Star.
London, England, 1824-09-23 00:00:00

V

THE BIOGRAPHY OF MERCHANTS.
(rW)3I THE PAI.LAMUNI.)
The statesman, Ott• orator, the poet, the lawyer, the
physician, the divine. have all had their biographers,
and byes of the greatest merit have been produced in
all these departments. IVe have beheld private prin-
ciple developed in open c,:thluct, and small beginnings
terminating in success both lasting and extensive. We
Dave teen the ardour of native genius successfully con-
tending with adversity i anJ have been
.instructed by
the wisdom of the sige, and caution of the prudent,
t• ,e weakness of the feehle, and the errors of (he good.
Mit such is our cutiosity to become acquainted
with all the vat ietic, of human character, that we have
to regret that the biography of a certain description of
men, eminent in this-country, should yet ternain a de-
sideratum in out national literature.
England- may certainly be considered as the greatest
commercial country in the world, and it would be very
desirable to be put in possession of facts and anecdotes
illustrative of the character of her merchant+. In the
investigation that *ould he necessary to accomplish a
respectable Mercantile Piography, the moving princi-
ples of human action would be develoi:ed to a consi-
derable extent; and the efficacy of situations in model-
ling the character, would be placed in a point of view
at once conspicuous and definite. The subject itself is
capable of great variety, as it embraces a part of our
species among whom there is the greatest diversity of
talent, disposition, and conduct.
To some literary men who look down from their own
ideal eminence with a supercilious contempt on every
thing but what are called the liberal professions, it is
possible that a subject like that now recommended to
public attention, may not possess the attractions that
would please their fastidious taste. What (they will be
ready to•say) are we to expect from the lives of men
who are solely devoted to calculations of gain, and,
whose whole attention is absorbed in the accumulation'
of the " all worshipped rile?" If a disposition so com-
pletely mercenary were the universal attendant on the
mercantile character, such a sarcasm might be thought
not without foundation; but let candour,let impartial jus-
tice decide, whether or not there are to be found upon the
marts of commerce, those who unite in themaelves other
excellencies with those of, industry and enterprize.
Among them do we not often find the fire of generous
philanthropy and public spirit? and does not even lite-
rature itself borrow occasional charms from the taste
that is now nut unfrequently cultivated by them ? ,
The character of the merchant is an object of na-
tional importance, and many happy consequences may
be supposed likely to result from the labours of a judi-
cious biographer. The subject of a mercantile educa-•
tion would undergo a free and ample discussion; and
all those circumstances that tend to promote the attain-
meat of genuine respectability, would be brought for-
ward as a stimulus to the young adventurer, and would
excite him to pursue his end by means that are suited'
to his rational and moral capacities. May we not also
anticipate a gradual improvement in the general cha-
racter i.se:f, wherrour men of business will learn to
unite information and science to their activity and in-
dustry, and liberality of principle and conduct, with their
commendable prudence. and economy.

Case of Poison extracted front the Stomach by the Appa.
rotas invented by Mr. Jukes. By J. M. FEB RA LL, Eq.
(DROLL THE LONDON MEDICAL lIEPDSITOIT FOIL 511.•""

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The. Profession are alt eady acquainted with the inge-
nious apparatus contrived by Mr. Jukes for withdraw-
ing poisons from the stomach, as well as with the im-
provements which have been attempted since its intro-
duction. They are also aw•ate of the experiments of Sir
A. Cooper, and his expressed conviction of its probable
utility. But I ant not sure that any instance before the
present has occurred, in which the principle of the in-
vention has beim justified by its application ; and al-
though the rationality of the plan might be sufficient
to recommend it, it may not be thought superfluous to
present, a case in which its actual employment was at-
tenaed with results at once decisive and satisfactory.

I was called upon at an early hour, on the morning
of the 2d of May, to see Mr. R. of the Ordnance Offiee,.
• who had just before swallowed, by mistake, rather more
than an ounce of nitre. I took with me the apparatus
(with which I had provided myself the moment its im-
portation here gave me an opportunity of inspecting
it); and as the Gentleman resided in my own neigh-
bourhood, I arrived in less than twenty minutes after

the occurrence. The scene was deeply distressing—his
large family were collected about him in a state little
short of plirenzy ; and his own appearance was that of
utter despair and hopelessness. He was pale and co-
•vered with cold moisture; and, on inquiry, described
Iris feelings to be, a painful sense of heat along the
centre of the chest to the stomach, which, together with
a certain constriction of breathing, was every moment
inci easing. There was no time to be lost—l directed
him to drink a large quantity of sugar and water while
1 was engaged in prepaiing the instruments. I 'then
caused him to open his mouth widely, and passing the
point of the flexible tube cautiously between the velum
',alai and base of the tongue, so as to avoid irritation,
reached the posterior wall of the pharynx. On pressing
the instrument downwards through the esophagus, the
surrounding muscles were thrown strongly into action;
but as he was firmly supported by assistants, and had
sufficient resolution to avoid drawing himself away,
the tube gratin:illy descended into the stomach.
After a moment's pause, I.adapted the syringe to its
projecting end, and was pi epai ing to commence the ex-
haustion, when we were suddenly inter, opted bya violent
convulsive cough, which liter ally shook the patient in
his chair; his lace became tutgid, and I really feared it
would be i inpossible to proceed. On removing the syringe,
however, and inspecting the throat, it was observed that
the position of the tube was such as to press forward on
the larynx, especially when the syringe was appended.—
in fact, the angle made by the horizontal with the vertical
portion of the cathrter resting across the glottis was the
eause of the distress. The remedy was obvious: on
penile, the horizontal portion firmly backwards, the
angle was at once diminished and forced to retire; and
the larynx escaping its irritation, a complete calm en-
sued. The tube was now given to an intelligent assist-
ant, w ith directions to ntattitain its position ; and having
tetixe.l the syringe, I was quietlf enabled toconvey into
;resin, held beneat:i thy dimshargt-tubt,.a !Atte quad.
tir y of the Contents of 04416.1' After the second
discharAe flor ire fluid-C:4e.; I **q disidiagedthe
ky i ii:g.•2-6llr/ it with sugar and walkandinjtcted its
content: into the StOrnitCh--.WititCdvfavomehfianti trans-. 1

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