The Liverpool Standard, and General Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-07-11 00:00:00

Different classes of medical practitioners (for we
speak not here of those empirics who claim the
knowledge of a remedy for every human ill) seek
the attainment of so desirable an object by dif-
ferent means ; and while one finds his assumed pal-
ladium in one agent or course of treatment, another
rests his hopes of success in the employment of
others ; yet all of them agree in several points.
These may be briefly stated as consisting in the
employment of moderate and frequent, but not
exhaustive exercise—in securing a plentiful supply
of pure air, and in the temperate use of a generous
diet. The application of any, or even of all of
these, is not pretended to be sufficient for removing
the dangers of hereditary taint, but a careful
observance of them will, it is reasonably averred,
be greatly conducive to modifying the effects of
that taint where it already exists, and in averting
its approach where under other circumstances it
might fmd ready access. In advocating the water
treatment for the cure of consumption, Dr. Bal-
birme enters minutely into a consideration of the
pathology of the disease, and insists with philo-
irmness upon the importance of dietetic
This is well put in the following re-

sophic

marks or

THE INFLITENC

OP FOOD AS AN EXCITING CAVSE

OP CONSUMPTION AND SCROFULA.

nutriment, or the use of food deficient

klabitualk

ales, is so

frequent an antecedent of consumption, that it mnst be
regarded in the light of an exciting cause of the tubercu-
lous constitution. Indeed scrofula is the peculiar appanage
of the ill-fed. Early improper feeding, if it does. not

destroy life, sows the seeds- of scrofula. --Bringing infants
up by hand is an unnatural mode of nutrition, and pre-
pares the constitution for present scrofula or future con-

sKumption. The shape and nature of the blood-corpuscles
are altered in yom animals fed on other substances than
milk. Defective milk will produce emaciation and debility,
and sow the seed of tuberculous modifications of the blood

and other diseases. The maternal milk is scarcely substi-
tutable—cows' milk differs materially from woman's. It
contains more than twice the amount of proteine and less
oil and sugar; besides it is generally a mixture of the
milk of many cows—a circumstance likely to derange the
digestion of an infant Moreover cows are often diseased
—those almost always which are kept in large towns and

Milk that has stood some time, aiic

I; from

the beast are very different things. With loss of tempera-
ture the former loses the halitus in which its piquancy
resides, and from that time also chemical changes and de-

composition begin.
It is probable that the influence of diet in the produc-
tion of consumption and scrofula has been exaggerated.
In the alleged cases combined agencies complicate the
result. Wherever insufficient diet operates, there are
also at work with it vitiated air, filth, want of exercise,
cold, humidity, depressing passions, intemperance, and
misery. Now who shall affirm, in the midst of such a
combination of anti-hygienic influences; that ba4 diet is
the most important factor of the morbid elements? The
perfect function of the lungs—the blood-making process
duly completed and perfected—is the grand counteractive
of bad qualities of food. But this obviously can operate
only within certains limits. Blood doubly deteriorated by
insufficient food and vitiated air is perhaps the most- effi-
cient cause of the tuberculous taint. _ _ _

A very scanty and apparently innutritious diet oft
suffices for the perfect nutrition of sound bodies placed in
favourable hygienic circumstances. Instances of this
occur in the fare of agricultural labourers as contrasted
with the diet of the better classes of workmen in great
towns. It is the healthfulness and energy of the system
generally that determines the sort of nutriment to be ex-
tracted from food. The strong stomach of the rustic will
elaborate vigorous blood from materials on. which the
pampered eit would starve, or which would kill him with
indigestion.

The evils ©f improper and excessive feeding among the
children of the rich are often as grave as, if not graver
than, the wait of due nourishment among those of the-
poor. Pampering the appetite in youth often ruins di-
gestion for life. The result of all injudicious feeding is,
to dispose the system to produce lowly-organized tissues,
instead of the highly-animalized structure essential to,
vigorous constitutions. Excessive abstemiousness is quite
as great a bane in its way—especially in growing youths—
destroying first the tone of the digestive organs, and pav-
ing the way insensibly for the inroads of consumption.

While thus enlarging on the value of a properly
regulated diet, and adducing warnings against
what may not inaptly be termed whimsicalities in
food, such as vegetarianism and other unitarianisms
infeeding, the doctor is not blind to the advantages
of healthful recreation, and gives the annexed illus-
tration. of how

SEDENTARY HABITS OPERATE AS A CAUSE OP-CON•

SUMPTION AND SCROFULA,

In a parochial school of twenty-seven girls, well-fed,
clothed, lodged, and tended, seven became afflicted with.
scrofula, although all were free from the disease when ad-
mitted. Inquiry showed that there was no neglect or de-
fect of the conditions of health but one, viz. SEDENTARY
LIFE. The use- of their small playground had been de-
barred them daring the precedinc, winter and spring, by
reason of heavy rains which flooded it. The schoolmistress-
hadreceived orders to keep the children strictly confined
within doors, at their tasks—a discipline which totally
deprived them of the exercise they had been accustomed
to. Shortly after this, scrofula began its ravages '.. The
• most instructive circumstance in this case, is this, that

before the privation of exercise not one was affected with
the disease, yet during this period of exemption they had
been so neglected in their diet, that the superintendent
was dismissed from her situation, on account of the bad-
ness of the provisions she catered for them ! But her in-
attention had its merit physiologically—the children had
full liberty to romp and exercise out of doors as they
listed—a compensating weight thrown blindly into the
scale of evil, and to which they owed their good health !
In another school where thirty girls, fed in the best possi-
ble manner; of these, six were badly affected with scrofula,
although free when admitted. There was no yard or
playground, and the children were obliged to remain in
the school, or in their bed-rooms, during play hours !
These cases demonstratively prove how much more potent
a cause of scrofula is defective exercise than defective diet.

Having said so much of the book as. to its ge-
neral excellence, and its concurrence in, the views
of others, what shall we say of its peculiar claims
to consideration, namely, its advocacy of the water
agency ? On this subject we fear it would be un-
safe to say more than that it is the curative means
recommended by Dr. Balbirnie, a gentleman who
has established claims upon public consideration
by a careful study of his subject, and a temperate
elucidation of his views.

EXTRAORDINARY ATTEMPT AT
ABDUCTION.

A local journal, the' Tipperary Free Press, furnishes
the following particulars of a most extraordinary outrage
committed on Sunday week, near Clonmel :
" For some time past, Miss Arbuthnot, daughter of the
late Mr. George Arbuthnot, of Elderalie, Surrey, has been
on a visit with her sister, who is married to the Hon.
George S. Gough, the son and heir of the hero of Sobraon,
and who resided at Rathronan-house, distant about two
miles from Clonmel. This young lady, who is reported to
be the possessor of a large fortune, has had several admirers,
among whom was Mr. John Carden, Justice of the Peace,
and Deputy-Lieutenant of Barnane, Templemore, a gentle-
man of considerable property, and held in general esteem
throughout the locality where he resided.
"On Sunday last Mr. Carden proceeded to Rathronan
Church, where he attended service, at which Miss Arbuth-
not and her sister, the Hon. Mrs. Gough, were present.
While the congregation were in church, a groom was ob-
served leading a very handsome pair of horses along the
road—a carriage, too, was stationed a short distance off,
to which a pair of thoroughbreds were harnessed, and six
strange men were noticed as loitering about, having ap-
parently no particular business in the neighbourhood.
When service was at an end, Mr. Carden was observed
to walk towards the horses, and to carefully examine their
housings, &c., looking to the tightness of the girths and
the freedom of the reins. At the same time the strange
men were observed to draw near to the church-yard gate,
and in a short time Mrs. Gough's car made its appearance.
In it there were but the two sisters—the Hon. Capt. Gough
being in Dublin. Fortunately for Miss Arbuthnot she sat
furthest in the car, which, when passing Mr. Carden, was
stopped by one of his men, and he himself rushed to the
door and attempted to seize the lady. She screamed
loudly and struggled hard against him, and her cries im-
mediately brought to her assistance several of the congre-
gation, including some of the retainers at Rathronan, who
sturdily battled for the sister of their lady. A determined
and serious conflict then ensued. Mr. Carden and his men
were armed with pistols and ' skull-crackers'—the defend-
ers with sticks, stones, and such other available weapons
as chance threw in their way. While Mr. Carden held
Miss Arbuthnot in his arms, he was struck down by a blow
of a stone, and then seeing they were every moment in-
creasing, Mr. Carden's men covered his retreat to the
carriage (Capt. Gough's car with its fair inmates, who were
half dead with terror, having in the mean time driven off
to Rathronan,) which he entered, and two men having
mounted the saddle horses the party set off at a speed that
seemed to defy pursuit.
"Measures were now taken to secure the fugitives, and
despatches were at once sent off to this town and to Cashel ;
and a party of police proceeded in all haste to Rathronan,
and Mr. Fosbery departed with some mounted constables
in pursuit. Sub-inspector M'Cullagh had given chase be-
fore Mr. Fosbery arrived, and with three mounted police
galloped at top speed for a dozen miles without drawing
bridle rein, and when nearing Farney Castle, came in
sight of the object of their search. Mr. M'Cullagh seized
the horses' heads, and ran them into the ditch, while the
constables drew their swords and prepared for the encounter.
Two men jumped from the dickey of the carriage and
showed fight, but one was immediately knocked heels over
bead by the flat edge of a sabre. A police barrack was
within a stone's throw, and the force having turned out to
the aid of their comrades, Mr. Carden and his men sur-
rendered, were disarmed, and marched prisoners back to
Cashel.
A six-barrelled revolver, a double-barrelled pistol, and
a life preserver were taken from the person of Mr. Carden,
who now proceeded quietly with his captors. He was on
Monday morning conveyed to Clonmel, whence he was
committed to stand his trial for attempted forcible abduc-
tion. Mr. Carden was conveyed in his carriage to the
county goal, where he was given into the custody of the
governor. On Monday afternoon, three men—Henry
Atkinson, Patrick Kenneally, and James Atkinson (the
latter of whom was wounded)—were brought in custody to
the police-office, charged with aiding and abetting Mr.
Carden, and were consigned to Clonmel gaol."

A. SHAM emigration agent at Wisbeaeh has been sent
to prison for six months, for obtaining money under the
false pretence of obtaining a passage to Austr4l.