The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-09-17


IptosYycRAsIKs. That curious, sympa-
hetic, woodworking person, Sir Kenelm
Digby, is, perhaps, the greatest detailer of
singular fancies relating to antipathies and
sympathes. He narrates the dire effects |
of flowers upon certain people, even to
fainting and dying. So obnoxious was
rose to the Lady Heneage, that she had her
cheeks blistered, says Sir Kenelm, by laying
q rose upon it when she was asleep. 1t is
even stated that Cardinal Caraffa, and a
noble Venitian, one of the Barbarage, were
confined 10 their palaces during the rose
season, for fear of their lives. Johannes
Querceto, Partisan, and Secretary to
Francis l., King of France, was forced to
stop his nostrils with bread when there
were any apples at table: and so offensive
was the smell to him, that if an apple had
been held near him he would fall a bleed
ing. / saw noble countess, says Horstius,
who tasted of some udder of beef, and had
her lips iddenly swelled thereby; observ-
ing that took notice of it, told me she had
no dislike to that kind of dish, but as often
az she did eat of it she was troubled in this
manner, the cause of which she was utterly
ignorant of. Bruverinus knew a girl Is
years of age, who up to that time, had lived
entirely on milk. and could not bear the
smell of bread, the smallest particle of which
she would discover by the smell. An an
tipathy to pork is very common. Shenckius
tells US of one who would Immediately
swoon as often as pig was set before him,
even though it be enclosed in paste; ne
falls down as one that is dead, nor does he
return to himself till the pig is taken away
from his table. Marshal Albert tainted
away whenever he saw the head of boar.
London Lancet
A singular case came On before the Court
Royale (Appels Correctionnels) at Paris, d
few DAYS ago- Two females, named Cou-
turier and Burkard, were charged with lille
gally practising medicine, and receiving
payment for their prescriptions. The mode
in which they carried on the trade was
very curious. When patients applied to
them, they pretended to magnetic them
selves, and to fall into state of somnambu-
lism; during which they dictated their pre-
ecriptions to kind of secretary, and on re-
covering from their pretended fit, affected
to be ignorant of what had happened
They had been very successful in their Vo-
cation, and their dupes were not confined
to the uneducated and the lower orders
among them were several medical men and
persons of good family-one young man
on the point of being married, after taking
according to the evidence) sufficient medi-
cine to kill a horse, in fit of despair put
an end to his existence. On their defence
they called several witnesses. With a view
of showing the extent to which they haC
succeeded in imposing upon the credulous
we select the following;
b. ReybouTg. II went to consult Mad
ame Burkard on some hair which had beer
sent to me by person from Nancy. By
examining the hair, Madame Burkard wa:
able to tell me all the symptoms of the com
plant with which the person was affected
and she prescribed for and cured him
since then | was dangerously i'll, and sh,
cured me-" This witness denied having
been asked for money by the accused, bu
said he left some on the chimney piece
which appears to have been the practice o
the patients. NJ. Deleuge, librarian to tn,
the Jardin du Roi (Jardin DIES Plantes
81 have known Madame Burkard 16 years
/ have consulted her several times for my
self and others. She cured one patient at
distance of 200 leagues without seeing him
l know lady, who, since an illness witt
which she was afflicted, can become som
nambulist whenever she pleases; but to-
this there must be magnetic pre-disposi
ton. | defy the most clever physician (,
magnetic Unfortunately" NJ Geslin
professor of music. 81 magnetized Mad
emoiselle Couturier for epilepsy, and cureC
her since then she has had regular attack
of somnambulism, the reality of which
have put to proof. On one occasion, yot
may think me visionary if you please, but
| assure you her nose became double the
ordinary size. On Saturday last, magnet
lied her, and she became somnambulic i'm
mediately. | have known her in this state
effect extraordinary cures" Several med.
ical men were then called to speak to the
effects of magnetism; but the Court finding
the charge of illegal practice of medicine
proved, condemned the ladies to pay fine
of Is francs each, and the cost of prosecu.
tlon.-Foreign Journal.
POLITICAL ARITHMETIC. IF there had
been no deaths in the world, there would
be at this day on the earth 100000, O00,-
100000, (l73 milliards.l AS the continent
contains at least 1887 billions of square feet.
each person could have 9100 square feet.
On the other hand as the number of
deaths, is that of births as 10 to IL, there
are born each year SO millions of men
each day 98,400; each hour 4036; each
minute ~; each second and tenth and
the deaths are / every second.
Thus, poor mortals, you sneeze, and some
one dies. pnn rraaL- .-..1
dies; / shake my pen and death happens /;
how many deaths have happened while |
have been making these few remarks but