Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

Le Fournier, fteward of the hofpital. Revet, commiffaire de la prifon. Le Flem, foldat de la fer demi brigade.

Thomas Cochrane, M. D. infpector and furgeon of the prifon, and agent, &c. for fick and wounded 1eamen..

Liverpool, Sept. 9, 1799.
(A true copy.)

John Bynon, clerk in
the office for fick
and wounded fea-

men.

Queries and Answers.

1ft. What are the circumftances of his fleep and perspiration?

He gets to bed about eight o'clock at night, immediately after which he begins to fweat, and that fo profufely, as to be obliged to throw off his thirt. He feels extremely hot, and in an hour or two after goes to fleep, which lafts until one in the morning, after which he always feels himself hungry, even though he had lain down with a full ftomach. He then eats bread or beef, or whatever provision he may have referved through the day; and if he has none, he beguiles the time in fmoking tobacco. About two o'clock he goes to fleep again, and awakes at five or fix o'clock in the morning in a violent perfpiration, with great heat. This quits him on getting up; and when he has laid in a fresh cargo of raw meat (to ufe his own expreffion) he feels his body in a good state. He fweats while he is eating; and it is probably owing to this conftant propenfity to exhalation from the furface of the body, that his kin is commonly found to be cool.

2d. What is his heat by the thermometer?

I have often tried it, and found it to be of the standard temperature of the human body. His pulfe is now eighty-four; full and regular.

3d. Can this ravenous appetite be traced higher than his father?

He knows nothing of his anceftors beyond his father. When he left the country, eleven years ago, his father was alive, aged about fifty, a tall ftout man, always healthy, and can remember he was a great eater; but was too young to recollect the quantity, but that he eat his meat half boiled. He does not recollect that either himself or his brothers had any ailment, excepting the fmall-pox, which ended favourably with them all. He was then an infant. His face is perfectly smooth.

4th. Is his mufcular ftrength greater or less than that of other men at his time of life?

Though his muscles are pretty firm, I do not think they are fo full or plump as thofe of moft other men. He has, however, by his own declaration, carried a load of three hundred weight of flour in France, and marched fourteen leagues in a day.

5th. Is he dull, or intelligent?

He can neither read nor write, but is very intelligent and converfable, and can give a diftinct and confiftent anfwer to any question put to him. I have put a variety at different times, and in different fhapes, tending to throw all the light poffible on his hiftory, and never found that he varied; fo that I am inclined to believe that he adheres to truth.

6th. Under what circumstances did his voracious difpofition first come on?

It came on at the age of thirteen, as has been already ftated. He was then in the fervice of Pruffia, at the fiege of Thionville; they were at that time much ftraitened for provifion, and as he found this did not fuit him, he deserted into the town. He was conducted to the French general, who prefented him with a large melon, which he devoured, rind and all, and then an immenfe quantity and variety of other fpecies of food, to the great entertainment of that officer and his fuite. From that time he has preterred raw to dreffed meat; and when he eats a moderate quantity of what has been either roafted or boiled, he throws it up immediate ly. What is ftated above, therefore, refpecting his never vomiting, is not to be understood literally, but imports merely, that thofe things which are most naufeous to others had no effect upon his ftomach.

There is nothing farther to remark, but that fince the attefted narrative was drawn up, he has repeatedly indulged himfelf in the cruel repafts before defcribed, devouring the whole animal, except the fkin, bones, and bowels; but this has been put a stop to, on account of the fcandal which it juftly

excited.

In confidering this cafe, it feems to afford fome matters for reflection, which are not only objects of con

fiderable novelty and curiofity, but interesting and important, by throwing light on the procefs by which the food is digefted and difpofed of. Monftrofity and disease, whether in the ftructure of parts, or in the functions and appetites, illuftrate particular points of the animal economy, by exhibiting them in certain relations in which they are not to

be met with in the common courfe of nature. The power of the stomach, in fo quickly diffolving, affimilating, and difpofing of the aliment in ordinary cafes, muft strike every reflecting perfon with wonder; but the hiftory of this case affords a more palpable proof, and more clear conception of these proceffes, just as objects of fight become more fenfible and ftriking, when viewed by a magnifying glafs, or when exhibited on a larger scale.

The facts here fet forth tend also to place in a strong light the great importance of the difcharge by the fkin, and to prove that it is by this outlet, more than by the bowels, that the recrementitious parts of the aliment are evacuated: that there is an admirable co-operation eftablifhed between the fkin and the ftomach, by means of that confent of parts fo obfervable, and so neceffary to the other functions of the animal economy; and, that the purpofe of aliment is not merely to adminifter to the growth and repair of the body, but by its bulk and peculiar ftimulus to maintain the play of the organs effential to life.

[blocks in formation]

the actual pofition of places, on the currents, nor even on the coafts and their foundings. They have never given particulars of that nature; they fcarcely ever improve by practice: and their veffels are alfo very ill conftruded and badly provided.

The five principal rivers which pour their waters into the Euxine muft neceffarily produce currents, the force and direction of which it would be highly advantageous to know. These rivers convey into it a prodigious quantity of fand; which, being diffused in all the creeks and bites of the fhores that are most diftant from their mouths, is drifted by the winds fo as fome times to form a fort of downs. It has already been remarked that the coaft of the Euxine is generally fteep, and formed of layers of rock frequently inclined, and intermixed with ftrata of clay or gravel, covered at top by a good black mould, fometimes ftoney, but extremely well adapted to cultivation. No fand is found any where but at the mouths of the rivers; and the fhores even of the Dniepr and of the Onieftr, on the margin of the fea, are compofed of ftrong land which refifts the pickaxe: whence it may be inferred that the fands which they convey come from a greater diffance, and that thofe which are lodged in the creeks are carried thither by force of the currents. It has likewife been obferved that the fleep fores being inceffantly worn by the violence of the waves, the winds, and the currents, the figure of the coaft is changed; which alfo produces an alteration in the fand-banks. The deftruction of a cape is fometimes fufficient to choak np a creek, which VOL. XLII.

before afforded a fafe anchorage for hips.

more

The commerce of the Euxine is capable of being rendered beneficial both to Turkey and to European nations, if it were carried on by more able mariners and more intelligent merchants: but the flownefs of the navigation caufes the expenfe of freight to be exceffive; and the unfkilfulness of the merchants, who are alfo deftitute of fpacious warehoufes for their goods, ftill farther enhances the price by retarding the departure of the velfels. It is partly for this reafon that the Turks prefer fmall craft to larger fhips for coafting this fea; loading them indifferently with all goods which offer, without any regard to their ftowage. No public work is executed for the benefit of commerce; and the bad condition of the roads contiguous to the feveral maritime towns, with the want of commodious quays or wharfs for fhipping or unthipping the cargoes, always occafion additional expenfes and prejudicial delays.

The principal exports from this country are, grain (ufually reftricted to Conftantinople), wool, timber, tar, hemp, wax, honey, leather, cotton, and copper. The articles which might be carried thither are cloths, coffee, fugar, and gold and filver lace: but for this purpofe, factories should be establish ed at all the fea-ports, protected by the Turkish government, to secure them from the plunder of the paskas and other fubaltern authorities.

[blocks in formation]

HE ifands comprehended under the appellation of Canary are fituated about the 28th degree of north latitude. The moft confiderable is Teneriffe, and next to it in extent is the great Canary. The rainy feafon fets in about the end of November, and continues with intervals, until the month of March, This period correfponds to winter, though it never fnows, except on the mountains, especially the Peak. During the fummer months, not a drop of rain falls near the coaft, where the fky is then invariably clear, and the heat moft intenfe. Yet at Laguna, a village feated on the brow of the mountain, and only a league diftant from Santa Cruz, they have frequent fogs and rain. The clouds melt and diffolve away as they approach the fea. There are no rivers in Teneriffe, but only mountain torrents, called in Spanish barrancos; which, in winter, fweep away much ufeful foil. The traces of volcanic fire every where ftrike the eye. The neighbourhood of Santa Cruz confifts of favage mountains piled together, and bearing herbs only fit for goats to browfe, with many of the prickly euphorbia. Higher up the country, the foil is richer, better cultivated, and abundantly productive. It is a fort of clay refting on calcined rock, which in every diftrict occurs at a certain depth.

Little attention is paid in thefe inlands to the important article of manure. Marle and fca-weed are totally neglected, and animal dung is only laid on the adjoining fields of maize or potatoes; to which it is carried directly from the ftables.

For the food of man, they grow wheat, very little rye, much barley and maize, potatoes, French beans, and ticks, called garbanfos. As provender for cattle, they raise a few lupines, peale, lentils, beans and a fmall quantity of oats. Flax, anifeed, and coriander, are almost the only productions cultivated for the arts. Archil and fumach grow fpontaneously. The archil, which is efteemed of fuperior quality, is gathered by the peasants on the naked rocks. Kali, termed in Spanih vidriera,* grows along the fea fhore, and might afford as good

foda as that of Alicant. The natives ufe only the feeds, which are feparated from the plant by wathing, and, being flightly roafted, are ground, to make a fort of gofio. The cotton fhrub and the fugar cane alfo thrive in the Canaries, yet are much neglected. Wheat and barley have been cultivated in Teneriffe from the remoteft times: but rye, maize, ticks, and potatoes, have been introduced more recently, and in fucceffion. Only 30 or 40 years have paffed fince potatoes were firft planted there, though at prefent they conftitute almoff the chief food of the inhabitants. With refpect to the rotation of crops, and the change of feed, the people fhew extreme ignorance or neglect. Some attention is directed to irrigation, fo neceffary in hot climates. Wheat and barley are fown in November and December, and ufually reaped in April and "May. The corn is careleilly raked to. ge her, and carried home in facks, on the backs of affes, mules, or camels. It is then trodden out by cattle, and the grain is feparated

* From vitrum, glafs; being ufed in that manufacture.

from

from the chaff, by expofing it to the wind. Sometimes (though rarely) fwarms of a large fort of locuft or grafshopper, called in Spanish langofta, come from Barbary, and will Spread inftant devastation among the fields of corn. The peasantry, armed with sticks and befoms, kill them, or chase them away: but they depofit their eggs, and therefore the young locufts in the year following are collected and burnt. The lands are not rented in the

Canaries. The landlord furnishes the feed and implements of hnfbandry, and receives one half of the produce, befides a certain quantity of wheat for each head of cattle which he lends to the tenants. Bread is eaten only by the richer inhabitants. The bulk of the people live much on gofio, which is only parched grain ground by a little hand-mill, of which every cottage poffeffes one. The Canarian carries to the field his gofio in his bag; and, as hunger prompts, he rolls it into little balls with water, and makes his miserable meal. Thofe who afpire to better fare eat falt fish and potatoes. The poor inhabitants of Palma and Gomere are sometimes reduced to the neceffity of making cakes of the roots of the pteris aquilina, or male fern, which they dig in the mountains. Lupines are a choice food for cattle, but they are previoufly foaked in water, and boiled, with the addition of falt.

A large quantity of wine is exported from Teneriffe, yet the vineyards are not managed with either fkill or attention. The prefs confifts of a long beam or lever, to the extremity of which a heavy ftone can be attached by means of a fcrew. The farmers, however,

well underftand the mode of clatifying their wines, and fortifying them with brandy.

On the fuccessful Cultivation of the true Rhubarb in England, by Mr. Thomas Jones. From the Tranfactions of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufac tures, and Commerce.

Sir,

Tnies this communication, will

HE certificate which accompa

inform the fociety that I have planted, in the year 1799, 4053 plants of the rheum palmatum, or true rhubarb; I once more, 'therefore, prefent myself as a claimant. Each time I have made my appearance in this character, I have pledged myself to future and more confiderable exertions; for every distinction with which they have honoured me, has been viewed in no other light, than that of a powerful incentive to perfeverance; and I need not add, how much gratification it will afford me, if the fociety, by their decifion on the prefent occafion, continue to me their good opinion.

The period I have devoted to the cultivation of this valuable drug has now become of a fufficient length to prove experimentally the truth or falfehood of my theories. Happy am I in reflecting, and hap→ pier ftill in communicating to the fociety, that fince I laft had the pleafure of addreffing them, I have additional reafon for fatisfaction. In my former papers (fee Tranfactions of the Society, vol. xi. xv. and xvi.) having been, perhaps, more than fufficiently minute in deferibing my fyftem of cultivation, I fhall now only notice the nature of Bb 2

the

« AnteriorContinua »