Star.
London, England, 1824-08-20 00:00:00

the 29th, very evidently a case of diarrhoea ; she was
but h short time ill altogether ; there is no remark that
she had been ill of diarrhea previously to that. There
is a case recorded also of G— ; he was received
into the Institution on November the 9th, 1820, and
from 20th May, 1821, his first admission into the Infir-
mary, the history of his disease throughout rather tends
to shew, that consumption was the leading feature of
his complaint ; but that after a long continued illness
he died, having had diarrhoea only three days before he
died ; the termination was diarrhoea. Ellie next case is
that of he was received into the Penitentiary
on the 18th of May, 1821 ; he was sent to the Infirmary
on the 26th of September in the same year with fever,
and in a day or two small-pex made its appearance,
and the boy bad a very narrow escape of his life, after
being sent down to the pentagon from the 23d of No.
vember ; on the Ist of December following, he was,
again removed into the Infirmary, with pain in his side
and diarrhea, of which he died on January the Ist in
the next year, being just a month ill of diarrhoea; this
boy, it may be recollected, was in an extremely languid
state when be left the Infirmary, occasioned by a very
severe attack of small-pox. It appears upon the face
of this paper, that there were but two that you would
call undoubted cases of diarrhea; there is an observa-
tion that I should wish to make, with a view to shew,
that the disease of diarrhea in the latter days was of a
very different character to the disease which first pre.
vailed ; the disease originally had crept in very insi-
diously, without any marked symptom ; but, in all the
litter cases, it was generally preceded with considerable
head-ache and bilious vomiting, which makes a great
difference between the original character of the disease,
and the latter character, which also I think explains
why the first disease was dependent upon that diet, and
why the latter state of the disease savoured so much
of contagion.
Are you at all aware that attempts at imposture were
common in the Penitentiary ?—No doubt can be en-
tertained about it ; probably the Committee are ac-
quainted with the circumstance that the people were
bargaining for each othersevacaations, that they might
deceive the physicians.
Was not that fact known to the world before the
,present inquiry ?—That was.not published to the world,
but I hold in my hand a publication of Doctor Hutchi-
son, which tends to shew the deceit that is used on
board ship, as well as in the Penitentiary; it is the
London Medical and Physical Journal for the month
of Vebruai y, 1824 ; article the first, is some observations
on simulated and feigned diseases, by Alexander Cop-
Lord Hinchison, Esq. surgeon, &c. it is written expressly
fOr this journal, which is published monthly.
Will you state that part which relates to the Peni-
tentiary ?—Under the head diarrhea, he says, « I have
known diarrhoea and dysentery many times induced in
hospital practice; where an individual found that he
would not succeed in obtaining the object of his desire ;
namely, iavaliding by any other means, and not unfre-
quently I have witnessed such unfortunate men fall a
sacrifice to their own imprudence, by inducing a disease'
which they would most gladly have been relieved from
at a period when it was too late; on this subject the
writer millet forget the death-bed disclosures, and
pangs of conscience, which he has witnessed on one or,
two occasions; the bowel affections to which we allude,
can, I have reason to believe, be induced by various
means, but that which was most resorted to by deluded
seamen, was a mixture of vinegar and burnt cork ; in
what proportions I have never been able to ascertain,
neither can I discover in what =anaerobe burnt cork
can assist in producing the disease in question, but cer-
tain it is, that these were the ingredients most commonly
had recourse to; and as certain is it, that some of the
finest young men in the navy have fallen victims to the'
use of such substances fOr the accomplishment of their
Unhappy purposes; I have also known convicts in the
Penitentiary, at Milbank, previous to the late malady
breaking out, both in. their cells and in the Infirmary,
break down with their fingers, in their urinary utensils,
a good figUred or formed motion, and intimately mix
it with the urine, so as to induce the belief that it was
in reality a.diarrliceal evacuation ; but a little attention
to the character and appearances, with strict watching,
will, in most cases, lead to the detection of the impos-
ture ; the object which convicts have in such practices,
is to be exempt from labour, and to be kept in the In-
firmary, where their comforts in every way are certainly
much greater than when in their cells in the prison."

At a meeting of the Court of Guardians of Bury, on
Monday last, it was resolved not to allow relief to any
person keeping a dog.
FINE ARTS.—The Jury appointed to examine the
paintings to be admitted into the Gallery of the Louvre,
for public exposition this year, which opens on the 25th
inst. have rejected 580 out of 780. This severe scrutiny
promises the amateurs a choice selection. Ten paintings
have been exposed at the Palais des . Beaux Arts, as
' competitors for the prize granted by the Academy ; the
subject is the Death of Alcibiades. The subject is
beautiful, but perhaps above the powers of young
artists; and not one of the paintings have met the ex-
pectations of the public.
The letter carried by Sir HARFORD Joan from the
King of ENGLAND to the King of PERSIA was, during
the journey of the embassy through Persia, always
placed in a takkt-e-ravan, or litter, which was escorted
by ten Indian troopers and an officer, and was never
taken out or replaced without the trumpet of the guard
sounding a blast. Whenever the train stopped, it was
deposited in the tent of ceremony, under a cloth oil
gold ; a sentry with a drawn sword was placed over it,
and no one was permitted to sit with hit back to
The correspondence of Princes is an object of general
reverence in the East; and the dignity which, by these
observances,was attafied to the letter of the Sovereign,
raised among the people a corresponding respect to-
wards his representativC
About ten days ago, a Laity of Mott respectable ap •
pearance hired a house, No. 33, Nortblnnhetlilid-street, Mtrr'Ll-
Bonne, stating herself to be the wife of an-Othcer, and was ac-
companied by a groom, and a female attendant, as part of her
suite. until the remainder of her servants arrived. The land-
lady, thinking she had an excellent lodger, requested a dentte-
limn who had some apaittnents, to leave, at it would be injk.
rious to her if he should remain, as it. would hinder her letting
the house. The Gentleman complied, and Mrs. S. Williams took
possession. On occupying her new mansion, she commenced by
being very liberal hi her orders to her ttitlettlien, and fiCling
" e",pettied," requested to know whit public 'libraries were near.
The landlady pointed out Mr. 'fitebborniN who supplied every. sew
work ; but as the tongue of slander spreadi itself wide, it sswn
reached the ears of Mr. TitchbOrne, from wheinidse Contrived to get.
goods to the 'amount of Alb; Tram Mit. Gibbs, hiberdither, or
High-stiter, :1213; Alt. Man, publican, Nosiiligham Ariss
Not tingliam:stteet, sE7 for win.; 'irei nuirettis *et tif trideilitten:
of all descriptions, to a conbiderible ettietintviti the intuit terns -Of
nine dart. Findint herself bard prVitsed by titibbstileb Wit meat-
her escape nn Sunday mornitif at sweaty ralatb lesvlettie eirlefrfsted
words (written fri French) used b 4 Bentiphiteue Waterldo,ohlashe
qui pent." The Lady speaks Very-good Welch; and filarial it