Page images
PDF
EPUB

Armadillo was the first animal that he procured, and from this feeble beginning his industryand perseverance have brought to public view the splendid collection which now graces our city. He has laboured for several years under the disadvantage of having a house badly adapted to the purpose of a Museum, but as this is now removed, he will for the future have full scope for the exercise of his ingenuity, and with the encouragement thus afforded him, much may be expected to result from his labours.

On the 2d July, Mr. Scudder complimented his patrons with the first view of the American Museum as newly arranged in the New-York Institution. The members of the Corporation, and those scientific gentlemen who had taken a particular interest in his success, together with their families, were invited to a gratuitous view, previously to opening the Museum to the public. We shall take some future occasion to describe the excellent disposition of the natural curiosities of this Museum, particularly the different groups and combinations of the preserved specimens of animals.

2. The Literary and Philosophical Society, of which his Excellency the Governor is President. This association has the lease of a spacious room for their sittings, which are monthly. A number of excellent papers on various subjects have been read before this Society, of which one volume of transactions has been published, and there are other communications on file sufficient for a second volume, whenever the funds of the Society will admit their publication.

The Museum now forms a part of the New-York Institution, which, though well understood among ourselves, may require some explanation to distant readers and visiters to our city. The building which is appropriated for the purposes of the In. stitution, was formerly the New-York Alms-house,a brick building,260 feet long, and three stories high. It is a plain edifice, without ornament, having been built for use, not for show. When it was vacated in 1816 and the paupers removed to the new establishment at Bellevue, in the suburbs of the city, the Corporation appropriated it to different Societies, which had applied for apartments within it. Under the direction of the Committee of Arts and Sciences, the building was leased for ten years, for a nominal rent, to different persons and Societies, who are now located in the building, and whose leases commenced on the 1st May,1816. The edifice, by its present designation, means the New-York Institution of Learned and Scientific Establishments, of which the following are located there.

1. The American Academy of the Fine Arts, of which Col. Trumbull is President. The other officers are stated in a former number of this Magazine, in which was commenced (p.133) an account of the subjects exhibited. These comprise painting and statuary only.

3. The Historical Society. His Excellency De Witt Clinton is also President of this institution. They have a suit of rooms. One is appropriated for the sittings of the Society, and in this, the monthly meetings of several Bible Societies are permitted to be held. Another room contains the collection of books, pa pers, manuscripts, &c. collected by the Society, relating to the civil, ecclesiastical, or natural history of our country. Two other large rooms are set apart for the cabinet of Mineralogy, Zoology, and Botany, and considerable progress is made in these departments. These rooms were once assigned to the New-York City Library, but the lease was relinquished, and they were subsequently given to the Historical Society and to Mr. Griscom.

4. The Lyceum of Natural History. Dr. Mitchill is President of this institution, of which we gave some account in a former number. The members consist principal. ly of young, active and zealous cultivators of the Natural Sciences. Their sittings are frequent, and the communications made to the Society are numerous and important. The room occupied by the Lyceum was formerly assigned to General Swift, and occupied by him, during the war, when his services were wanted, and his talents were employed, in planning works of defence for this city. Being no longer wanted for that purpose, it has been granted to the Lyceum.

5. Mr. John Griscom, Lecturer on Chemistry and Natural Philosophy, has a room assigned to him on the same terms with the other Societies, provided he uses it for the purpose of delivering his lectures therein and nothing else.

6. The American Museum, of which we have spoken. These six establishments and associations constitute the New-York Institution.

The whole of this extensive building, except a small part occupied by the Commissioners of the Alms-house, has thus been disposed of by the Corporation for

the benefit of Science, and the reputation of the city. I am assured that the citizens generally will not regret this disposition of a small portion of the public property, though it has been said that a better application might have been made. Some have suggested to demolish the building and sell out the fee for town lots; but this would only afford a chance for speculation, and render it necessary to open Warren street, through the public ground between the New-York Institution and the City Hall; and the great thoroughfare, thus made near the Hall, would render it impossible to attend to the business of the courts from the constant rumbling of carts and carriages. It has also been suggested that if the Alms-house had been converted into offices it would have produced several thousand dollars income. Be this as it may, I cannot but justify and applaud the Corporation for the generous disposition they have made of the building; and I take the liberty of giving it as my opinion that neither Warren nor any other street should ever pass so near the Hall as it must, if opened through the public ground, so long as the Courts of Justice hold their sessions therein.

MESSRS. EDITORS,

K.

Notwithstanding the salutary ordinances of the corporation of this city, the unpardonable negligence of its executive officers suffers the streets to be infested with every manner of unclean beasts. Nor is the danger of suffocation from stench, or of fever from infection, all that we have to apprehend from the toleration of the vilest nuisance that ever was permitted to nauseate a civilized community Disgusting as swine are, they are not so much to be dreaded as dogs. As canine madness is usually prevalent at this season, and as we are so imminently exposed to suffer from its effects, I have thought that an account of the means that have been suggested of preventing and curing the hydrophobia, would not be ill-timed."

ment of a wound inflicted by a rabid ani. mal; it is its immediate destruction by caustic, or by fire, in order to annihilate the poison. The wound requires repeated applications of escharotics, (such as corrosive sublimate, or red precipitate) to keep it discharging, and a judicious surgical management according to its nature and situation. Until an experienced person can be had to employ the powerful agency of pure potash (caustic) it is proper to burn linen, cotton, or tow, and even gunpowder, on the wound. No internal reme dies are to be relied on without local applications; and Mosely says, destroying the part, and continuing the suppuration some weeks are sufficient to prevent all mischief.

A writer in the National Intelligencer, under the signature of S. in May last, takes notice of the methods of treatment recommended for recent wounds, by Dr. Mosely, of London, and Dr. Bouriat, of Montpelier, in France. He remarks, that there is an extraordinary coincidence in the ideas of these gentlemen, who published their essays about the same time, without any previous concert. The following

is an extract from S's communication:

"These physicians agree as to the speedy mode to be adopted in the treat

"These authors unite in the most unqualified rejection of all remedies from empyrics, quacks, or even well meaning persons, who, being unacquainted with medical science, are not aware of their responsibility, when they would waste precious time, and jeopardize many lives by their nostrums, in preference to the cer tain and judicious means which are actually put into our hands.

"As the work of Dr. Bouriat is not yet translated into the English language, we recommend that of Dr. Mosely, which as a vade mecum should have a place in every practitioner's book-case. He says, himself, until the late great prevalence of canine madness in London, there were only a few physicians who ever saw it; and that after it, there was scarcely one who had not had an opportunity of seeing it often.' What warning for us to be prepared against so distressing an evil! In no other treatise of the kind can be found more authenti cated success in the mode of treatment, more experience, more of that useful instruction, which after many ages, has been scattered among numerous books, than is now condensed in this excellent performance of Dr. Mosely."

"Before closing this article, we beg leave to repeat the simple but effectual treatment recommended by these experienced physicians :

Destroy, as soon as possible, the bitten part by caustic or fire; keep the wound suppurating or discharging for a few weeks, and the patient is safe."

William Coleman, Esq. editor of the Evening Post, in remarking on the above, recommends a decoction of the scutellaria, or skullcap "as a safe and certain preventive, if taken at any time after the bite and before hydrophobia comes on." Dr. Thacher, of Plymouth, Massachusetts, in a letter published in the first volume of the

American Medical and Philosophical Re- made at Udine, the capital of Friuli, a gister, speaks respectfully of the virtues small province belonging to this repub of this plant. Dr. Thacher, also, mentions lic. The discovery is this: a poor man the benefits that have been experienced from the use of the lobelia inflata. He concludes his letter with saying,

"That the fatal consequences of the ravaging evil in question, may, as far as possible, be obviated, it is incumbent on professional men, to direct their attention to the most eligible means of prevention on such alarming occasions. The first in point of importance or security, unquestionably is, the operation of cutting out or burning the parts in which the bite has been effected; but whether this be dispensed with or not, a careful and assiduous ablution cannot be too strongly inculcated. If the wounded part be scarified within a few hours or even days, after the accident, and water be poured on forcibly, and the washing persevered in for a length of time, there is almost an infallible certainty that in general the destructive poison may be completely eradicated before it can be absorbed into the system. The above process, however, should, for greater security, be followed by the application of the nitrate of silver, or some other caustic in solution, or if not speedily attainable, a valuable substitute may probably be found in the properties of strong unslacked lime."

Dr. Hosack, in his observations on this letter, expresses some confidence in the efficacy of preparations of copper as a remedy, and agrees with Dr. T. that wash ing for a length of time is the best preventive. He denies the security of excision, though immediate.

In the fourth volume of the Medical and Philosophical Register, is a letter from the late Dr. Rush to Dr. Hosack, in which he mentions several cases, supported by good authority, of cures effected by copious bleeding, followed up by calomel and opium in large quantities. presses a favourable opinion of this treat Dr. R. ex ment, considering the hydrophobia a fe brile disease.

lying under the tortures of the hydrophobia, was cured with some draughts of vinegar given him by mistake, instead of another potion. A physician of Padua, called Count Leonissa, got intelligence of this event at Udine, and tried the same remedy upon a patient that was brought to the Paduan hospital, adminis. tering him a pound of vinegar in the morn. ing, another at noon, and a third at sun. set; and the man was speedily and per fectly cured. I have diffused through Italy this discovery, by means of a periodical paper that I am writing; and I hope you will make it known in England, by means of your public papers. And as I am sure that this astonishing remedy will have as happy an effect there as it had here, so I should be glad to be apprized of it, that I may relate it in my said paper."

opinions in one view, in the hope of aiding I have thrown together these facts and the efforts of the faculty to discover some efficient specific for this frequently fatal, and fatally frequent disease.

HUMANITAS,

New-York, July 9, 1817.

MESSRS. EDITORS,

nal a Talk, made to Dr. Le Baron by a I offer for registry in your valuable jour Chippewa chief, to induce the President of the United States to pardon Pe-to-big, one of their tribe, who had committed a murder, of one of our citizens, in 1810. My friend, to whom it was addressed, unvouch for the correctness of the interpre derstands so much of the language, as to tation. The reader of this performance, will class it among the best of the native speeches.

graphical sketch of the South shore of You will herewith receive a map or geo. to the Ford du Lac, done by an Indian lad, Lake Superior from the river Onatanagan who has no other education than he received in a trader's hut. He was of a mixed blood, two-thirds Chippewa and one-third French. It is another proof, in addition to the many I possess already, of the proficiency of the Tartars, and other American indigenes, in geography.

In a late British magazine I met with the following letter from the celebrated Baretti, the friend of Burke, Johnson, &c. to Dr. Brocklesby, another of their intimmates, and a distinguished physician. The letter is dated at Venice, May 20, 1764. After adverting to the festivities of the season, (the marriage of the Republic to the Adriatic sea,) he proceeds: A Talk held at the Council House in Detroit, "But if you were here you would be. much more pleased with a discovery

I beg you to accept my respectful salu. tation. SAMUEL L. MITCHILL.

in 1811, addressed to Doctor Francis Le Baron, to be delivered by him in persona

to the President of the United States, with of us in an hour of madness and folly has a white Belt of Wampum. MY FATHER,

strayed from it! Forgive him, father, and evince to us your charity and your friend

Listen to what your children have to say, ship; the Great Spirit, in whose presence and lend an ear to what is said,

FATHER,

We were pleased to find on our arrival here, by the smiles and conduct of your representative, (the governor of the territory) that anger reigned not in your breast, and your heart, emblematic of the white

walls that now surround us.

FATHER,

Listen to the words of your childrenthey are the voice of three great nationsChippawas, Ottawas, and Pattawatties; you that reign over the seventeen great fires, and have them at command, open your ears, and heart, and give attention to what your children have to say.

FATHER,

Remember, when you first came among us, remember our chiefs, and the solemn contract we then made for our mutual happiness, and the promise you then made, to treat us as your children: in trouble once, you received us under your protection we then buried the hatchet, with this solemn appeal to the Great Spirit, never to raise it unless in one common cause. These things are registered in the hearts of our young men.

FATHER,

One of our brothers (Pe-to-big) in a moment of folly and madness, when the heart was blackened by intoxication, did so far forget himself, as to be guilty of the first crime; he killed his fellow man, without cause! He has been given up to justice, and has long been confined in one of your dungeons, loaded with irons.

FATHER,

Our French and British Fathers, punished their red children, but not with death! No, never..

FATHER,

we now speak, and who sees our actions, and knows our thoughts, has deigned to give us this day an unclouded sky in token of His forgiveness.

[blocks in formation]

Of America, or the tipula vaginalis tritici, commonly called the Hessian Fly. The United States is an immense agricultural country, and the injury committed upon vegetation of all kinds by insects When intoxicated, we are all mad or is so great, and so frequently repeated, foolish; your red children are weak and that it has excited attentive inquiry into oftentimes imprudent, and are more guilty this department of the natural sciences. of this indulgence than our white bre. This class of living creatures has been dithren.-You, who are endowed with greater vided into several orders, one of which is strength of mind and good sense than we are, must view with a charitable eye, and hear with a liberal ear, this first offence of our brother.

FATHER,

called DIPTERA, including all those insects which have only two wings. The wheat insect, that commenced anew its depreda tions upon our crops of grain the present season, has but two wings, and consequent When you first adopted us as your chil- ly belongs to the order of diptera. It was dren, you marked out for us a path to walk long since known, by its destructive effects, in, which was strewed with flowers, and at various times, in different parts of the lighted by an unclouded sky; we have en- country, but its nature, the changes it undeavoured to walk therein, and, but one dergoes, and the means of destroying it,

have not been generally understood. Ha- amounting to more than one hundred and ving examined into the subject, and made a drawing of the insect, the following is the result of the inquiry.

thirty, hitherto described, most of them attaching themselves to particular plants, as in "Spain to a chrysanthemum, in DenThe wheat insect is a species of tipula, mark to a persicaria, in other parts of Euand in order to distinguish it from other rope to box, juniper, barberry, rye, while species of that genus of insects, Dr. Mit- others annoy orchards, kitchen gardens, chill has called it the "wheat tipula," or and meadows, frequently committing the tipula vaginalis tritici The creatures of most destructive ravages." this tribe or genus of insects are numerous,

[ocr errors]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][graphic]

The tipula vaginalis tritici is a very The legs of a yellowish cast, and transpasmall black insect, not so large as the mos- rent; head inflected, with a short procheto of this place, with two fine transpa- boscis. The cut here given will present a rent wings, from the roots of which three more correct idea of this little creature ribs diverge, as through the leaf of a plant. than any description. The body, when examined by a microscope, is found to be divided into four segments, with a few hairs observable on each.

* Dr. Mitchill's letter, as published in the NewYork Gazette, 3d July, 1817.

« ՆախորդըՇարունակել »