The Sun.
London, England, 1848-01-28 00:00:00

TRE SUN, LONDON,

•••••.•••• •
the exact portion of the land on which they found
their verdict. The jury had no right to inquire into
the question of title, and no doubt found for the two
or thre roods of undiiposed land, and not for the
whole.
Lord DENMAN thought the case one in which a
rule should he granted.—Rule granted.

SECONDARIES'.—(THIS DAY.)
(Befcre Mr. Secondary POTTER.)
SMITE' V. COOPER.
This was an action on a bill of exchange fur
15/. 18s. Gd. The defendant pleaded that he did not
accept the bill, but did not appear to support the
plea.
Mr. Jonas Smith was called, and proved that he
presented the bill next day, when the defendant
wished for a few days time, and paid five shillings
for accommodation.
The SECONDARY said that by putting this plea on
the record the defendant would pay very heavily for
time.
The jury gave a verdict for the amount claimed.
This was the only case tried.

REGULATION OF MARINE CHRO-
NOMETERS IN SCOTLAND.
From Captain Washington's report on the harbours
and ports of Scotland we learn that a strong represen-
tation having been made to the Admiralty as to the
desirablt ness of exhibiting a time-ball on the Calton-
hill, or at some conspicuous place, to enable the
masters of vessels to ascertain the error and rate of
their chronometers, an investigation was directed,
whence it results that Nelson's Monument on the
Calton-hill would combine every requisite in point of
position for such an object ; that a connexion between
it and the transit room of the Observatory could
readily be established, either by electric telegraph or
otherwi:e ; that the Lord Provost and Town Council
of the city of Edinburgh would cheerfully sanction
such use of the column, and that the cost of erecting
the necessary apparatus would not exceed 2001., and
that, altogether, the carrying out of such a proposal
would be hailed by all interested in the foreign trade
of the country as a very great boon. The following
are the principal heads of the official report of Captains
Washington and Veitcb on the subject. It is addressed
to the Hydrographer of the Admiralty, and dated
" London, 26th December, 1846 :"
Sir,—Adverting to your letter of the lst of Sep-
tember, stating " that an application having been
made to the Admiralty to procure the erection of a
time- ball on the Observatory at Calton-hill, Edin-
burgh, for the benefit of vessels laying in Leith
Docks, and that there will be no objection on the
part of the Admiralty to this request, provided the
ball may be seen distinctly from those vessels, or from
a majority of them ;" and, in compliance with your
instructions, directing us to examine and report to
you fully on this question, for their Lordships' infor-
mation, we have the honour to state :
That on our arrival in Edinburgh we put our-
selves in communication with Mr. Piazzi Smyth, the
astronomer ; Mr. Dall, R.N., Superintendent of Leith
Harbour ; Captain Arrow, R.N., Inspecting Corn
inataler of the Coast Guard; and Messrs. Bryson and
Sons ; Dickman and Laird, the principal chronometer
makers in Edinburgh and Leith.
From the last-named gentlemen we ascertained
that the number of chronometers sent to them to be
rated by ships sailing from the Firth of Forth was
last year not less than 120, and in 1846 it was ex-
pected that they would reach 150 ; this number is
exclusive of those which are rated at Alloa, higher up
the Firth ; of those carried by vessels that occa-
sionally anchor in Leith Roads, whether calling for
orders or driven in by stress of weather, of French
vessels of war protecting their fishermen (two of which
were there at the time of our visit), and of all her
Majesty's ships.
Not only is the Observatory, though situated on
the Calton- hill, not visible from the Docks, but Nel-
son's Monument, the loftiest building there, is invisi-
ble from the deck of any ship in the Docks, owing to
the height of the adjoining warehouses which inter-
vene. Nelson's Column, however, is distinctly seen
from the " tops" of the greater part, if not from all,
the vessels so placed, as well as from the whole of the
north shore in the immediate vicinity of the Docks,
and from Leith Pier. It is also prominently conspi-
cuous from every part of Leith itoads and the Firth
of Forth, from near St. Margaret's Hope on the west
to Aberlaby Bay on the east. But even if the Ob-
servatory were visible from the decks of vessels in the
Docks, it would be of little service to them, as it is
the common practice to send the chronometers on
shore, to the maker, immediately on a ship's arrival
and not to receive them on board again till the day
before sailing ; nor would it seem desirable to inter-
fere with this practice, as the concussion caused by
unloading and loading a ship could not fail of being
prejudicial to the steady going of the watches.
On consulting with the astronomer, we found that
with every disposition to forward the cause by all
means in his power, he felt it his duty to object to
any erection in contact with the Observatory, as
from its elevated position and exposure to frequent
high winds, there would be a risk of disturbing his
instruments. He must also object to any additional
erection placed so near, as by subtending a large
angle as seen from the Observatory, it might impede
extra meridian observations, there being already too
many obstructions of this nature, as Nelson's PH:sr,
and the columns of the National Monument.
These reasons appeared to us so conclusive, that
we at once gave up all thought of the Observatory,
and turned our attention to one of the existing build-
ings, and we found that Nelson's Monument com-
bines more than any other the requisites we could
desire.
'This monument, as is well known, consists in a
stone tower, 100 feet high, and substantially built,
surmounted by a smaller tower and flag-staff, the
summit being at an elevation of about 500 feet above
the sea; in this upper tower the slight machinery
necessary for 'heaving up the time-ball might be
placed, and thus not interfere with access to the large
tower by the public, who frequent it for the sake of
the fine view it affords.
As the monument is the property of the city of
Edinburgh, we sought an interview with the Lord
Provost, who immediately gave his own sanction to
the proposal, and said he was sure it would receive
the same from the town council. His Lordship
added, "that he could not imagine a more appropriate
use for a monument in honour of Nelson than that it
should be rendered serviceable in communicating
correct time to sailors and the public.'
Since our return from Edinburgh, we have
examined the time-ball at the Royal Observatory at
Greenwich, and have had the advantage of an ex-
planation of its machinery by the Astronomer Royal,
and Mr. Main, the chief assistant. This ball is five
feet in diameter, and falls ten feet, and seems to have
answered its purpose remarkably well, and to have
been dropped with great accuracy, its mean errors
not exceeding three-tenths of a second, or less error
than that likely to be made by the observer who is on
the look-out for its fall. Owing to the ball at Green-
wich being attached to the Observatory, it was
necessary to prevent the concussion caused by its fall
as much as possible, which has been accomplished by
means of the compression of the air obtained by a
piston working in a cylinder. This precaution will
be less necessary at Edinburgh, nor does it seem
requisite that the ball should fall through a space
greater than its own diameter, which should not be
less than six feet.
In addition to the immediate benefit to sailors, the
exhibition of correct Greenwich time at Calton-hill
will be of great service to the public in general, the
more so since railway travelling requires so much
greater precision than formerly ; and in the event of
Greenwich time being adopted throughout the
country, which seems a most desirable measure, now
that railways are so extensively spread, the value of
such an establishment will be much enhanced.
Another advantage will be the stimulus given to
masters of merchantmen when lying in Leith Roads,
to pay attention to their chronometers. The recent
regulations respecting masters and mates passing an
examination almost call for some such help being
provided for them, and it is gratifying to
know from the nautical instructor at Leith,
that the number of this class who attend
his school is greatly on the increase. Of the neces-
sity of such assistance, as far as Government vessels
are concerned, we can bear the fullest personal tea
timony, as to the occasion of her Majesty's visit to
Scotland in 1843, as many as eight vessels of war
were lying in Leith Roads, and, owing to bad wea-
ther, were unable to land, and get sights for time ;
and from want of such a signal; alter lying there for
some days, the Pique frigate sailed for America with-
out any opportunity of rating her chronometers.
Foreign vessels of war, both French and German,
have recently been put to the same inconvenience
while at Elsinore.
In the comparatively small State of Denmark, it
appears that a time ball has been exhibited since the
ear 1843, at the special instance of the Danish
hydrographer, Captain Zahrtmann.
It only remains to add, that during our inquiries at
Edinburgh we met with every assistance; not only
sailors, but all parties, including the distinguished
astronomer, General Sir Thomas Brisbane, were
unanimous as to the benefit such an establishment
would confer, and earnest in their hopes that their
Lordships would see fit to recommend this measure
to the favourable consideration of her Majesty's Go-
vernment.—Caledonian Mercury.

'rut GAME-LAWS.—It is a " great fact " that
magistrates, at some of the country petty sessions, ac-
tu4lly make it a rule to take the game cases set down
for hearing before any other business which has to be
transacted. First, eagerness to be working at their pet
law; and, secondly,
that keepers and their men may be
set at liberty, to go home and catch more in their
" nets." Game-preserving, and justices' game-law jus-
tice, have become a thorough scourge to society.

TURNBULL ON THE CHOLERA.

ON THE TREATMENT OF MALIGNANT
CHOLERA. WITH CAPSICUM EIIBROCA-
TIONS. BY A. TURNBUIL, M.D., LONDON.
[We would direct especial attention to the follow-
ing remarkable paper, extracted by ourselves from
this day's Lancet. Should the remedy proposed by
Dr. Turnbull prove as efficacious as he declares it to
be, he will have conferred an inestimable boon on
humanity, and have entitled himself to lasting grati-
tude.—ED. Sun.] -
When Asiatic cholera visited this country in 1832,
I had many opportunities of witnessing its ravages,
and at first I made several trials of different means of
cure without any apparent success, until the follow-
ing plan suggested itself to me from examining mi-
nutely the morbid directions. I hope it may prove
equally successful in the hands of other medical men
as it did in mine.
The cause of this disease has excited great interest
in every country, hut we must confess that we are
quite ignorant as yet respecting its specific nature.
However, it is now generally admitted that the pecu-
liar poison of cholera produces an irregular deter-
mination of blood to all the internal structures, and
from the surface of the body, thereby producing a
congested state of many of the important organs
connected with life. This, I conceive, arises from the
balance of circulation between the arterial and
venous systems being broken, a state which is most
satisfactorily ascertained to exist by numerous dissec-
tions, which have been recorded by different indi-
viduals. In this disease all the functions of the body
are impeded or destroyed, excepting those of the
mucous membranes of the stomach or bowels, which
are greatly excited in secreting and discharging a
large quantity of serous fluid; and this is, very
likely, an effort of the constitution to save life.
It is generally admitted, that the poison causing
this disease produces almost immediately a loss of
vital power, which is ushered in with langour and
much prostration of strength, dejection of mind, and
great cold, along with diarrhoea, vomiting and spasms
in the abdomen, and calves of the legs, &c. The
determination of blood to the internal organs accounts
for almost all these varied and distressing symptoms
of this dreadful malady.
severe cases of cholera, it appears to be almost
impossible to raise the temperature of the body by
the application of heat. An instance of this is men-
tioned by Dr. Daun, in the "Medical Reports on
Cholera," p. 272. " O'Brien lay on the steam couch
for three hours before he expired, in a heat that I am
convinced would have raised a lifeless body to a tem-
perature nearly, if not equal to, that of a person in
health, but his body preserved an icy coldness to the

last."
My plan of treatment consists in endeavouring, by
means which can be repeatedly applied without exco-
riation of the skin, to re•excite an action of heat on
the surface of the body, and thereby to restore the
lost balance of circulation and nervous energy. For
this purpose I employ an extract made of capsicum,
with alcohol, reduced to the consistency of jelly.
Three drachms of the extract to be well rubbed over
the abdomen, heart, and calves of the legs, several
times a day ; and at all times if there be any coldness
over the surface of the body, or when spasm takes
place in the abdomen or calves of the legs. The
rubbing ought to be continued until such time as the
patient expresses that the heat is intolerable. Ano-
ther form of the employment of capsicum is the fol-
lowing embrocation : Concentrated tincture of
capsicum : viz. capsicum pods, four ounces; rec-
tified spirit, twelve ounces; macerate for a week,
and strain. To increase its energy upon the nervous
system, when required, I add two or four grains fo
delphinia, or veratria, to the tincture.
The advantages that the capsicum possesses over
many other stimulants is, that it produces no vesica-
tion, and therefore can be repeated very often.
Another advantage is its very permanent and certain
effects ; and there is no part to which it may not be
applied without injury. The capsicum will be found
a most powerful rubefacient; it assists in restoring
heat and circulation to the surface, while the delphinia
and veratria united with the capsicum restore the lost
nervous energy. This plan of treatment can be
pursued without much disturbance to the patient, the
movement of whom is attended with the worst conse-
quences. I have often used the different preparations
of capsicum, with or without veratria and delphinia,
in congestive fevers, with ♦ery good effect, and also in
cases of cramp or spasm. This stimulative plan does
not interfere with the administration of other medi-
cines, but, on the contrary, greatly assists in restoring
the lost power of the nervous energy and equalizing
the balance of circulation.
A. TURNBULL, M.D., &c. &c.
48, Russell square, Jan., 1848.