Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-05-11

way-faring man, though fool, need not mis- take the sign"
 The reviewer pursucs the Vice-Prcsident into his labyrinth of pleading and protesting, and having patiently sumed up the testimony of numerous witnesses, and examined the merits of his case, decrees that he is justly entitled to all those laurels which have won for him the name of distinguished .American Statesman.
 The following communication on the sub Ject of those diseases which grew out of the late severe winter, has been delayed until the present week, from desire to lay before our readers, as early as possible, the very able speech of MT Benton, on the all expressing subject of Banking.
 The physician who was obliging enough to furnish it at our request, was prevented by professional calls from revie wing it; and this will account for few unimportant errors that may be detected.
 The diseases of our winters are often of an cpl demic character, and although considerably diversi- fled in their symptoms, yet have they great simi- lary In their nature, and may be considered be- longing to the same family. The term epidemic does not necessarily imply sweeping pestilence, carrying death and desoation before it. any disease of general and extensive prevalence is so called, whether mild or malignant in its character. En- demic is disease incidental, and in manner pecu- liar to cmate the bilious yellow fever is the endemic of New-Orleans and of other unhealthy sections of the southern States. Should this endem- ic be very prevalent it then becomes an epdemic denic; should the cases on the other hand be few. solitary and dspered, the disease Is called sporadic
 Although there be little doubt that the origin and prevalence of particular diseases are connected, as and effect, with certain conditions of the atmosphere, yet in what these morbid changes and states of the respirable medium which surrounds us consists, appears in great measure, hitherto to have euded the researches of philosophers. The plod- ding and ndelatigable chemist enveloped in smoke and combustion. pursues with unchecked ardour, his scrutinizing senrch in quest of elementary sub stances of organized bodes and exults in the disco very of principle, gas, that has hitherto escaped his less fortunate and successful competitors for fame All nature and art are laid under contribution to ad minister to the qualification of his curiosity and searches The more gross and papablethe subject of his experiment, the easily its nature and properties ascertained. But when man, in his in quries, ascends from visible to invisible matter, or from earth to air, he discovers the insuciency | of his boasted wisdom. In vain would he attempt to analize the of yellow fever or to ascertain the peculiar composition of the atmosphere, as con l eases. Nature in her great laboratories the air, and the bowels of the earth, is constantly electng chan ges too subtle and recondite for the limited powers of human sagacity to discover. We have, however, yearly demonstration that the appearance of certain diseases Is connected with particular states, and temperature of the atmosphere We know, for n- stance that long continuance of hot weather is ne cessay for the generation and prevalence of the b
 ous, yellow fever; but it is not clear that oh CT diseases of an epidemic character. the small l IL. sl. temperature of the air Correct registers Ofthe wea- ther have been kept by sundry individuals in differ ent parts of the world during the time, well as anteriorly and posteriorly of epidemic infuenzas; ;
 from which it would appear that very different states of the atmosphere, as it respects temperature, have been connected with the prevalence of this disease in different times and places
 It is generally thought that cold and damp air is more favourable to the production of pleurtc and catarrhal affections, than that is dry and mode rately warm. It would appear, indeed, that great vicssitudes and sudden changes fthe weather from | cold to warm, and Uice Uesa, more instrumental in giving rise to influenza than any other cognzable condition ofthe atmosphere. Thus believe ii is gene rally found to be more prevalent towards the break | ing up of winter and through the variable months of spring, than at any other of the year. In instances like the present where ignorance is the only alternative, it would be more curious than use full to inquire whether change of temperature is alone concerned, or whether the origin and preva- lence of influenza are, or are not connected with certain contaminated and poisonous conditions of the atmosphere, like the intermittent and the higher grades of the bilious fever; however until philo- sophie experlments and researches become per- feet and successful, must submit to the painful necessity of admitting that these subtle changes | to us unknown. Fancy may amuse herself with wis., ionary specuati0ns, and ascribe this and the other disease to certain noxious emanations from the bow els of the earth to electric galvanic influence, to redundancy of one element or to deficiency of an- other; but until faith has something more substan- tal than speculation to rest upon, the foundation must be sandy, and the superstructure runous and weak. These observations apply more especially to those instances of influenza or epidemic catarrh, which sometimes make their appearance in the lat ter part of summer or autumn, spreading over a great extent of country, without any obvious origin | or causaton. .U.s-
 Although man by nature is more naked and ex- posed to the ncemency and vcissitudes of the wea- ther than animals of the inferior creation yet his su- perior reason and ingenuity furnish him. in some de- gree, with the means of protection and defence.- The domestic freside and the 1eecy covering afford ed by the sheep, moderate and repel the rigor and severity of the winters cold and the cool shelter of his habiaton, grants him retreat from the scorch- ing heat of the summers sun. But yet with all his ingenuity, prudence, and appliances for health and preservation, he is often surprised and overaken by disease We eat, we breath with danger The at mosphere we inhale IS often charged with unwhole- some damps and calculations, and finds immediate access to the very centre of bodies; where in- stead of affording the pabulum of life and heah it often lays the foundation, and proves the cause of disorder and of death. We wther and lanquish un- der the scorching heat of summer, and shrink and shiver in the chilling blast of winter. The inquiry seems naturally to present itself, which season is most favorable to health or most conducive to dis ease think upon inquiry it will be fourd that in