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    876 THE _ I,EADEiB. L ___ [No. 440, Awhj...

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    HYDROPATHY. Hydropathy; or, theKatural S...

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    Recollections of a Visit to Ike United S...

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    FINE AUT IN THE CRYSTAL PALACE If ever h...

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  • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

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    Humble Creatures. Humble Creatures; The ...

    the ceiling with its feet upwards , or progressing upon tbe smooth vertical pane of the -window , the mystery is solved if we examine tlie foot of a fly tinder the microscope . At its extremity it is furnished with a pair of membranous discs , on which there are disposed countless minute suckers , that operate upon the inverted ceiling , or smooth glazed surface over which the fly is marching , in the same manner as does the leather sucker with , which boys amuse themselves in lifting stones .

    The value of the earth-worm as a fertilising agent has long been admitted . Let us sec what is the chief use of tlie humble fly : — Go into tbe fields and lanes and seek the body of some recently killed animal ; or if you reside near the sea look at the carcase of one of the many creatures that are cast up by the wave . See what myriads of maggots are writhing throughout its frame ! Thousands and thousands of these are the maggots of flies , and if you return a few days after your first inspection you will find that they hare devoured the whole carcase , save & little skin and the iudige ~ tible bones . The elements of the

    nothing more nor less than rudimentary feet to aid the ¦ worm in it $ progress . They are retractile at the will of tlie animal , and operate so as not to impede its onward progress ; but when a portion of its body is once extended , and nas penetrated into tbe soil , they keep it frnily fixed , wtilst the remaining part is drawn after it "by muscular contraction . As regards tbe fly and its mode of walking upon

    tissues , instead of decomposing into poisonous and illsavoured compounds , and filling the air with miasma pregnant with , pestilential disease and death , nt once spring phoenix-like into life again , and in a few days there appears the animated form of the fly , which only an OmQipotent head could have moulded with such rapidity and accurate design . These extracts show the pleasant style of the work , free alike from scientific details and phraseology . It is a book to be lead with equal pleasure both toy the novice and the scientific student , and ¦ will make many of the former desirous of possessing a good Stanhope lens and a , student ' s microscope .

    876 The _ I,Eadeib. L ___ [No. 440, Awhj...

    876 THE _ I , EADEiB . ___ [ No . 440 , Awhjsx 28 , 18 5 8

    Hydropathy. Hydropathy; Or, Thekatural S...

    HYDROPATHY . Hydropathy ; or , theKatural System of Medical Treats mar t . By E . TV . Lane , M . A ., M . D- . ¦ ¦; J . Churchill . ^ Tiib extension of the hydropathic system of treatment is the best evidence of its value as a new element in the science of therapeutics . It was predicted , at the death of Vincent Priessnitz , that the dispersion of the water-cure establishment at Grafenberg would follow as a matter of course , and the novelty pass away as rapidly as it had been called into existence b y its founder . But , fortunately for suffering humanity , hydropathy bad already attracted the attention of educated medical praetitioaei' 3 ; they had looked dispassionately into the principles on which the new- curative process was asserted to rest ; they had discovered , amid much that -was erroneous , / more that wa 3 sound and conformable to the laws of nature as developed hy investigation , and with braving that ridicule , which the ignorant and the interested were still disposed to assail ^ it , they lent the influence of their names and their reputation to the new process , which , under sagacious adaptation and scientific investigation , has now taken permanent root , and ranks among the most powerful means of restoring decayed health and of arresting almost every form of disease . Dr . Lane bestows a warm and wclld « served eulogium on Preissuitz for the daring manner in which he seized hold of a great trutli

    , and reduced an idea to a system which , before , was without settled rules to guide the practitioner . At the same time , Dr . Lane docs not deny that the 1 « rant of educational training , the utter absence of « 4 regular medical knowledge , exposed the Ludyi W ' hftl peasant to mistakes of a serious character , witch * competent knowledge of medical science Would have shielded him from . Jhe jjreat error of Preissnitz was , mat he held water to be the sole curative agent . He had no conception of the important action which pure air , change of scene , mental tranquillity , and re * uktfirf

    diet Had on the animal economy , or the large shore they had in producing those marvellous cures which took the world so much by surprise , and created so much doubt and opposition in the medical world . Preissnitz laboured under the grievous mistake of supposing that water was a " universal solvent , " no niatter how indigestible the food , or how fenrful to a depraved or feeble stomach . Drink but water enough , and sound digestion must be the result . Hence his Grafenberg diet of black or rye-bread , potatoes , Bait-butter , greasy soups , pickled

    cucumbers , sour-krout , hard dumplings , and other dietetic abominations which constituted the daily bill of fare at Grafenberg ; and when we add that tobacco was permitted to smokers , without stint , we can easily understand how disgust was created in sensitive minds , and how delicate natures shrank from the coarse application of the severities which were characteristic of the Grafenberg system . Dr . Lane very justly remarks that " hydropathy " is a misnomer ; but there are difficulties in the way of changing the name which he conceives outweigh the mischief of the misleading word . Dr . Lane ' s system is based on personal experience , and

    on an examination of the practice of others . He combines pure air , sufficient exercise , regulated and by no means sparing diet , with internal and external applications of water ; and by adapting these powerful agents to individual cases , succeeds in extirpating incipient disease , and renovating health that may have been : impaired by causes which arc to be abundantly found in the . structure of everyday . . life . Dr . Lane does not entirely discard medicine , but he resorts to it as a secondary , never as a primary , agent . A * considerable' portion , of Dr . Lane's work is devoted to consumption , and the mitigating and curative action of the water system . For gout , rheumatism , dyspepsia , and disorders of a cpnsjenial character , we know nothing comparable to judicious treatment on the . 'hydropathic system .

    Recollections Of A Visit To Ike United S...

    Recollections of a Visit to Ike United States and British Provinces of North America , in 1847- !> . I $ y Robert Play fair .. ( Edinburgh : Constable and Go . )— -Tenyears is an ago in the history of the United States . The traveller of 1858 would be considerably at a loss to reconcile the description of places given by the traveller of 18-17 . We intt . st therefore regard this book as a picture of what once existed , rather tuan of what now exists . The author has bean somewhat too communicative of his private affairs ; he has published rather too much of his domestic diary , arid has chronicletl many matters that the general public can" take litit little interest in , especially since so long a time has elapsed . But the book has one excellent quality—it is unprejudiced and truthful , and tbe author has dons his very best to give the reader all the information in his power respecting places and peoples he encountered in his three years rambles .

    xl . / usehold Economy . By Margaret Maria JJrewster . ( Edinburgh : Constable and Co . )—Somewhat grave and didactic iu tone , but replete with excellent counsel and morality . Young -wives may ' reacT it with advantage . .- •; . > \ . ; ' .-., ¦ ' . . ¦ . ' ., ' : ..... ' . . . ¦ . '¦ . ¦ . ¦/ . ¦ ¦ . Midnight Scenes and SocialPhotographs . ( Glasgow : Murray and Co . )—This is a -week ' s sketches of life in the streets , wynds , and dens of Glasgow ; full of power , full of dreadful truth , and oppressive as a nightmare , from their power and truth . Let the authorities of Glasgow take heed ; let them bestir themselves . If they cannot exterminate tbe social cankers in their city they can at least mithrate them .

    Ancient History , Geography , and Chronology . By T . Slater . ( Longman and Co , )—A { careful and laborious compendium of the history of \ ancient times , the purpose of which is to Compare the testimony and show the agreement between ¦ sacred , and profane history . The wide field over which the . work ranges is a proof at once of the industry and ability of the author . Mark Wilton , the Merchant ' s Clerk : a Book for Young Men . By the liev . C . B . Taylor , M . A . ( Simpkin and Co . )—The author in his preface says : — "I know , not only from your words , but fr 6 tn your character , and

    conduct , that' you will approve the principle which I have sought to illustrate in the follow ing pagfts , and agree with me that there are no principles worthy of the name but godly principles . 1 have thrown my views on this subject into the form of a narrative for two reasonsfirst , because , if I have any talent to benefit others by my pen , I believe it is rather in this style of writing than in any other ; and secondly , because I am well aware that those whom I am most anxious to serve by this volume would perhaps turn away from the same lessons in a didactic shape . I have a high aim under what may seem to some a mere tale of amusement . ' This is all

    we ahull give the reader , referring him to the volume its ' . lf , in crder tliat ho may satisfy himself of tho admirable way in which tho author has worked out his moral . The Photographic Art Journal . Illustrated . ( Wm . Lay ) . —Tho sixth number is now issued to the public , and we may consider this novel experiment in illustrated literature a success . The Photographic Art Journal has for its object " to place the choicest productions of the

    new art within the reach of all who posuoss a taste for pictorial works—portraits , groups from nature , ljiudacupc * , scenes of historical and biographical interest , stereographs , and nrcMtectural subjects . " As far as the work lias proceeded the proprietors havo well redeemed their promise to tho public . Tho illustrations for the August numberoonsist of " Madamo Riatori and ""Windsor CuHtle , " and so -well are tho subjects tendered , that we have no doubt whatever this journal will and a constant place in every drawing-room .

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    Fine Aut In The Crystal Palace If Ever H...

    FINE AUT IN THE CRYSTAL PALACE If ever human intelligence and commercinTw prise combined clearly to provide anSmiit ' - " might be tested the interesting proves ? of i \ knowledge , that result is morefeadn ? SiJ ^ Jt aS with larger , grander illustration , in the CrystatpaT aCe than hitherto has been produced , either hvthl pressure of necessity or the inducements of iSniv Nothing like it existed through the ages of EjmK sovereignty , Grecian sway , or Roman suprSS ? neither m the days of Charlemagne or tlie tfSS conqueror ; nothing of the kind from the PlantaS . nets to the Stuarts , nor from them , to the end ofthn Georgian era . And it is no less remarkable than noteworthy to observe how the material age of present time has achieved that , which the -poetical fw vour of former periods failed to induce

    As life is demonstrated by vital energy mani fested through impulsive throbs and pulsation so is mental progress indicated by storms and calms gentle undulations arid surging vaves . Now "the toe of the peasant galls the kibe of the courtier , " and the necessities of civilisation have impelled wise and thinking men to study the means of applying the powers of nature to serve mankind , and to ' mould the organic and inorganic materiel to meet the necessities of human life . ..

    At one period we find mankind developing itself in spiritual influences pregnant with poetical imaginings , idealising or embodying the superstitions of the time ; at another , by" patient search and vi « il long , " ' " . endeavouring' to ' detect the secret sprittgs ¦ which' move and rule the ' . . phenomena that has attracted ; their observation . The first causes the poetical phase , the second the mechanical ; -. in the combination is foinid tlie highest development of

    human intelligence , and in proportion as it is used so rapid will be the advancement of the * , art ' and progression of manufactures . We have ' written thus niueh because we believeit to be as strictly applicableto individuals as it is ' to periods . The * poetic . hearted visitor of the Crystal Palace will conjure finest imaginings illustrated by actual embodiments , the material philosopher can solve abstract theory by mechanical development , ami the combiner of both

    can exclaim with Hamlet , " What a piece of work is man ! how noble in reason ! how infinite in faculty I " whilst tlie " Sir Charles Coldstrcam" jrcnus , whom " man delights nor woman neither , " will be allowed to -maunder through the glorious demesne without let or hindrance , murmuring , " There ' s nothing in it , " never heeding that the . ' ? it" is him and not the Palace . The Crystal Palace directors have opened anew gallery for the display of pictures . Their former gallery-was situated on the south-east wing , and very admirably calculated for . the purpose it was . Tho present gallery is situated in tlie first-floor of

    the western winp , near to the entrance , and is by no means so well adapted for the purposes of exhiUition as the former one . Now comes a startling enigma : the first gallery was seldom visited— -the last attracts numbers ! As the mountain vouhl not come to > Mahomet , Mahomet was obliged to go to the mountain . One would fancy , on the first blush of the thinp , that the directors had not used a sound judgment ; but the result proves that tl icy have exerted a wise discretion . The obvious solution of tliis

    apparent paradox is , that tlje quantity of objects for amusement are too many for casual visitors , and the specific one of pictures not good enough to attract real lovers of painting . That we believe to be the heart of tlie whole mystery . Speaking from private impression , ve should Si \ y , if our readers wish thoroughly to enjoy what the directors have laid before them , keep to the grounds for physical enjoyment , and a portion at a time of the Palace for mental . It will havo no "divided duty ; " to attempt to "

    parts , the most delightful and instructive . As a part , then , we will wow proceed to a consideration of tlie Fine Arts , its requirements « nd lts shortcomings .. Tlie first thing , then , required is u gallery bo constructed that you might see tlie pictures on the walla . This is almost impossible with regard to that portion whereon are .. hunpt the "Old Masters , " because tho top light is overcome by wio preponderating amount of light tlisit come * hy reflexion from tho side nnU floor of the nave aiuj galleries opposite . The pictures antagonistic to , ami thu

    overcoming , tlio modified light from above ; < . •<>» - sequence is a shadow on , nnd a reflexion in , tho p «' - tnro you may ho looking at . Hut , however , as affecting this portion of tho exhibition , it is ot no great moment—rather an advantage , indeed lor , with an exception of half a dozen pictures , a moro worthless nwss of incompetent P '" " ductionliaa seldom been huddled together . . ll « erc is amongst tlie excoptiuna a very fine picture by thut rnro X'lorcntine nicwtcr , Pontormo ( Gmeonio Carucci da ) , it ia well worth tho effort , of trying w

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 28, 1858, page 20, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_28081858/page/20/