The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-03 00:00:00

Blackwood.

There is an interesting article called " Medita-
tions on Dyspepsia," and it will doubtless be perused
by several with eagerness as referring to an affliction
which so many have to endure, or persuade them-
selves that they have to encounter till the imaginary
evil, is a 5; great as the real one. There is some
excellent advice on many points offered in this
sketch, and one very happy illustration is the
following vivid account of a sos disant fashionable
repast :
Tackle we, then, to the food before us at one of those
sumptuary banquets. There are two soups—one brown,
with a few shreds of carrot; the other white, purporting
to be derived from oysters. The first, if not dishwashings,
is simply attenuated beef-tea—the second is a compound
thickened by flour, not very much more digestible than
liquid plaster-of-Paris, Next comes the fish. At the top
is a plateau of small whitings, with their tails in their
mouths, carefully covered by a cloth which has sodden them
in their own steam. They are cold as the plates which the
waiter thrusts for their reception, and the butter with which
they are to be eaten is likewise adulterated with flour.
At the bottom is a superb codfish, so thick that the heat has
not been able to penetrate the interior, whence it happens
that beyond a few of the outside flakes, the bulk of it is
raw, against which (though raw fish is undoubtedly diges-
tible) most people entertain a prejudice. Then follow four
corner-dishes, well-known to diners-out, and apparently
inseparable—oyster-patties, curried chickens, sweetbread,
and stewed pigeons. For pieces de resistance you have roast-
beef, and turkey or fowls, with the concomitants of tongue
or ham. Luke-warm vegetables are handed round in a
beastly triangular dish. There may be a mayonnaise—if
there is, shun it as though it had been prepared by the
hands of the daughter of the Borgias. Then comes scorched
leveret or bloody wild-ducks, and a dubious kind of pudding,
which, as a peptic philosopher, you eschew. Then there
are ices and comfits, which precede the perambulation of the
second-growth claret. . _ _

Our ancestors, whatever might be their faults, were par-
ticular as to their wines, and when they had secured a good
vintage, set their faces against divergence. We, on the
contrary, make fools of ourselves by yielding to the solicita-
tions of foreign bacchanalian bagmen, and order what they
call "mixed cases," containing every kind of imaginable
rot-gut. Most of these, if scientifically analysed, would
prove to be of the nature of vinegar ; and where is
the stomach so preternaturally tough as to resist the
baneful action of a mixture of such corrosive fluids ? If
you partake, as you probably will be tempted to do, of ice
and curagoa, with coffee afterwards, you have simply—ex-
cuse the bluntness of the phrase—made your carcass a vat
for fermentation. Three banquets of this sort per week,
extending over a period of three months during which
time you can take little or no exercise, will bring on dy-
spepsia as surely as the liver of a sacrificial gander ex-
pires before the fires of Strasburg.

There is a story entitled " The Rector of Carling-
ford," which is smartly written, and exhibits in an
amusing manner the peculiarities of the dignitary
who was transplanted from the solemn serenity of
the classic shades of Oxford to a country town.
There his miseries were extreme : he was averse to
the society of ladies, yet he seemed unaccountably
thrust into their company. After many adventures
and mishaps, he was only too glad to relinquish the
unsatisfactory attempt and to return to his old
place. The descriptions of the various characters
and some of the conversations are life-like and ani-
mated, and this incident in a singular man's career
has many points which may render it attractive to
the reader. " The Art Student in Rome," is a plea-
sing paper that also conveys some wise hints to the
votary of art. It especially advocates the import-
ance of a sojourn in Italy to all artistic tastes, as
being of essential benefit in forming the style and
elevating the ideas and enabling the beholder to
store his mind with rich remembrances for far off
future days. " For if the mind loves to cherish
some one period of its former history more than
others, it is, we think; those hours when the poetic
nature first kindled into sensitive enjoyment, when
the still slumbering powers of fancy, striving with
undefined longings, found in a world of beauty a
sphere of unimagined bliss. If the artist's life be
envied, it is for scenes of subtle refined emotion such
as these, wherewith minds of grosser frame are not
permitted to intermeddle. The painter may be
denied perchance the luxuries bought by gold, but
he is chosen for nature's favourite and playmate
and shares the bounties which are showered on the
lilies of the field. He may boast of no high birth or
lineage but his is the heritage of the sky. The poet
in the well-known lines of Schiller comes too late
to take his part in the division of the world, and the
gods, in recompense make him a denizen of the
heavens. And surely if in any favoured spot on
earth the artist be given a charmed existence it is
in the clime of Italy. The sun showers brightly his
golden rays and the moon her silvery beauty, the
landscape is fertile in the olive and the vine, and life
moves on ward in tranquil contentment devoid of
care. Nature is everywhere realising pictures and
man weaving a romance, and the student has but
to surrender himself to the poetry of the passing
hour to make his mind a welcome habitation to all
the beauteous thoughts that flock on every side,
and thus fostering in himself the artist growth, his
works will be true to the nature that lives around
" Scotland and her Accusers" sears-reference to
some opinions that have lately been expressed in
various quarters regardigg the land of the north. Of
course, in the pages of this periodical these asper-
sions are met with the most decided negatives, and
these assaults are repelled with indignation.
However, the readers will find that the views taken
are fairly expressed and the tone moderate, while
it is decisive. There is a paper on Burton's
Anatomy of Melancholy," which will interest some
from its learned discussion of the merits of that
singular work. There are some humorous verses
called " The Memory of Monboddo " that will
satisfy the lovers of the ludicrous. There is also a
long article on "The Persian War."

Fraser's Magazine.

Fraser has this month a more than usually at-
tractive table of contents. We have first the open-
ing chapters of a story entitled " Barren Honour,"
from the pen of the brilliant, though sometimes
extravagant author of "Guy Livingstone," and
" Sword and Gown." Whatever may be the
defects or deficiencies of his style, want of power
and originality cannot be ranked among them, and
his works can scarcely fail to secure the attention
of the reader. It is impossible to judge of the story
by its first three chapters; but the author, after
introducing us to the family seat of the Vavasours,
plunges at once into what is generally the grand
crisisOf novels, and shows us a favoured lover plead-
ing his suit with a stately father, and a fair damsel
confiding her hopes and wishes to a treacherous
but softspoken mother. An interesting paper on
the " Literature and Philosophy of the Early
Christian Ascetics" gives us some account of the
most famous of those pious hermits, who withdrew
from the strife and wickedness which reigned
supreme in crowded cities, to pass their lives in
study and contemplation. The general impression
with regard to these solitaries, the writer represents
to be altogether mistaken, and their lives were,
he considers, by means unenviable. He reminds us
that retiring to a cave in Egypt, Nubia, or Meso-
potamia, is a very different thing from dwelling its
a cave or hut on the hills of Westmoreland or the
Highlands. A cave in hot countries is a most deli-
cious retreat—a placed coveted and sought after—
" From storms a shelter, and from heat a shade."
He reminds us, too, that the diet of these anchorites,
who subsisted on the herbs and fruits of the wilder-
ness, must by no means be compared to the wild
haws and blackberries which would be all that
could be obtained in similar circumstances in colder
and less genial climes. The grape, the orange, the
pomegranate, and the fig, with similar productions,
are not insufficient for the wants of nature in those
warm regions. It seems they employed their lei-
sure to, good purpose, since numerous works of
value have been left behind them. The essay before
us brings down the list to the solitaries of the eighth
century, some of whose works contain passages of
remarkable merit. "A. K. H. 8.," whose initials
are always welcome, contributes a brief but impres-
sive paper on the pathos dwelling in the little word
" gone." Following it are two articles both well
worthy of perusal, the first on " The Census of Ire-
land," the second on " Manners and Morals, as
affected by Civilisation." The latter discusses many
of those startling problems which perplex oar social
reformers, and refuse to be theorised away. One of
the most remarkable papers in the number is un-
doubtedly that from the pen of Sir Benjamin
Brodie on the Homcepathec system; which, from the
eminence of the author, the interest felt by many
in the subject, and the clearness and sound sense
with which it is written, will certainly attract much
attention. The case against Homcepathy could
scarcely be stated more strongly or with less acri-
mony, and the observations of an authority of so
great repute and experience will probably carry
much weight with the undecided. We subjoin
some of the more striking passages—
There is a rule, which, by some of the Homoeopathic
writers, is held to be of great importance. The doses of
[ medicine administered by ordinary practitioners are repre-
sented to be very much too large. It is unsafe to have re-
course to them, unless reduced to an almost infinitesimal
point ; not only to the millionth, but sometimes even to the
billionth of a grain. Now observe what this means. Sup-
pe •ing one drop of liquid medicine to be equivalent to ono
grain, then, in order to obtain the millionth part of that
dose, you must dissolve that drop in 13 gallons of water,
and administer only One drop of that solution; while, in
order to obtain the billionth of a grain, you must dissolve
the aforesaid drop in 217,014 hogsheads of water. Of
course, it is plain that this could not practically be accom-
plished, except by successive dilutions; and this would be
a troublesome process. Whether it be at all probable that
any one ever undertook to carry it out, I leave you to judge.
At any rate, I conceive that there is no reasonable person
who would not regard the exhibition of medicine in so
diluted a form as being equivalent to no treatment at all.
But however this may be, I may be met by the assertion
that there is undoubted evidence that a great number of
persons recover from their eomplaints under homoeopathic
treatment, and I do not pretend in the least degree to deny
it. In a discourse addressed by myself to the students of
St. George's Hospital, in the year 1838 I find the follow-
ing remarks ;•..." There is another inquiry which 81=14 by

always made, before you determine on the adoption of a
particular method of treatment ; what will happen in
this case, if no remedies whatever be employed, if the
patient be left altogether to nature or to the efforts of his
own constitution ? . . . . . The animal system is
not like a clock or a steam engine, which, being broken,
you must send to the clockmaker or engineer to mend it •
and which cannot be repaired otherwise. The living
machine, unlike the works of human invention, has the
power of repairing itself; it contains within itself its own
engineer, who, for the most part, requires no more then
some very slight assistance at our hands." This
truth admits, indeed, of a very large application.
If the arts of medicine and surgery had never
been invented, by far the greater number of those who
suffer from bodily illness would have recovered nevertheless.
An experienced and judicious medical practitionerinaws
this very well, and considers it to be his duty, in the great
majority of cases, not so much to interfere by any active
treatment, as to take care that nothing should obstruct the
natural process of recovery ; and to watch lest, in the
progress of the case, any new circumstance should arise
which would make his active interference necessary. If
any one were to engage in practice, giving his patients
nothing but a little distilled water, and enjoining a careful
diet, and a prudent mode of life otherwise, a certain num-
ber of his patients would perish for the want of further
help ; but more would recover ; and homceopathic globules
are, I doubt not, quite as good as distilled water.
But this does not account for all the success of homoeo-
pathy. In this country there is a large proportion of in-
dividuals who have plenty of money, combined with a
great lack of employment ; and it is astonishing to what an
extent such persons contrive to imagine diseases for them-
selves. There is no animal machine so perfect that there
may not at times be some creaking in it. Want of exercise,
irregularity as to diet, a little worry of mind—these, and a
thousand other causes, may occasion uneasy feelings, to
which constant attention and thinking of them will give a
reality which they would not have had otherwise, and such
feelings will disappear as well under the use of globules as
they would under any other mode of treatment, or under
no treatment at all.

What I have now mentioned will go far towards explain-
ing the success of homoeopathy. But other circumstances
occur every now and then, from which, when they do
occur, it profits to a still greater extent. Humanum est
srrare. From the operation of this universal law medical
practitioners are not exempt, any more than statesmen,
divines, lawyers, engineers, or any other profession. There
are cases in which there is a greater chance of too much
than too little being done for the patient ; and if a patient
under such circumstances becomes the subject of homoeo-
pathic treatment, this being no treatment at all, he actually
derives benefit from the change.
In a discourse to which I have alreadyalluded, Ithought
it my duty to offer the following caution to my pupils :
" The first question which should present itself to you in
the management of a particular case is this—ls the disease
one of tt hich the patient may recover, or is it not ? There
are, indeed, too many cases in which the patients condi
tion is so manifestly hopeless, that the fact cannot be
overlooked. Let me, however, caution you that you do
not in any instance arrive too hastily at this conclusion.
Our knowledge is not so absolute and certain as to pre-
vent even well-informed persons being occasionally mis-
taken on this point. This is true, especially with respect
to the affections of internal organs. Individuals have been
restored to health who were supposed to be dying of disease
in the lungs or mesenteric glands." . . . . . . "It
is a good rule in the practice of our art, as in the common
affairs of life, for us to look on the favourable side of the
question, as far as we can consistently with reason do so."
I might have added that hysterical affections are especially
a source of error to not very experienced practitioners, by
simulating more serious disease ; seeming to resist for a
time all the efforts of art, and then all at once sub-
siding under any kind of treatment, or, just as well, under
none at all. Now, if it should so happen that a medical
practitioner, from want of knowledge or from a natural
defect of judgment, makes a mistake in his diagnosis, and
the patient whom he had unsuccessfully treated, afterwards
recovers under the care of another practitioner, it is simply
said Dr. A. was mistaken ;" and it is not considered as
anything very remarkable that the symptoms should sub-
side while under the care of Dr. B. But if, on the other
hand, the recovery takes place under the care of a homoeo-
pathist, or any other empiric, the circumstance excites a
much larger portion of attention; and we really cannot
very well wonder that, with such knowledge as they pos-
sess of these matters, the empiric should gain much credit
with the public.
So far the practical result would seem to be that homceo-
pathy can be productive of no great harm; and, indeed,
considering it to be no treatment at all, whenever it is a
substitute for bail treatment, it must be the better of the
two. But there is great harm, nevertheless. There are
numerous cases in which spontaneous recovery is out of the
question ; in which sometimes the life or death of the
patient, and at other times the comfort or discomfort of his
existence for a long time to come, depends on the prompt
application of active and judicious treatment. In such cases
homoeopathy is neither more nor less than a mischievous
absurdity ; and I do not hesitate to say that a very large
number of persons have fallen victims to the faith which
they reposed in it, and to the consequent delay in having
recourse to the use of proper remedies.
The story of " Good for Nothing" advances with
everyone at cross-purposes, and poor Gilbert Orme
rushing fast to ruin. A paper on "Parish Regis-
ters" brings to light some quaint old records, and
reminds us of the varied information that may be
gathered from their musty pages.

The United Service Magazine.
This number opens with an article on the organi
zation of the army, in which, after considering in
detail many incongruities in the management of
affairs at the Horse Guards, the writer remarks
that " no good can come of a divided authority in
military affairs, such as exists between the Horse
Guards and the War-office; where the division is
of such a natilres that 112.012Auraal.efilligr, mytir;
is followed by one upon the Government of the
Navy Bill, many of the clauses of which are very
severe, and, in our opinion, unjust_ One in parti-
cular, which is censured by.our contemporary, gives
power to the commander of a ship at his own dis-
cretion to send any seaman to gaol for various
periods up to three months for being absent without
leave, &c., and for desertion. Now this we consider
most unjust, for until proper naval prisons are erected
it is not fair to send a seaman to a common gaol to
associate with crime in all its phases for a fault
which, however criminal in the. eyes of the service,
is trivial, compared with the crime for which the
felon is committed to Maidstone or any other pri-
son. It may be,fun to the pickpocket, it is death
to Jack. It is not long since the arbitrary power
of inflicting corporal punishment was taken away
from the commanding officer, but it is replaced with
a power even more terrible. There is a short paper
on the proposed reconstruction of our military
system, which is followed by an article by Theseus,
on the decline of the British Sailing Navy, in which
after lamenting the decay of the Old " Wooden
Walls,"he remarks that, although it may be neces-
sary to substitute iron in many cases, and that the
Government do rightly in selling off many of the
old vessels which are unconvertible, that neverthe-
less they should be cautious, and remember that
there are now lying in our navy harbours many fine
ships which have never been put in commission,
that the increase of our steam navy require a corre-
spending increase of coal depots on foreign stations,
and that many of our hulks are rotten and nearly
done for, and therefore before putting up new ships
to auction where probably they will not realise one-
fourth their cost, they should supply all the require-
ments of the service as regards hulks, coal depots, &c.
Under the head of" Soldiering in the United States,"
the American question is considered in a very sen-
sible and quiet way. The character of the indi-
vidual American as a soldier, his contempt of con-
trol, and his peculiarities, as well as the component
parts of the present army, are interesting. It is
contended that " the affair at Bull's Run was no
battle, but rather a row of an undisciplined mob, for
nobody knew exactly anything about its commence-
ment or finish; that there were no manceuvres or
preliminary movements, it being said that even the
commander-in•chief was not aware that any move
was about to take place." After going into all the
probable consequences of this unfortunate civil war,
the writer comes to the conclusion, "that although
the American is a braggart he is no coward." We
find a long account of the Koech Bodo and Dhimal
tribes, whose whereabouts, for the benefit of our
readers, we may remark, is the northtrn part of
Bengal, towards Delimket. A pleasing description
of Sierra Leone is to be found in " A Narrative of
Adventures on the West Coastof Africa, showing
how the Writer got to and from it." Papers on the
" Cession of Sardinia to France," "Naval Adminis-
tration in Parliament," and "The Future of
Cavalry," together with " The Editor's Portfolio,"
and the naval and military information for the
month completes the number.

The St. James's Magazine.
The accomplished editress of this pleasant mis-
cellany has contributed largely to its pages this
month. We have no less than three articles from
• her pen. She continues the story of the impulsive
, and unfortunate Mildred, the heroine of" Can Wrong
be Right?" who sees, at last, a ray of light through
her troubles. Mrs Hallgives us, besides, a very plea-
sant account of a September passed at Borcette, which
she describes as "a steaming, bubbling, boiling, bath-
ing, hot water-drinking offish of of Aix-la-Chapelle,"
possessing, however, many advantages over that
more pretentious place of resort, for real invalids, to
whom quiet, cleanliness and cheapness are essentials.
The remaining paper, by Mrs. Hall, is a charming
little tale for the young of the household, telling
the story of " A Great Trial," how bravely it was
met and conquered. Mr. S. C. Hall tells us
something of what the Qneen will and will not
have seen in her visit to the sister country. The
contrasts between 1815 and 1861 are striking, and
forcibly put. The reader will find much to interest
him in this paper, as well as learning something of
the changes that have taken place since the time
when eightpence a-day was considered high wages
for a labourer. In conclusion the writer expresses
his confidf nt hope that since most of the happy
changes described have been effected in the
last quarter of a century, another such
lapse of time may bring about even greater
and more extensive blessings, and that those
then living may see "bigotry losing its hold—the
undue or baneful influence of one mind over another
mind ceasing—habits of thrift and forethought becoming coi.stitutional--industry receiving its lull I
acknowledged—s tobte rich
recompense—oultivation passing over the bogs
up th, 74-aountains—the law recognised and
pdeiarntyafnudllypruolitedcetrosrt—jteanraigahelsiloavve as a guar-
.. pp-
tqsting the poor, e.nd the poor confiding in the

rich—absenteeism no longer a weighty evil; in a
word, CAPITAL circulating freely and securely."
That these happy results may be speedily brought
about both Englishmen and Irishmen must heartily
desire. There is a brief paper on the Population
of Scotland, Ireland, and the United Kingdom,
giving a summary of the alterations in the num-
bers, apparent in the recent census returns. There
is an article entitled " The Domestic Grievance,"
which is well worthy of attention. It alludes to
the household management of large establishments
where the government of the lower regions is
exclusively committed to the housekeeper, who not
unfrequently falls a victim to the temptations
placed in her way, and even if not absolutely dis-
dishonest, generally encourages a system of waste
and extravagance, hurtful alike to masters and ser-
vants. It is suggested that this office of housekeeper
should be filled by gentlewomen, who would bring
to it a degree of moral responsibility and authority,
very seldom found in the ranks of paid servants.
There is nothing derogatory in the task of keeping
accounts, engaging servants, and generally supe-
rintending a household, since it is what ladies of
the middle class are accustomed to do in their own
homes. If the office were included among the
few which ladies in reduced circumstances may
creditably fill, the result would probably be satis-
faotory to both employer and employed. The Rev.
J. C. Cox contributes a paper on " English Music,"
strongly denying the assertion that we are not a
musical people ; a fact sufficiently disproved by
both singers and hearers at the recent musical(
festival in one of our busiest commercial towns.
Anthony Trollope has the courage and originality
to write in behalf of our much contemned National
Gallery. Of the external beauty of the building
nothing can be said, but its contents are not valued
as they should be by many among us. Mr. Trol-
lope comments on our singular English fashion of
depreciating everything we do, and says we are not,
content with washing our soiled linen in public,
but we are also in the habit of declaring that the
linen just come from the wash, has been neither
starched or ironed. We have also a very interest-
ing article on the Royal Mint, describing the pro-
cesses of coining, and giving several ilhlstrations
of the machines employed. There are two poeti-
cal contributions, one of which gives us some
graceful and feeling verses on the death of the
late lamented Madame Catherine Hayes.

Orley _Farm. By Anthony Trollepe. Part VII.
In the last number we were introduced to four
separate Christmas circles, /out the tale advanced
little,though enoughwas hinted to foreshadowcoming
events. This month, however, we go more ahead.
Mr. Furnival begins seriously to consider the case
of Lady Mason, he has an interview with Mat
Round, the leading member of the firm of Round.
and Crook, the attorneys engaged for Joseph.
Mason, and finds that Lady Mason is likely to be
indicted for forgery. His conversation with Mr.
Crabwitz, his indignant clerk, is highly amusing.
Sir Peregrine Orme's interview with Lady
Mason, his evident desire to make her Lady
Orme, even after an interview with Mr. Farnival,
delineates the peculiar characters of the different individuals ; but the most exciting portion of this
number relates to the party assembled atNoningsby,
consisting of some of the principal dramatis persona.
Lusius Mason, conceited though he be, possesses
considerable common sense, and has fallen in love
with Sophia Furnival, who, although she does not
encourage him, still does not bid him despair, but,
like the daughter of a lawyer, while she will not
throw a chance away, neither will she commit herself.
She shows her tact when, carried away by his
ardour in the drawing room on the evening of
Christmas-day, he asks her to give him her hand.
in confirmation of some promise she has made. She
does so without any hesitation, but immediately
takes her candle and retires to rest, " having
sacrified the remainder of that evening for
the sake of acceding to Mr. Mason's request respect-
ing her pledge. It could not be counted strange
that she should give her hand to the gentleman
with whom she was immediately talking as she
bade him good night." Young Peregrine Orme is
deeply smitten with the charms of Madeline
Stavely, but somehow, although bold enough in.
other matters, he cannot find his tongue at this
important occasion. We are introduced to two
thoroughgoing, sporting young ladies, the Miss
Tristrams, whose character will be best understood
by the concluding lines in the number There is
no gate that way, Miss Tristram,' said a gentle-
man. There's a double ditch and bank that will
do as well,' said she, and away she went directly
after the hounds, regardless altogether of gates."