The Sun.
London, England, 1828-10-13 00:00:00

CONSUMPTION.

(From the London Medical Gazette, Oct. 11.)
Nearly fifty years ago the newspapers and public
journals abounded with advertisements, paragraphs,
and letters, boldly asserting that a certain cure had
been found for one of the most destructive diseases
to which this nation iR subject—pulmonary consump-
tion. The names of persons of high rank in the
peerage, those of men distinguished by literary
and scientific pursuits, with a long enumeration of
.ladies of rank, mothers of families, &c. were pub-
lished in attestation of the cures which were said to
be performed by this remedy in their own families,
and. among. their own friends. Some individuals
did not scruple to assert, upon their solemn oaths,
that they had laboured under true consumption, and
had been cured by this infallible remedy ; and cases
were detailed, describing with so much accuracy
the symptoms of phthisis, viz. cough, quickness of
pulse, spitting of blood, pain in the chest, emacia-
tion, night sweats, &c. as to deceive all the ordinary
readers of newspapers.
The evidence brought forward was indeed so
convincing, that not a word was allowed to be
spoken against it; and did it so happen that a
physician ventured to express a doubt upon the
subject—if he questioned the reality of the disease,
or intimated a suspicion• that the patient was
either a dupe or a knave, he was assailed with
the epithets " self-interested," " illiberal," " pre-
judiced," &c.; or was charged with wilfully shut-
ting his eyes to the truth, or of attachment to
antiquated notions, which would prompt him to let
his patients die under the old regimen, rather than
give them the advantage of new. remedies ; in
short, he was looked upon as a hardened sinner,
whose mind was incapable of being enlightened.
Thus the fame -of this medicine seemed established
as upon a rock : far and wide it was dispersed
among multitudes, who really were, or who were
supposed to be, consumptive; and the inventor
soon accumulated vast riches. Meanwhile (as a
reference to the bills of mortality will shew) con-
sumption continued its ravages unabated; nay, even
, at the time when this wonderful medicine was at

the height of its celebrity, when thOusands of bottles
were yearly consumed, the annual average of deaths
by consumption rather increased—a very convincing
proof of the little actual value of the celebrated ve-
getable balsam.

Is there now to be found a single individual
who professes to believe that this medicine will cure
consumption ?
Subsequently several other empirics followed in
the wake of this giant balsam ; and if the advertisers'
assertions were to be credited, pulmonary consump-
tion, in its most aggravated form, was to be cured
by their nostrums ; every symptom of the disease
was to yield, one after another, to the all-powerful
remedy ; and he who, to use the vulgar phraseology,
was " coughing up his very lungs one month," was
sure to have them completely regenerated before the
end of the next. Unfortunately for the proprietors
of these medicines, they had neither peers of the
realm, nor members of parliament, nor philosophical
and literary men, nor scientific ladies, to attest the
efficacy of their medicines ; so that they soon fell into
deserved oblivion, and the projectors were disap-
pointed of making fortunes.
That medicines, invented by men ignorant of every
principle of the art, should fail to cure consumption,
' cannot excite much surprise : but were these the
only proposers of remedies for this disease ? Most
.certainly not, Physicians of the highest character and
attainments have entertained and held out to the
world hopes of curing, by various remedies, this
afflicting malady. Unfortunately their most san-
guine expectations have been disappointed. The
broad line of distinction, however, between the
honest physician and the Charlatan, has always been
observed : the physician has published to the world
the method he has been induced to adopt—the Char-
latan has always enveloped his proposed remedy in
impenetrable darkness and secrecy.
A new aspirant to tile honour of having discover-
ed a cure for phtbisis has lately appeared, and the
consequence is, that many who are, or who are sup-
posed to be consumptive, have been placed under
his care. Whether he be a mere pretender, or whe-
ther he be in possession of any means of curing thil
complaint, time will discover ; one thing is certain,
and it casts a most woful suspicion over the whole
business—hefears the scrutinizing eye of inquiry—
he dares ndt open his method to investigation.
lAAPANOPC2I.IOI:.

Several Roman Catholic Gentry have joined
the Brunswick Club in the county of Galway.—Cork
Constitution.

A Brunswick Club lrts been established at
Carrigallin—it has heen joined by upwards of 400 mew-
hers, It is expected that almost every town in the county
of Leitrim will, ere long,, have its Brunswick Club.—
Cork Constitution.

Mr. O'CoNNELL was to leave Darrinane
Abbey yesterday, for Tralee, where a meeting will be held
to-morrow, relative to the Borough. On Sunday the
meeting of the county of Derry is to take place. It is ex-
pected to be an assemblage of great magnificence and inte-
rest. On Tuesday Mr. O'CoNNELL is expected to reach
Kilkenny.—Dublin Morning Register of Friday.
The East and West India Trades have in the
first three quarters of the present year been much more
active than in the corresponding quarters of last year. The
encrease in the imports of East India produce has been.
most remarkable; of Indigo 30,950 chests have arrived,
against 13,020 up to the same period last year. The
increase in the import of East India Cotton has been 7,000
bales ; of Coffee, 13,000 bags ; of Mauritius Sugars,
112,000 bags; of Rice, 21,000 bags; of Raw Silks,
1,400 bales ; of Ginger, 4,400 bags, and of Cloves, 1,000
bags. The imports of Saltpetre are 7,000 bags less than
last year ; of Pepper, 44,000 bags ; of Cinnamon, 7,300
bags ; and of Sugars (not Mauritius) 27,000 bags. Of
West India Sugars, the importation this year has beers
138,847 hhds. and tres., being 20,000 hhds. more than
arrived in the first three quarters of last year. The stock of
Coffee is nearly equal ; of Rum, 28,272 puns. ; of Cotton,
from 5,000 to 6,000 bales more than last year; West
India Sugars are from 9s. to 10s. per cwt. lower than in
last October, and Coffee the same ; Rum bears about the
same value; East India Coffee, Rice, Saltpetre, Indigo,
and Raw Silks are higher; while Spices generally are
lower than at this period last year.

There are rumours afloat in this city of serious
disturbances, through military aggression, having taken
place at Carrick-on-Suir on the evenings of Monday and
Tuesday. We had a letter yesterday from an active and
intelligent Magistrate of that neighbourhood, and which
bears the post-mark of that town ; but our esteemed
correspondent makes no allusion to any such unpleasant
occurrences.—Leinster Journal.

HALIFAX, OCT. 4.—The trade of this
place, like that of Bradford, has declined very precipi7
tately during the last two or three weeks, which is mainly
attributable to the present unsettled state of affairs is
Portugal.-:-.Leeds Mercury.

NAVAL. CHARITABLE SOCIETY.-A meet-
ing of the above Society was held this day at the Thatched
House Tavern, Lieutenant-Governor Baow ELL, of Green-
wich Hospital, in the Chair. The Secretary read the
report, which afforded a very gratifying picture of the ad-
vantages which this Societ y has bestowed on the widows
and orphans of sea officers, a class of individuals eminently
deserving or national- sympathy and commiseration. The
cases of several applicants for relief were disposed of, and
the name of Sir BENJAMIN HALLOWELL added to the list
of Vice-Presidents; after which the meeting adjourned.

.The London smack, while steering her course,
at eleven o'clock on the night of the 9th instant, was run
down by the Soho steam-vessel, 180-horse power. The
crew and some officers of the detachment cut the boat
down and cleared the wreck. Captain MacxErtzlE, on
going on deck, immediately silenced the confusion amongst
the soldiers, and in.tiae most cool manner, after the lady
passengers refused to go below until the boats should be along-
side, sent a serjeant and men to detain them inside the
cabin. Notwithstanding his being hurt by the tiller rud-
der, the great stability of his command, and the cries of
women and children, he was cool, and went on board the
steam-vessel and insisted on taking• the passengers and
troops on board, detaining the mate on board the sinking,
ship until his requisition was peremptorily obeyed. Cap-
tain A:tact:EN z te's company of the Royals deserves every
[encomium.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

PENRITH RACES.

FRIDAY, OCT. 10.—Fifty sous, given by the Town of

.
Pennth, for all ages. Heats, three miles.
Mr. Margetson's Brunswick, 4 yrs 1 1
Mr. Rountree's Trouncer, 4 yrs ... 2 2
Mr. Simpson's Young Comus, 5 yrs 3 dr

A Sweepstakes of 5 guineas each, with 20 added. Heats,
two miles.

Mr. J. Pocklington's Agnes, 3 yrs 1 1
Sir J. Boswell's Kutusoff, aged
Sir C. J. Musgrave's Yanwath Lass, 5 yrs 3 3
Mr. T. Hudson's Miracle, 5 yrs 5 4
Mr. E. W. RaseWs Mr. Fry, 4 yrs

NEWMARKET SECOND OCTOBER MEETING.

NEWMARKET, SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
From the influence which the races of the coming week
must necessarily have on the great betting stakes of next
year, the meeting will be more fully attended than the last.
Betting will be heavy,. and the results of, the Two-yr-old
Stakes to he decided of considerable importance. The
two influential races will be the Clearwell and Prendergast
stakes (Tuesday and Friday), for which, besides several
others, the following Derby and Oaks horses are entered :
Duke of Richmond's Scimetar
Duke of Grafton's sister to Latimer
Lord Exeter's Green Mantle
Lord Exeter's f. by Sultan—Advance
Lord Exeter's c. by Sultan—Athenian's darn
Lord Grosvenor's c. by Blacklock—Bombasin
Lord Jersey's Will-o'-the-Wisp
Lord Lowther's c. Gambol
Lord Lowther's c. St. Lawrence
Lord Lowther's c. Verderer
General Grosvenor's Daystar
Mr. Rush's f. by Reveller—Romp
Mr. Scott Stonehewer's The Lion
Mr. Scott Stoneherver's b. e. Chiron
Mr. Princes c. by Centaur
Mr. Meynell's c. by Gulliver
Mr. Meynell's f. by Gulliver
. Lord Seaton's c. by Morisco,--Mons
Lord Orford's Tancreda
Mr. Greville's Mohican
Mr. Ridadale's Smutta
Lord Anson's f. by Tramp—Prue
Colonel Russell's re. by Orville—Epsom Lass
Mr. Forth's Ragazza
Mr. Dilly's Kean
Mr. Dilly's Zeuxis
Mr. Dilly's Canary
Mr. Payne's c. by Walton—Miss Wssp
Mr. Wilson's f. by Juggler
Mr..Perkins's Daneeaway
Mr. Chifney's c. by Gustavus—Blue Stockings.

From the uncertainty which at present prevails as to
how many and what will start, there has not been any
betting on either of the stakes. Green Mantle, however,
if she runs, from having won the July Stakes, will no
doubt be a favourite (she is in both stakes), and Will-o'•
the-Wisp will also be a favourite, if he starts. The Lion
has twice run a winner this year, and will no doubt be
backed. The Oatlands is in the list for Wednesday, with
19 subscribers; the horses are to be named to-morrow;
the weights fixed by half-past twelve on Tuesday, and the
forfeits declared in half an hour after. If ten remain in,
there will be two classes; and if fifteen,• a third class will
he made ; it is expected that it will form two classes. The
whip challenge and snatch for 200 am., between Lord
Cleveland's 'Memnon and Colonel Wilson's Lamplighter,
lOst. each, 8.C., is not expected to be run, as the Colo-
nel, we believe, will have the whip instead of his horse :
we are induced to state the probability of there not being
a race, from the report in June last, that Memnon was
put out of training, and would net again appear in public,
otherwise we should think that he would have a good
chance against Lamplighter, being a year older, carrying
the same weight, and over a ten mile course.
Since the last London quotation, nothing of consequence
has been done in the Derby or Oaks, for which the fa-
vourites occupy the same places in the odds as they did a
week back. Some changes, however, may be looked for
after the ensuing week's races.
Of the races in the list for to-morrow, the most inte-
resting is the Garden Stakes, of.loo sous. each. T.M.M.,
for which the weights are fixed thus :
Duke of Richmond's Alderman, 6 yrs, Bst. 10lb.
Mr. Payne's Shakspeare, 5 yrs, Bst. 1016.
Lord G. H. Cavendish's Rapid Rhone, 4 yrs, Bst. 61b.
Lord Verulam's Brocard, 4 yrs, 7st. 131 b.
Lord Sefton's Bobadilla, 3 yrs, 7st. 81b.
Mr. Stonehewer's Kildare, 3 yrs, 7st. 81b.
Mr. Pettit's Rough Robin, 3 yrs, 7st. 81b.
Lord G. Cavendish's Ridicule f., 3 yrs, 6st. 111 b.
Duke of Grafton's Nutmeg, 3 yrs, 6st. Mb.
It will be seen by this that the young horses are very fa-
v ourably handicapped, and so think the betting men, who
have Brocard first at 3 to 1, Bobadilla ball a point snore,
and offer 4 and 5 to 1 agst any other. If the light weights
are to have it, we should say that Bobadilla, from public
running, ought to have the call of Brocard, for she proved

at Ascot, where she beat ail the crack horses for the Cup,
that with a favourable weight she could run two miles as
well as the best of them. If either of the old horses wins,
it must be from superior strength. -
Besides this stakes, there will be three or four others ;
a match for 200 sous. A.F., between Lord Southampton's
Lepanto, Bst. 81h. and the Duke of Portland's brother to
Emilius, Bst., creates some interest ; the former having
run a good horse in the Craven Stakes, and an excellent
second to Cadland for the 2,000 guineas stakes, in which
he was beat by a head only ; the other won the Riddles-
worth, without beating any thing goad, and has since per-
formed very indifferently. Lepanto is of course the
favourite, as nothing can give Emilius a chance but the
allowance of 81b. ; there is also a match for 200 sovereigns
each, over the T. M. M. course, between Mr. Forth's
Grey Surrey, Bst. 31b., and Mr. Weatherley's Tokay, 9st.
sib. ; neither of the horses is of any note, nor does the
match excite the least interest. Mr. Pettit's Zoe pays 75,
sovereigns in her match for 200 with Mr. Payne's Belzoni.
For the one-third of a subscription of 25 sovereigns
each, for three year-old colts, Bst. 91b., and fillies, Sst. 61b.
A. F. (bona fide the property of subscribers), the follow-
ing horses were named at the King's stables yesterday
morning :
Colonel Wilson's gr. c. by Young Gohanna—Spotless
Duke of Grafton's Turquoise
Lord Wharncliffe, Lord Jersey, Lord Egremont, and
Greville, did not name.
Two or three fresh matches appear in the list ; one for
Thursday, between Lord Tavistock's e. by Tiresias, out of
Governess, and Earl Grosvenor's Daystar, by Phantom,
out of Moonshine, both two-years old, Bst. 71b. each.
T. Y. C: 50 sovereigns, h. ft. For Friday, 200 toes.
each, between Mr. Payne's Oppidan and Lord Sefton's
Bobadilla, carrying Bst. 71b. each. D. M. h. ft.
The match for 200 sovereigns, between Mr. Payne's
Belzoni and Mr. Pettit's Rough Robin, will not be run,
the former receiving 75 sovereigns forfeit.
Among others of the Nobility now here are the Duke
and Duchess of Richmond, the Duke of Rutland, Earl
and Countess of Sefton, and the Ladies Molyneux, &c.
The weather is fine, the turf in good order, and there is
every appearance of a busy meeting.