various other places. That of Epidaurus was the principal at first; but subsequently his temple at Cos, became the most celebrated. The descendants and the priests of Esculapius established festivals to his honor at Epidaurus; these were called Ta Arxa, and were celebrated every five years;-from hence his descendants derived the name of Asclepiades.

The Esculapius of Greece, was likewise generally worshipped at Rome, with similar mysterious and religious ceremonies; a most fatal epidemic having arisen, the sybilline books were consulted, which directed the people to send to Epidaurus to consult Esculapius. The ambassador having explained the subject of his mission; instead of the answer he expected, was surprised to see a serpent leave the temple, proceed to the river, enter the vessel, and quietly take possession of his apartment. Some of the Asclepiades accompanied him, to instruct the Romans in the worship of this new Deity. Scarcely had the ship reached the entrance of the Tyber, than he sprang upon an island, and coiling himself up, denoted thereby, that the God was to be worshiped in that place. Here, a temple was erected for him, and his ceremonies were conducted as at Epidaurus.

This will suffice to explain the name we have chosen for our paper, and the device which accompanies it. As for the motto, none can be ignorant, that it is the commencement of those writings, which under the name of Aphorisms have reached us, as the production of Hippocrates. The words are those of Truth; and all must accede to the high importance they give to the healing art. Long as is the period since those words were written, our art has not attained perfection; and centuries may still roll on without so great a consummation. Each day proclaims the brevity of life, in spite of every effort to ward off the shafts of death; and we are thereby taught a lesson which cannot be mistaken; that if, with every exertion on our part, we cannot reach the goal, still less can we obtain it by listless apathy, or frivolous pursuits. If life is short, we still diminish it, by idle pleasures, both of mind and body; and death arrests us, whilst we foolishly and falsely exclaim, we want more time to accomplish that destiny for which we were sent into the world.

As authorities are not wanting, we shall not apologise for occasionally spelling Esculapius with the E alone.

A Case of Poisoning by Arsenic.

Woodbury, N. J. May 26th, 1824. On Wednesday last, Hannah Ann, aged four years, and Emeline, aged two years, daughters, and only children of Mr. Joseph D. Peddrick, of this town, by a mysterious Providence, be came the victims of a most distressing and fatal casualty.

The circumstances which led to this melancholy catastrophe, are these. Early in the

morning, the mother, for some slight indisposi tion, prepared, as she believed, a portion of magnesia, by mixing it with molasses and water, for the children. Shortly after they had swallowed it, they began to complain of heat and pain in the stomach, which was followed by vomiting. The accession of their symptoms alarmed Mrs. P. and led her to suspect the medicine.

Upon examining the paper which had contained the article, it was demonstrated to her horror-struck senses, that she had given them a quantity of powdered arsenic, which had been obtained some time before, for the purpose of destroying vermin!

The quantity exhibited must have been a tea spoon-full or more! Medical assistance was immediately obtained-their stomachs evacuated by means of the stomach-pump, and thoroughly rinsed of their contents a great proportion of the poison was brought away by these means, and by the vomiting subsequently induced, but all efforts to save them were finally unavailing. The eldest survived about eight hours-the youngest lived forty-eight hours.

As it is one of the objects of this paper to record those accidents to which all are liable, but which, in many instances, arise from the most unpardonable carelessness; so it may serve an useful purpose, occasionally to remark those means by which they may probably be diminished, by lessening the chances of mistakes, either in the hands of apothecaries, or of private individuals.

We shall first take the liberty of animad. verting on the foolish custom that too generally prevails, of preserving the remnants of medicines prescribed for the sick, under the idea that they may be hereafter employed. Now it is obvious, that many of these being intended for temporary purposes, can scarcely be preserved beyond a few days; and that so far as these are concerned, the object must be altogether fruitless;-as it regards others that are less liable to undergo a change, so little care is taken of their labels, (if they originally have them,) that in a short time their nature is forgotten; and considerable risk must be incur. red, if they are employed under such a state of uncertainty. There are but very few art cles that need be kept in a family, living in large city, not a square of which is deficient in a regular shop; from which, at a moment's warning, any thing may be procured; hence the medicine-chests of domestic use, are, for the most part, at least an useless appendage; and carelessly exposed, as they are generally, it is only a wonder, that more accidents do not daily occur!-How often is the bottle of laudanum, or antimonial wine, left exposed, and within the reach of children, whose curiosity is perpetually prompting them to taste every thing they see; and that too, when the family medicine-chest is at hand, in which to deposit them, should it chance to have a lock in order;

-or if all due precaution is taken in putting them away, the key is usually left in the lock, and a supposed security only exists.

It is earnestly to be wished, that immediately on the termination of every sickness, the half-filled vials be emptied and washed; the pill-boxes and their contents thrown into the fire, and every article destroyed which is not a legitimate subject of preservation. The weekly, monthly, or annual discharge of a closet, will thus be avoided; and all fear of accident is thereby prevented.

If, however, this foolish custom is still kept up, it remains to enquire, why articles of the most deadly nature should ever find their way into domestic life, unless under the direction of the physician? Why arsenic, for instance, should be packed away, (perhaps unlabelled and loosely wrapped in paper,) among other substances of a similar appearance!-Few, even of the most experienced, could distinguish arsenic in powder, from flour, magnesia, and many other harmless articles; and the above unhappy accident clearly proves, how total a prostration of our happiness may result from a mistake, caused, no doubt, from the circumstance above adverted to, the want of a proper label to the fatal powder. We are not advocates for any undue restriction in the sale of drugs, even of the most poisonous nature; all proper precautions should undoubtedly be taken; but to prevent their sale, as some have proposed, and as is strictly enforced in various parts of Europe, merely to prevent the chance of suicide, is as absurd as it is useless.-Where is the person, bent on self-destruction, who has not the means in his power, if even arsenic, laudanum, or corrosive sublimate, are prohibited to him; the avenues to death are far too numerous, when really sought for; and unless each one could be equally closed, a partial prohibition is but a farcical display of a mistaken philanthropy.

There is, however, a measure of the most simple nature, that will effectually tend to obviate many of those fatal mistakes, which arise from the existing state of things, even with the best intentions. This is, to have it established as a rule, both in domestic life and in the shop of the apothecary, to put every article of a poisonous nature, into a vessel of a form completely different from those in common use; thus, a square bottle instead of a round one, would be recognized immediately, from its form, as containing a poisonous ingredient. If such a plan was uniformly adhered to, it is certain that no mistake could possibly be made. The veriest Tyro in the shop, would learn at once what was to be dreaded; and at home, perhaps, a greater solicitude would be maintained, to keep a bottle of this form separate from every other.

Another hint will close these remarks:-It is far too common, even in the best conducted

shop, to put articles into a drawer, or bottle, which have labels of a different kind. Although the master and his elder apprentices are fully acquainted with the different articles thus misplaced, it is not always that the juniors can distinguish them; and thus, a quid pro quo, may inadvertently be sold!-admitting even that it may be innocent, the practice adverted to should be discouraged, as leading to negligence, which should not in the slightest particular gain access into stores of such importance to the public.-If, by any means, the measures thus proposed could be brought into full effect, there can be no doubt the public would be a gainer; and these hints are respectfully presented to the consideration of the College of Pharmacy, in hopes that, should they be approved of, the members will adopt the means of carrying them into effect.

On Spontaneous Combustion.

Within a few days past, the public have been informed of the destruction in part, by fire, of the valuable woollen cloth manufactory, near Germantown, belonging to Mr. W. L. Fisher. On similar occasions, it has been the custom, too generally, to cry out Incendiaries! The worthy proprietor of this manufactory has however come forward with an explanation, which we have no doubt would equally apply to most other cases of a like description. In attributing it to the spontaneous combustion of wool impregnated with oil, he has afforded a caution to all woollen manufacturers, of the most important character. However unable we may be to explain, why two substances, not only of the kind mentioned, but of a very different nature also, should undergo combustion under certain circumstances; the fact, if not familiar to the public, has long been known to philosophers; and we shall give occasional instances of this nature, by way of forcibly impressing the fact, whilst the mind is alive to the recent occurrence.

Many of our older readers will undoubtedly recollect a fire which took place in 1793, in the house of Mr. Kennedy, a respectable candle-maker, in Second, between Market and Chesnut-streets. At a subsequent period, a similar event occurred; and both, we believe, were traced to the combination of articles of a nature not very dissimilar from those in the manufactory of Mr. Fisher; a large quantity of the candles, from which the fat had been melted, thrown together in a heap. It would seem necessary, that occasional accidents should occur in order to keep up the impression of danger, which is otherwise too soon forgotten. A neglect of proper precautions too frequently results from a fortunate, but undeserved exemption, from dangers which those precautions are calculated to avert. It is, however, well to remember an old saying, that the pitcher may go safe to the well nine

ty-nine times, but be broken at last. Frequently as this is repeated, each one applies it to his neighbour rather than to himself; and forgets, whilst he exclaims against the carelessness of others, that dangers of a peculiar character may be connected with his own concerns, if he does not guard against them by that prudence which he perceives wanting in those about him.

In the cases we shall bring forward as we proceed, of spontaneous combustion, it will be seen that many different substances are liable to this event; and we shall be glad to publish any other facts of a similar nature that may be communicated to us, in order to diffuse, as widely as possible, events of a character interesting to all.

Extract of a letter from Virginia, dated Sept. 18, 1753. On the 10th instant, in the ship Pearl, we made the land, nigh Cape Charles, when a very uncommon accident happened, which had near destroyed the ship and every soul on board. In coming from the lower hold I observed something like smoke, and felt a heat amongst the coals which lay in the fore-pike, so ordered to dig down a little, and throw some pump cans of water upon them; but the farther down we went, we found them hotter and hotter, on which we got baskets and threw them overboard; and, in digging farther down, we found the foremast burnt fully half through, and several parts of the ceiling burnt to a coal. All the servants we had on board, both men and women, as well as the ship's crew, were employed in this work from four o'clock in the afternoon, till four next morning, at hard labour; and had we only had our common complement of hands, in all probability we had not got the better of it. I take the cause of this to have been the sulphur contained in the coals, which may serve as a caution to those who send coals on a long voyage, not to take such as have a great quantity of sulphur in them.-Univer. Mag. 13. p. 236. To be continued.

Lehigh Coal.

Much as we are gratified with the vast advantages which we promise ourselves by the introduction of the Lehigh Coal into common use, we already perceive an evil arising from it, which it becomes necessary to counteract. -Unlike the fuel heretofore employed, its ashes afford no alkali that can render them useful in the formation of soap; nor, as yet, have they probably been sufficiently tested as a manure. Our streets have therefore become their deposit; and in amount sufficient, in the winter time, to be regarded as a nuisance. Under this impression, it becomes us to consider whether these ashes can not be usefully employed, when mixed with a portion of clay; in forming bricks, which can equally resist the fire, as the fire bricks properly so called.

The extravagant price demanded for these last, is one obstacle to the erection of grates, &c., for burning the coal, since they can seldom be employed a second time; and the frequent removal of them tends to augment considerably the expense of our fires. If a fair experiment should justify this idea, these ashes would be readily removed by our brick-makers, without any expense to the community; and would no longer serve as obstructions to our streets.

It is, perhaps, a question, whether they ought not to be constantly removed by the scavengers, like other rubbish thrown out from our houses; certainly, those who contract with them for cleansing the city, have a right to insist on this in any future agreement, if it is not already the case; for it is extremely inconvenient, as well as expensive, for individuals, taxed as they are, for this especial end, to remove it themselves; and equally so, in most families to suffer its accumulation in their cellars during the winter. It appears to us, that these ashes do strictly come within the limits of domestic offals, which may legally be thrown into our streets, and ought to be removed by the public authority; and it is under this impression, that we propose the question for the consideration of those in whose department the solution may rest; and we do this at present, that full time may be given for settling it before the ensuing winter.

In relation to fire bricks, we would suggest, that their use may be in a great measure superseded by the common salmon brick, excepting where the most intense heat of the fire is concentrated: an unnecessary expense is absolutely incurred, by the extravagant waste made of them, by placing them in situations where they are at best useless;-and this we assert from some experience of the fact.

Considering the immense loss of fuel sustained by the quantity of cinders thrown out with the ashes, it may admit of a doubt, at the present price of coals, whether wood is not nearly as cheap.--We do ourselves believe it is so; and until the former can be delivered to us at from twenty to twenty-five cents per bushel, its use will be considerably circumscribed, compared to what it might be. If any one would be at the trouble to remove the ashes, they would probably find an abundant profit from the sale of the cinders separated from them, which would supply a large amount of excellent fuel for small grates, in poor families, during winter.

Questions.

1. Supposing Phrenology to be true, cui bono? This question has more than once been asked -it has also been answered-perhaps not satisfactorily. There are many who now think it an idle amusement, a useless pursuit, and therefore do not trouble themselves to inquire into its merits; a concise, clear, and convincing expose of its utility might perhaps lead these persons to join their exertions to those already made in its behalf.

2. If it be true that our bodies undergo a thorough change in a given time, (say seven years) and that it is through the medium of absorption and deposition, that this renewal is effected, how happens it that scars, moles, nay, even artificial marks, such as tattoing in all its branches, should remain unchanged till death? If the whole is changed, why is the colouring matter still seen in the old place? If that is carried away, how is a similar appearance produced?

3. What indications, short of putrefaction, can be regarded as positive proofs of death,- -So as to preclude all hazard of burial in a state of mere asphyxia?

4. What is the nature of that cutaneous affection vulgarly called the bold hives?

5. Why does a lobster become red by boiling?

6. If sound is communicated by an impulse given to the air, how is it that we can hear the rumbling noise of the intestines, entirely surrounded as they are by non-elastic integuments?

Swimming School.

A friend suggests to the city councils, to take into consideration the propriety of renting out, or in some way appropriating, the reservoir on Schuylkill, as a Swimming School, under the direction of some experienced per

son.

At present it is a receptacle of filth; and its sides falling in, will soon prevent it be ing in any way useful.-A Swimming School was established the last summer at the floating baths, on the Delaware.-The difficulty of getting to it, and the high price affixed, were serious obstacles to its success.

As to its benefit, every parent will sensibly feel them, in the assurance of his children being thus enabled safely to acquire so essential an art. Our docks and wharves are sources of perpetual alarm;-and the prevention of a single death, from drowning, would amply compensate the trouble of the first establishment of such a school, and tend to render it permanent. We believe such institutions are under the immediate direction of some of the European Governments.-Bonaparte made it essential to his soldiers; and in whatever light the subject is considered, no better use could at present be made of the before-mentioned reservoir, than to have it surrounded with a fence, and placed under the direction of some competent person, as director of the school,

It is of importance to our city to derive advantage from the experience of others, in every particular in which health is concerned. I have therefore read with pleasure some remarks in the N. Y. Daily Advertiser relating to the cleaning of the streets in Boston. Now, although I adopt the sentiments therein for the most part, I cannot acquiesce fully in what is stated against the permitting hogs to run at large; because, although fully persuaded of the necessity of two-legged scavengers, with scrapers, brooms, &c., yet, as it is impossible that they can always be in every part of the city, much offal matter must necessarily be accumulating before a repetition of their visit. Unless, indeed, a sufficient number could be daily employed, the offals must either accumulate in our houses, or be thrown out into the public streets and alleys; a measure infinitely better than the first; for exposed thus to view, they are more likely to be removed by those paid for the purpose, than if left concealed in cellars to which they have not ac

cess.

During our warm months, when vegetable putrefaction almost immediately takes place amidst the vast amount of pea-shells, melonrinds, and other articles of a like description, is it not better that we should have an intermediate description of scavengers, such as hogs, which, if not the best, at least do immense good, by speedily removing a large part of those perishable materials, which would become offensive in a few hours.

To allow an indiscriminate range of the swinish multitude, is not my wish; on no account would I permit the males to run abroad, for reasons that need not be pointed out; but a sow with a number of young ones, will, without any offence to our feelings, quietly pursue their way, and devour so much of this dangerous material, as to leave little to be acted on by the heat of the weather; and consequently diminish greatly the labour of the scavenger himself.

It is a mistake, I think, to assert that hogs do mischief, with the restriction above mentioned. Within a period of more than twenty years, I remember but two or three instances; and these probably owing to the worrying of dogs, by which they are driven to a rapid flight; for, of themselves, it is sufficiently obvious, they are peaceable enough. I have heard it objected that they injure the streets by rooting up the stones; it is impossible they can do this, when the stones are properly fixed; and if they occasionally detect what escapes the eyes of our street commissioners, we should rather thank them for thus pointing out the necessity of immediate repair.