The Sun.
London, England, 1860-05-11 00:00:00

MEDICAL ADVICE.
_ _

Regist crrs A
LN'MERT, ere . . Honorary
Member of the 'London hospital Medical
of the -University of Erlangen, &c., may be caliSociety, M.D.
on all cases of Debility, Nervousness, and enCO, NS ULTVD
the Secret In
firmities of Youth and 'faturity, from Eleven till Two, and
from Six till Eight, at his residence,
37, BEDFORD-SQUARE, LONDON
Dr. La'Alert has just published, price sixpence, with
nu-
merous Engravinq.EL s an
Fd
PCases, a New Edition of his Work,
SRESERVATIN,
which will be sent free, in a sealed envelope. by Mann, 39
Cornhill, London, or by the Author, for Eight stamps.
CONTENTS.
SECTION I.—The Physiology of the Generative Organs.
SECTION 11.--f Pubert- -Manhood -The Morale of Genera-
lye Physiology—True and False Morality.
SECTION lll.—Marriage in its Moral, Social, and Physical
Relations—lts Expectancies and Disappointments— tadvan-
tages of Physical Contrasts in securing healthy Offspring.
SECTION IV.—Spermatorrhcea and Impotence—The causes
of •Sterility in both. Sexes—Self-Inflicted Miseries.
SECTION V. -The Vices of Schools—Effects of certain per-
nicious habits on the mental and general faculties.
SECTION Vl.—Treatment of Nervous and Generative De-
bility—lmpotence and Sterility—Dangerous Results of
various Hazardous Specifics—The Author's Principles of
Treatment; Medical, Dietetic, and General, derived from
Twenty Years' successful practice
The above work is intended for the perusal of those who
hao in early life been induced to swerve from the strict rules
of morality. In its pages facts of paramount utility are
brought together, wholly divested of tne delusions and incon-
sistencies.so largely introduced into certain quasi medical
publications given to the world g,,ratis,. under the guise of
philanthropy, or as "acts of gratitude," by pretended clergy-
men and alters, whose tarnperings with the constitution
frequently followed by Berknie cOnnequeneeot

TH E INTERNATIONAL LIFE
ASSURANCE SOCIETY.
142, Strand, London.
Empowered by Act of Parliament, for LIFE ASSURANCE,
SURVIVORSHIPS, ANNUITIES, ENDOWMENTS, &c.
DIRECTORS.
EDMOND SHEPPARD SYMES, M.D., Chairman.
JohnElliotson,M.D.,Cantab., I John Moss, Esq.
F.R.S. John Symes, Esq.
Henry J. Hodgson, Esq. Joseph Thompson, Esq.
SECRETARY TO TEE BOARD.
Alexander Richardson, Esq.
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY.
Augustus Blondel, Esq.
AUDITORS.
Professor Wheatstone, F.R.S., and Professor J. Radford.
Young.
MEDICAL REFEREE GENERAL.
J. Elliotson, M.D., Cantab., F.R.S., 37, Conduit-street.
ACTUARY.
W. S. B. Woolhouse, Esq., P.R.A.S., F.S.S., &c.
ASSISTANT ACTUARY.
Barker Woolhouse, Esq.
BANKERS.
Messrs. Glyn, Mills, and Co., 67, Lombard-street.
SOLICITORS.
Messrs. Gregory, Gregory, Skirrow, and Roweliffo, Bedford-
row.

The next Quinquennial Division of Profits will be declared
I May, 1860.
Examples of Bonus up to May, 1855 :

Policy Sum Bonus inßonus in Permanent
addition Reduction
taken Age. Assured. Cash.
to Sum of Annual
out in Atittsured. Premiums.
£ £s. d. £s. d. £s. d.
_lB3B 55 3,000 867 17 7 428 1 4 56 3 8
1841 48 4,000 749 4 0 325 16 0 32 0 4
1845 59 2,000 232 18 0 156 15 0 16 6 0
1848 60 2,000 • 154 2.8 103 16 8 10 15 2
1851 55 2,800 120 17 0 72 14 6 67 7

The following are amongst the advantages offered by the
International Life Assurance Society:—
The Society was established in 1838.
Two-thirds of the profits are divided amongst the assured
every five years.
For prospectuses and every other information, apply to the
Chairman, 142, Strand.
EDMOND S. SIXES, Chairman.
142, Strand, London, W.C.

TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF. SCOTSIVOOD
_RAILWAY BRIDGE BY EIRE.

(From the Northern Daily Express.)
Yesterday. (Wednesday) afternoon intelligence
was received in Newcastle that an alarming fire had
broken out on Scotswood Railway-bridge, and
which threatened the imminent destruction of that
structure. On,proceeding to the scene of the confla-
gration we succeeded, with some difficulty, owing
to the confusion incidental to these catastrophes, in
gleaning the following facts :—lt appears that in
consequence of the frequent expressions of public
opinion as to the unsound state of the bridge, an
eminent engineer was sent down from London by
the Home-office to inspect and report thereon. This
gentleman in due course arrived in Newcastle, and
at 9 o'clock yesterday morning left this town by
special train, accompanied by Mr. Tate, engineer to
the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway Company, and
Mr. Bourne, engineer to the North-Eastern Com-
pany, to make a survey of the bridge. They com-
menced operations about 10 o'clock, and continued
their experiments till about a quarter past 12
o'clock. These experiments were made by means of
two of the heaviest engines in the service of the
Newcastle and Carlisle R4way Company, named
the Alston and the Planet. They were first of all
run abreast to and fro upon the bridge; then the
Alston, being the heaviest, was tried singly. The
Planet was next yoked to a heavy train of coke
waggons, about 44 in number, and, after passing
and repassing over the bridge, was brought by
slow degrees to the centre, and the deflection of the
bridge under the pressure taken. At the conclu-
sion of the experiments, the Government inspector,
having made a few practical suggestions as to
strengthening it, &c., expressed himself satisfied
as to the safety of the bridge. The party then re-
turned to Newcastle. About ten o'clock the train
from Carlisle passed over the bridge, and all seemed
right at that time. Many different reports were
afloat as to the time the fire broke out, varying from
two o'clock to three ; but the latter seems to be the
more general account, as about half-past 3 o'clock
information was given of the occurrence to the loco-
motive department of the Newcastle and Carlisle
Railway, when Mr. A. Hall at once despatched a
special engine with a body of men and a fire engine.
By a simultaneous action on the part of the officials
of the North-Eastern Railway, another engine, also
with a body of men and fire engine, was despatched
from the central station—the latter arriving first.
The fire had commenced about the third arch from
the Scotswood end of the bridge, and was first dis-
covered, we believe, by Thos. Hall, the man who has
charge of the bridge in order to clear it of any cin-
ders that may fall from the engines in passing over
it. He at once attempted, but in vain, to subdue the
flame. The wind was blowing strong at the time
from the west end of, and so right along the bridge,
which, from its inflammable nature—being, con-
structed entirely of wood, thickly tarred and as-
phalted—soon took hold, and was very soon, from'
end to end, one mass of flame. By half-past four
the whole of the parapet had fallen in, leaving
nothing but the piers standing with the wreck of
rail—twisted into all sorts of grotesque shapes by
the intense heat—and the remains of the telegraphic
wares, to say that there had once been a railway
bridge there. By the time the engines arrived the
fire had assumed such alarming proportions, it was
at once seen that all they could do was to direct
their attention to the abutments at either end, so as
to save, if possible, the property in the immediate
vicinity. At the west end they were successful in
this, as by keeping a plentiful supply of water
playing upon that part it received little or no in-
jury beyond being slightly discoloured from the
smoke and the action of the fire upon it. The
mason work is entirely saved ; and the platelayers,
under the direction of Mr. A. Hall, assisted in
cutting off the communication by knocking in
the joints of the rails, so that it might go
clean away. At the Scotswood end of the bridge,
however, they were not so fortunate, as they had
the effects of the strong west wind that prevailed
against them. Almost immediately on the fire
commencing, it communicated itself with the pre-
mises of Messrs. N. Grace and Co., paper-makers,
which immediately adjoin the bridge on that side;
in fact, the bridge itself is the boundary wall on
that side of the mill. Here, too, was an immense
amount of material to feed the fury of the destruc-
tive element. Between the mill and the river the
Messrs. Grace have a wharf, which also extends to
the bridge, on which was lying at the time of the
catastrophe from 100 to 150 barrels of resin. The
attention of Mr. Maule, the esteemed manager of the
mill, was of course first directed to this, and he gave
the necessary instructions to have it at once re-
moved ; but before they could get them away the
fire had extended to the stonework of the bridge,
and so into the yard, and with such velocity that the
immense quantities of resin was in a blaze, defying
the men to come near it, and running like liquid
lava over the quay wall into the river. As soon as
the resin took fire, it commenced with the mechanics'
shop at the western extremity of the premises, in
which, in addition to the workmen's tools, &c., was
stowed upwards of 100 tons of old rope. This was
also soon on fire, but by the united exertions of the
watermen in connection with the mill they suc-
ceededpartiallyengines,
b yb
extinguishingearing
it
bucketsbeforef water
o the ar-
rival
of in
the
and throwing it on the burning mass. About five
o'clock the Newcastle fire engine arrived, and took
up its position on Messrs. Grace's premises, Having
the hydraunts in the yard in connection with the
Whittle Dean, the hose of the engine was attached
thereto, and getting to play upon the flames, soon
stayed their progress. To the east of, but closely

adjOining the mill, are twe\offlces and the dwelling
house of the-manit.<9"'i and; the conflagration so very
soon ShoWing.suclialarming symptoms, it was found
necessarytoyernevethe whole of the furniture from
both into an adjoining field; but by seven o'clock,
the fire being then pretty well subdued, they were
enabled to grtit -back into the-house again. Great
-praise is due-to the•w4kmen of Messrs. Grace and
Co:, for the. intrepiility and activity displayed by
them on the trying_ and fearful occasion, as no
doubt but for 11:eir exertions a deal of valuable pro-
perty would have - boen destroyed. Had the fire
occurred at night in all probability the whole of
the extensive mill and adjoining premises would
have been burnt to the ground ; as it is, the loss
sustained by Messrs. Grace is -estimated at some-
thing like -X5OO. .We are happy to say, however,
that the loss will be covered by insurance. No cause
can be at present ascertained for this fatal and ill-
timed occurrence, but it is probable that an investi-
gation will be made, which, we hope, may throw
light on-the subject. We are informed on autho-
rity.that scarcely any interruption will take place
on the Newcastle and Carlisle line in consequence
of .the ,destruction iof the bridge. The passenger
trains will run as usual, and omnibuses will convey
passengers between Scotswood and Blaydon. Ar-
rangements :have also been made with the North-
Eastern Company to convey the goods and mineral
via Gateshead.

LAUNCH OF A NEW STEAMER FOR

THE GANGES.

- -
The Jurnue, a stew stefm vessel, belonging to ilia.
Oriental Inland Steam Company, and destined for
the navigation of the Ganges, has just been launched
from Messrs. Reid and Co.'s building yard in Port-
Glasgow, and will be immediately towed round to
Liverpool to receive her engines, which have been
constructed by Messrs. Fawcett, Preston, and Co.,
the eminent engineers of that place. The length of
the Jumna is 220 feet; the breadth 30 feet; and the
depth about 71 feet. She is built with two rows
of longitudinal truss work to impart longitudinal
strength, and has also an iron deck beneath, the
wooden one, so that the vessel virtually constitutes a
great iron tube which is divided at intervals by water
tight compartments. The Jumna will be propelled
by engines on the double cylinder principle. There
are two high pressure cylinders of 26 inches diame-
ter, and 6 feet stroke, and two low pressure cylin-
ders of 48 inches diameter and 6 feet stroke. The
steam is generated by four locomotive boilers. The
pressure of the steam is 120 lbs. on the square inch,
which is the pressure now used in locomotives of
the most approved construction. The steam, after
having generated power in the high pressure
cylinders, passes into the low pressure cylinders,
where it again generates power, and finally passes
to the condenser. The condensation of the steam
is effected by extreme cold, so that only pure water
is supplied to the boilers—an object of much im-
portance in muddy rivers like the Ganges. The
engines of the Jumna are expected to work up to
1,200 or 1,300 horses power. The vessel will tow
four barges, each 130 feet long, 30 feet broad, and
7 feet deep, and one barge 160 feet long, 30 feet
broad, and 7 feet deep. The total capacity of these
five barges is about 120,000 cubic feet, or reckon-
ing 40 cubic feet to the ton, 3,000 tons, but on the
average, the train of barges 's not expected to carry
morethan 2,000 tons of cargo. This is at least five
times more than can be carried by the most power-
ful of the steamers at present plying on the Ganges,
and as the power will be generated with great
economy of fuel, vessels of this class may reason-
ably be expected to be very profitable. It is at least
certain; that no vessel of the power and efficiency
of the Jumna has been yet either made or projected
for the navigation of any of the rivers of India, the
nearest approach thereto being the Ganges steamer,
also belonging to the Oriental Inland Steam Com-
pany, and which has proved herself capable of at-
taining a high rate of speed, and of towing a string
of barges with great efficiency. The Jumna, with
water in the boilers, and coal in the coal boxes, will
only draw about 2 feet 3 inches of water. No vessel
ever before built will combine in, so eminent a de-
gree, the three requisites indispensable for the
navigation of the Indian rivers with permanent
success, viz., large engine power, great capacity,
for carrying cargo, and a light draught of water.
The field in which the Oriental Inland Steam
Company have embarked is about one of the most
promising ever yet presented to public attention.
In India we have a vast pOpulous and fertile coun-
try only now fairly thrown open to British enter-
prise, and permeated by great navigable rivers,
which, though shallow at certain seasons and rapid
at other seasons, may be navigated by steam vessels
of appropriate construction, and are at present suc-
cessfully navigated by steam vessels, which, though
deficient in speed and in carrying power, have
already returned large profits to their owners.—
Greenock, Advertiser.