The Sun.
London, England, 1830-10-06 00:00:00

COMFORTS OF THE PEOPLE.

On the publication of every quartet's revenue, if
there be an increase in the income of the Excise, it
is immediately set down as proof positive of a cor-
responding increase in the . comforts of the people.
This conclusion is more specious than solid; be-
imuie, in too many instances, when men meet with
losses, disappointments, end sorrows, they add more
to the revenue of the Excise than they, did in the
days of their prosperity and comfort. Dr. Cleland
lifts a much more satisfactory criterion of the in-
crease and decrease of the general comfort—namely,
the increase or diminution in the consumption of
butcher meat. When the office of Searcher was
abolished by Act of -Parliament, the Doctor suc-
ceeded in keeping the same officer in the service of
the Town Council, and it is a part of his business
to ascertain accurately the number of beeves, calves,
sheep, lambs, and pigs, slaughtered in the city of
Glasgow. This number is published annually, and
generally contrasted with the results of two or three
previous years—and, by reference to these state-
ments, it will be found that the results have been
almost alwa)s according to the state of trade, and,
consequently, according to the ability of the people
to purchase that almost indispensable article, butcher
meat. Besides being an invaluable piece of statisti-
cal information, this is obviously a better criterion
fur ascertaining the increase or diminution of the
general comfort than. the revenue of the Excise.
Among other improvements, Bailie Morton was at
great pains to organize a plan, by which this im-
portant piece of statistical information for this city
might be obtained, and, for reasons that no person
of ordinary capacity can divine, all his exertions
were rendered abortive by the opposition of the in-
corporation of fleshers. His time, as Bailie of the
markets, is now on the point of expiring; but it is
to be hoped that his successor will be animated with
the same laudable zeal, and will overcome every
difficulty. We hear that, the proprietors of the
southern markets' have it in contemplation to cause
their superintendent to keep a register of this kind,
and this of itself will be highly important.---Scotsman.

MELANCHOLY CASE of HYDROPHOBIA,

We mentioned shortly in our last a melancholy
instance of death from hydrophobia, which had oc-
curred in Salford. The following full particulars of
this dreadful event are communicated by a cor-
respondent :
" On the 9th of June the deceased, Miss M'Clure,
of Regent-road, Salford, was returning from a call at
s neighbour's house, when she was annoyed by a
little dog, belonging to her friend, running about at
her feet in an unusual way. She put him gently
aside, lest he should tear her dress, and be snapped
at her foot, his tooth passing through the stocking,
and inflicting a smell wound its the fleshy part of the
foot, near the instep joint, The pain was acute,
and she thought it possible the dog might be mad;
on both which accounts she deemed it best to send
immediately for her medical man, who resided in
the neighbourhood, and who is of very high• respec-
tability in his profession. Till be arrived she sponged
the part with warm water, to promote bleeding, He
came without delay,aud she suggested that he should
see the dog before he took his measures for her
safety, to form his own opinion whether there was
any need of painful treatment. Knowing the im-
portance of promptitude. he overruled the sup
gestic!), and immediately cut out the flesh around
the bite, and to a depth decidedly greater than the
tooth bud penetrated, making, of course, a consi-
derable wound. In this wound he then applied a
very powerful caustic, and subsequently it was kept
open by poultices and washings. In due time it
healed, and the cheerfulness and fortitude of the
patient were never, while she wits laid up with the
lameness, put to the least trial by any conscious or
perceptible change in her general health. All the
while she continued as well as usual, and, when
able to walk about, she went into the country,
passed some weeks with her friends, had no feel-
ings or apprehensions to mar her enjoyments, and,
having stayed the intended time,she returned home
to her ordinary engagements, and her misfortune
appeared to be forgotten.,
" It ought to be mentioned that the dog had, be-
fore he bit Miss M'Clure, exhibited unwonted spite-
fulnesS, and given some alarm by attacking his mis-
tress; and that the latter, u day or two previously,
had directed a servant, with whom he was a fau
vourite, to tie him up. Another dog, tied up at
the same time, had the morning of the accident
beets let loose, and the servant alluded to bad, of
her own accord, chosen.to liberate the one she was
fond of. This had been done just its time for Miss
M'Clure to become his victim I
" It is now known that an long as a fortnight or
more prior to her death, Miss M'Clure had com-
plained to a friend that her foot did not feel strong,
anti that when it pained her the pain wits of a pecu-
liar kind, flying up. as site said, even to her heart.
She however appeared, both in health and spirits,
as well as usual, till,Sunday, the l9th ult., on which
day she scented poorly, and less cheerful titan she

was wont to be. On Monday, Tuesday, and till
the evening of Wednesday, she remained in this
sort of languor and feebleness, against which she
strove as much us possible, kept herself employed
in things above her strength, and said frequently
that she thought she was afflicted with laziness, and
it must be overcome. On Wednesday evening her
sister, who had poured out ten, reached her a cup,
' and suddenly she drew her breath with a spasmodic
gasp, and exclaimed, I don't think I can drink it.'
She was. prevailed on to make the effort, and she
swallowed the tea; after which she lay down
for an hour, then got up, and, though evidently
very feeble, walked with her sister to St. Stephen's
Church. Here she was repeatedly troubled with
the gasping senaation as she drew her breath, but
stayed till the service was over, and then walked
home. She took a little gruel fur supper, and re-
tired to bed. She could not sleep at all. At.two
o'clock on Thursday morning, when her sister ,was
pouring out something which she thought she could
drink, she manifested inereased horror at the sight
of the liquid, and requested it might not be given
her, hut put away. She conversed cheerfully till
live o'clock, when the doctor was sent for. He
found the Symptoms of hydrophobia rapidly increas-
ing, anti called in the aid of an eminent physician.
Bleeding was resorted to, in order to abate the
physical force of the paroxysms; this, however, was
done only once, and in no great quantity. Subse-
quently opiates were administered from time to
time, as the patient could summon comae to
swallow them, which die did repeatedly, 'I ertilic
spasms continued, however, to rack the frame and
agitate the mind of the sufferer, in the manner
iwhiche
complaint,lieculiuntil übout
horror to this
em eovatbust
feul
olgeikas;ei
sotiin ld
. airn n
yiasstapeyer
ic
mot,o,oirf ni
eg
the
struggle
term
anta,dted,r,a
tqluil, that
ittaceasing of the vital powers, so gentle
those who watched by her bed-
ride did not know the precise moment oilier decease.

46 This account must not be closed without the
feet being made known to all who, in reading it,
have shuddered et the thought of their own possible
liability to a disorder so frightful, that mental deser•
don, that •the prostration of reason, is not its nec►rs•
nary accompaniment, In this ease, the mind of the
sufferer never ceased to display itself as in the pos-
session Of perfect consciousness, both of her situ.
anon, and of death as th►► only issue from its awful
circumstances.- And not this only, which perhaps
is common in the disorder l but there was also the

liveliest and most intelligent exercise of memory
and judgment, with reference to books and to sub.
„ice's diet bad been used to engage her attention;
there was a minute recollection of things she had
omitted to direct or arrange, and a distinct foresight
hod appointmerit of things she wished to be done
when she should be no more; there were the most
Various, comprehensive, and oholaoteristie rental).
trances of her numerous friends, with messages of
Admonition a affection, or both, to each of them;
all obVionily end singularly appropriate; and, to
crowp the whole, there was, op to the hilt expres.

ion which fell from her lips, throughout oe:entire
current of her feelings and thoughts, the presence
lad manifestation, in their highest style, of Christian
hope and consolation, and even of Christian triumph.
rite utterance was interrupted by parozyinns of the
complaint ; by the nervous agitation of the frame it
was rendered strangely rapid, and invested some-
times with awful energy; but the sentiments which
fell from those quivering lips were such, that they
who read this testimony, if death should come to
them in his mildest form, and with his:most peaceful
tread, could not desire to yield up their List breath
in words of more cheering and more holy import"—
Minrchaler Guardian. ,

THE DAR OF TAMPICO.

(FROM A MEXICAN PAPEIL.)

The greater ort of the eastern coast in the

centre of the Gulf of Mexico runs for some
hundred miles in the direction, N.N.W. to
S.S.E. Through all this extent the sea beats
against the shore with considerable, force, vary-
ieg in its degree according to circumstance. In
the northern part the violence is very consider-
able. As the impetuous winds that blow there
follow precisely the direction of the coast, they
occasion at this place a strong current, and it has
been remarked by those sailing at a distance
from the -coast during the prevalence of these
winds that there is a rapid current towards the,
north. Ihe inshore current, however, runs to-
wards the south, and meets with those running
in the contrary direction ; the consequence of
this is, that bars of different extent are produce-I
at the mouths of the rivers Soto la Marina, La
Barra Ciega, Tampico, and Alvarado ; these ata
moveable and fluctuating during the prevalence
of the north winds. The flow of the gulf to
the south impedes the currents of these rivers
at their mouths, and the consequence is that de.
posits of sand are made there.
It is obvious that the Bar of Tampieo owes its
origin to circumstances of this nature, if we
consider the fluctuation of the sands and the
situation of the banks that form the mouth of
the river. It is clear that the current sets to-
wards the north, from the greater elevation of the
bank on that side, and more especially from the
enormous quantity of drift wood driven and im-
bedded in the sands, and broken shells, which
compose it ; while, on the southern bank, at the
time of which we speak, not a single piece of
wood was to be perceived.
It is also observable, that the northern bank
is continually increasing in magnitude, towards
the sea ; as a proof of this, it might be men-
tioned, that in the year 1826, a vessel was lost
on this bank, and two years afterwards some of
the cargo was to be seen two hundred yards from'
the line of the waves that beat on it. On this
side also, considerable masses of white coral
and also red coral, and pumice stone are found,
which are very uncommon on the southern bank.
From this it will be perceived what advantages
would result from facilitating the construction of''
a firm breakwater at the (same() of this port,
certainly small at present, but whose importance
is daily increasing. From observations that
have been made, it appears probable thet this
desirable result might be effected merely
driving a number of piles, and connecting theta
together on the border of the sand, in those
months in which the north wind does not blow;
by this means, when it commenced, a firm bank
of sand would be collected against them, and it
might be continually increased and extended
towards the sea, by driving fresh piles; thus a
firm point would be made, end an extensive bank
of sand, upon which the sea might beat witheut
ceasing ; and at the extremity, where the water
is smooth, we should have an entrance 'into the
harbour of more than two fathoms in depth. It
is impossible to say that this is sure of succeeri
or that it would produce a channel of: greater"
depth ; but there is little doubt of its making the
channel more equal and secure than before, and
avoiding those continued alterations in its depth,
which vary from eight to nineteen feet; -so that
there will remain in the middle a sufficient depth
to enable vessels to enter at 'all hours winch
draw twelve feet of water, or eve» much more.
The current of the Panuco is not suiliciently
strong to prevent the title running in ; but it
notwithstanding, of sufficient force to present a
strong check to them. On the other side, since
beyo»d the bar its course is inclined to the S.E,
it is very probable that a natural current may be
formed, provided that the river does not meet
with further impediments from the strong swells
of the sea which prevail along the coast.
Captain Lyon has published the following
note on this subject ;--Nothing can be either ,
more simple or less expensive than the method
proposed for the construction of a breakwetee,
at the entry of the port, but nevertheless the
violence of the opposite currents, and the con-
tinued motion and variety of the rands, induces
me to view as impracticable the ex( cation of the
plans But its for opening a charnel, it is pro-
bable that great service might be deived front
the employment of a machine trad4 use of
some places in, Europe for the removal of bars
and • impediments to the navigation of ports;
this machine oasts with great time from one side
to the other, the sand ,which has been,deposited
by the tide in the course of the channel. It is,
however, by no means certain that we could en.

tirely remove by this method this deposit, or
form a free and permanent passage of propor
tioneto advantage to the navigation during
favourable months, for at tho commencement or
the season of tempests, more time would tit,.
ceasarily be given than would be, required for the
reformation of their great accumulation of sand
and it would then be necessary to refer to the
skilful pilot again for the direction to follow on
entering or going out of port. On the other
hand, as the commerce of this port has received
abtavetrhyat cwoiiiastiedleavrrghalecriifinece4gtat:tem, ttli; eorveedornment übt
make to diminish the risk and danger of this
bar, although it is not possible completely to
remove it, would be amply compensated by the
result, The city of Tamaulipas is no doubt
destined from its situation to become it place of
great importance. Through it we shall have to
supply all the districts situated to the MIMI of
MeXiCOl which are extremely productive of
minerals, and the population will go on prosper.
jug more and more each day. The exports from
the seine districts to Europe will likewise bewit
through
us
shall se a
itiTthtiseal
jaitnatilitn:cleiorp:ParEetritl ehnvieillyt:tiee;
elealraosy;tett:itill:iocaZisieratedbsoe"dto show
vnet
en
its
litiatYmitsi, "Pi terlioars toriswetia,thilt pl'oltiilitbo°flefraoctt,hferolmtetvt°o:
thing, to be aiiirratt
itaq,'Lgbree:teo,ll,' t:eptylemmienrectilatilyiicno.,
portanee, and w
how many and how eller I
that commerce produces! are
le
hem el
Work--

. ~
;-

_melt are employet ittA )o,
St. James's-street, itecouling tolth't oeof ttrid lipplowt
method edoped in Cheapside and Flolo Stitt.t,