thinking, no doubt, that they are thus safe from all danger, and sure to he hatched in regular course of time, by the warmth of the soil, heated as it is by the sun; but no sooner does she retire, than the concealed birds glide down, and with claws, wings, and beak, tear away the sand, and quickly devour the hidden treasures.

Naturalists are a good deal divided as to the faculty by which these birds are enabled to discover, in a most surprising manner, a dead or dying animal at the distance of even many miles.

he fully expected that several others, which were flying over his head, would take part against him, and assist their companion. At length however, he succeeded, as he supposed, and carrying off the pinion-quills in triumph, left the bird for dead; but so tenacious are they of life, and so difficult to kill, that another horseman who passed the spot sometime after, found it still living and struggling."

THE BEAVER.

THESE indefatigable creatures generally prefer the margin of lakes and rivers, though occasionally residing on the coast, or rather on such gulfs as re

In travelling over the immensely wide deserts of Africa, where there is not a blade of grass to tempt a living bird or animal, and no inducement, there-ceive a large body of fresh water, and are conse fore, for birds of prey to scour those vast wildernesses in search of game, should a camel or other beast of burden drop under its load, in the train of a caravan, in less than half an hour there will be seen, high in the air, a number of the smallest specks, moving slowly round in circles, and gradually growing larger and larger as they descend in spiral windings toward the earth; these are the vultures, but whence they come, or by what sign, or call, they are collected at a height beyond the reach of the human eye, is still a mystery; though we are much inclined to suspect that they derive their information from an inconceivable keenness of sight, rather than as some suppose, from an extraordinary sense of smelling, which has been attributed to them. When within a few yards, the spiral motion is changed for a direct line, they then alight on the body, and tearing it in pieces, feed upon it with greediness.

Some idea, indeed, may be formed of their voracity, when we are assured that, at one meal, a vulture contrived to devour the whole body, bones and all, of an albatross.

quently less saline than the open sea. Those who traverse the banks of the Canadian rivers, or the northern parts of Asia, may observe the beavers heginning to assemble in great numbers, during the months of June or July, for the purpose of establishing a commonwealth. The place of rendezvous is commonly the station fixed for this purpose. If verging on a lake, of which the waters rise above their ordinary level, the skilful engineers do not erect a dam; if beside a brook or river, where the waters alternately fall or rise, they throw up a bank, and thus construct a reservoir, which uniformly remains at the same height. This bank, which resembles a sluice, and is frequently from eighty to one hundred feet in length, by ten or twelve wide at the base, is even more astonishing with regard to its solidity than its magnitude. For the purpose of constructing it, they select a shallow part of the brook or river; and if they find on the margin a large tree, so situated as readily to fall into the water, they begin to cut it down. But how, it may be asked, is this ef fected? Their fore-teeth answer the purpose of a woodcutter's hatchet, and they begin the work of felling at a foot and a half above the ground: while thus employed, the labourers assume a sitting pos ture. Independent of the convenience of this posi tion, they enjoy the pleasure of gnawing the bark and wood, which is grateful to their taste, and which they prefer to any other diet.

The natives of South America avail themselves of the gluttonous greediness of this bird to catch it. A dead carcass of a cow or horse is laid out for a bait, on which they gorge themselves to such a degree that they become quite drowsy and stupid. When in this plight, they are approached by the Indians, who easily throw a noose over them; on finding themselves prisoners they are usually, for a time, While some of the most able are employed in flsullen and shy; but this is not always the case, as ling large timber, others traverse the banks, and cut the following story will prove, related by Captain down the smaller trees, then dress, and shorten Head, and told to him by one of his attendants ::- them to a convenient length, drag them to the marThe man, when riding along the plains, saw sev-gin of the river, and convey them by water to the eral condors, or largest-sized vultures, and guessing place where the building is carrying on. that they were attracted by some dead animal, rode up, and found a numerous flock round the carcass of a horse. One of the largest was standing with one foot on the ground, and the other in the horse's body, exhibiting a singular force of muscular power, as he lifted the flash, and tore off great pieces, some

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it is worthy of observation, that these trees are uniformly of a light and tender kind. You will never see a beaver attack the solid and more heavy timber Their great object is to select such as may be easily barked, cut down, and transported; and hence they prefer the alder, willow, or poplar, which grew bo

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side the margin of their favourite rivers. They sink the base, and terminating in a dome or vault. But the stakes into the water, and interweave the bran- however varying in height, they are uniformly of ches with similar stakes-an operation which im- such solidity, and so neatly plastered both within plies the surmounting of many difficulties; for, in or- and without, that they are impenetrable by the rain, der to dress the stakes, and to place them at first in and resist the most impetuous winds. The partia situation nearly perpendicular, some of the labour- tions, too, are covered with a kind of stucco, as well ers must stand upon the river bank, and hold the executed as if by the hand of man; their tails serv stakes with their teeth, while others plunge into the ing them for trowels, their feet for plastering. In water, and dig holes in the bed of the river, to re- the construction of these buildings, various materials are used; wood, stone, and a kind of sandy earth, ceive the points, in order to place them erect.— When finished. they While some of them are thus sedulously employed, not easily acted on by water. others bring earth in their mouths, with which they resemble the kraal of a Hottentot, and are carpeted fill the intervals between the piles, ramming it firm, with verdure, or branches of the box and fir. The and using their tails instead of a hammer. These opening that faces the water, answers the purpose of piles consist of several rows of stakes; and they both a balcony and baths, for here they bathe, enjoy work on, standing on the bank, as it is completed. the summer breezes, and delight to spend their leis The stakes facing the pond are perpendicular, while ure hours, sitting half sunk in the water, and looking the others, which have to sustain the pressure of the complacently over the open country. This window water, slope considerably; and thus the bank, which is constructed with the utmost care; the aperture is frequently at least ten feet at the base, narrows is sufficiently raised to prevent it from being stopped upward. Consequently it has not only the neces-up by the ice, which in the beaver's climate is often sry thickness and solidity, but the most advantageous form for supporting a considerable pressure, for preventing the escape of the water, and repelling its efforts. Two or three sloping holes are also constructed near the to n order to allow the superfluous water to run off, and these they enlarge or contract according as the river falls or rises; when any breaches occur by sudden or violent inundations. the industrious architects know how to repair them as soon as the water subsides.

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two or three feet thick Should this occur, the busy masons set to work, slope the sill of the window, obliquely the stakes which support it, and thus open a communication with the unfrozen water. This element is so necessary, or rather so agreeable, that even a temporary privation appears to distress them.

During the summer months, they sedulously employ themselves in collecting an ample store of wood and bark, for winter provender. Each cabin has its magazine, proportioned to the number of inhabitants; This is their great work. The next care is to this they share in common, and never pillage their construct their dwellings. These are uniformly neighbours. Some villages consist of twenty or erected upon piles, near the margin of the pond, and thirty cabins. But such establishments are rare. have two openings, one facing the land, another the and, generally speaking, the little republick seldom water. They are either round or oval, varying from exceeds ten or twelve families, of which each has five to eight or ten feet in diameter. Some consist its own quarter of the village, its magazine, and sepof three or four stories, with walls of two feet thick-arate habitation. The smaller cabins contain from ness, and are raised perpendicularly on planks, or two to six, the larger from eighteen to twenty, and But as the parties are gener stakes, which answer the double purpose of floors even thirty beavers. and foundations; others consist only of one story, ally paired, it is calculated that each society consists and then the walls are low in proportion, curved at of one hundred and fifty or two hundred, who at first

of an oily nature. Indeed there is hardly a disease but has its peculiar character of skin, by which the experienced physician can often judge at first sight of a patient. On the other hand, when the skin is diseased the general health suffers, and the stomach principally sympathizing, sickness, indigestion, with a host of attendant maladies, are brought on.

labour jointly in raising the great publick building, and afterward in select tribes or companies, to construct particular habitations. In this society, how ever numerous, universal peace is maintained. Their union is cemented by common labours, and rendered perpetual by mutual convenience. Moderate desires, with simple tastes, and aversion to blood and carnage, render them insensible to the allurements of war and rapine. They enjoy every possi- The skin is perhaps more neglected than any ble good, while worldly men only pant after happi- other organ, and yet if we examine for a moment the ness Friends to each other, they coalesce for mu- duties it has to perform, and remember its intimate tual protection; and if they have any enemies, they relation with the stomach and intestines, in which know how to avoid them. When danger approaches, the process of digestion and application of the food they apprize one another by striking their tails on to the purpose of life is carried on, we shall readily the surface of the water, the noise of which is heard understand how great is the importance of keeping at a considerable distance, and resounds throughout it in health and vigour. By means of it the greater their numerous habitations. In a moment they are part of the superfluous matter, or waste of the body, gone; some plunge into the lake-others entrench is carried off from the bloodvessels in insensible themselves within their walls, which can be pene-perspiration: this is an operation of great consetrated only by the fire of heaven or the arms of men, and which no animal attempts either to open or over

come.

POPULAR MEDICAL OBSERVATIONS.

In the present state of medical knowledge, diffused as it is throughout all classes of the community, when almost every head of a family has read some popular work on physick, possesses a medicinechest, and is able to prescribe remedies in simple disorders, without having recourse to a professional man, it is much to be regretted that those precautions should be neglected, which, easy and simple as they are, would, in many instances, prevent the necessity of applying to medicine for relief. Even the facility with which a remedy is obtained leads, in some measure, to the encouragement of excess, and the epicure eats a dish the more, because he can readily get rid of its more immediate ill effects by a dose of blue pill; forgetting that every such dose thus wantonly taken is weakening the powers of his constitution, and laying the foundation for a debilitated and premature old age.

The human body has been compared with great justice to a clock or watch, in which, if a single wheel be injured, the whole mechanism becomes disordered, and, in common language, the watch goes wrong; thus all the parts of the body are so intimately connected by nervous and vascular systems, that should one become impeded in its office the others suffer, and the whole machine is deranged. This disposition to sympathize exists in a greater degree between some organs and others; thus the head and stomach almost always suffer together, insomuch that it becomes often a matter of difficulty to the medical man, to ascertain which is the real seat of mischief; again, between the stomach and skin the connexion is very close, and this depends, not merely on the general law of sympathy, but also on the fact that the skin is continuous with the membrane which lines the whole alimentary canal. Particular kinds of food, as acid fruits, cause, in some persons, the appearance of red spots over the whole skin, within a few moments after their being taken into the stomach; and that sallow greasy state of skin, sometimes seen, depends on indigestion produced by overloading the stomach with animal food

quence, which in health is constantly going on, and when it is checked by the unhealthy state of the pores, the circulation becomes oppressed, and thus fever, headaches, and general langour are occa sioned. As much or more danger arises from a too relaxed state; the secretions becoming unhealthy, and the skin itself more susceptible of the changes in weather, temperature, &c., thus giving rise to colds, coughs, and inflammations of internal orgai s.

From these general remarks the great conse quence of attention to the state of the skin will be appreciated, and we will proceed to recommend a few simple rules for keeping it in order.

On rising from bed, the whole body should be sponged with cold water, and afterward rubbed well with a towel till perfectly dry; then the ap plication of the flesh-brush for five minutes wa be of great advantage, but if not readily procured, brisk friction with a coarse towel will suffice The good effect of this is immediately felt in the genial warmth, the activity and vigour of hody, and the freshness and the exhilaration of the spints which succeed; and even if not felt at first, soun will be, if the plan be persevered in. No one need be afraid of this, for even if moist with perspiration on leaving the bed, the friction increases the circulation of the skin, and completely prevents the danger of cold, to which individuals of weak and relaxed fibre are so constantly subject. Persons who are liable to catch cold, and have sorethroat on the slightest exposure, and scarcely pass a day without sneezing will, by pursuing this plan for a short time, become much less susceptible, and we have known many totally freed from these troublesome and dangerous affections; there is doubt that it will check the progress of consump tion in some stages, where there are debilitating perspirations, and often prevent the lighting up the disease in the lungs, by thus decreasing the sus ceptibility of colds. In grown-up persons, of goo general health, the water should be cold, both in winter and summer, the body becoming gradually used to to it as the seasons change, if the plan be com menced in the spring or summer: but with children and delicate persons, in winter the water should be tepid, that is, just above the temperature of the atmosphere. We cannot too strongly recommend the early adoption of this plan with children. They soon become accustomed to, and like, the water :

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