The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-03-07

Our WoRLD AND WHAr IT'S CoMPosED Or
Owing to the indefatgable investigations Of the
anlytical chemists, and to their zeal in the cause
of science, there is scarcely substance in the
world that has not passed through the ordeal of
their crucibes and test tubes. From them we
learn that our world is made upof but compare
lively few substances, so few, indeed that we are
struck with all wonder and astonishment,w
we consider the innumerab Bile variety of form and
character into which thos elements are capable
of being moulded We have all the animate and
inanimate creation, the plants, the animals, we
have the rocks, the earth, the air, and water, in
their endless variety, and yet the substances of
which they are composed do nor exceed sixty.
On closer examination our onderincreases, as
welearn that of these elements no less than forty
six are metals, in the ordinary sense of the word,
FIVE are gaseous bodies like the air-which, in
deed, consists Of two gases out Of these FIVE and
the remainder are substances Of anintermedate
character of which sulphur and charcoal are the
types. Therefore everything thatWe can see or
touch pertaining to our world is composed of one
two or more of these elements We know of no
one substance that contains more than six Of
these elements, and in a general way there are
rarely more than two or three blended together
to produce one result Thus. the white of an
egg is made of six elements, flint stone Of only
two, apiece of wood consists of three elements
These three materials are the types OF the por-
tons Of the world to which they belong. Though
one stone differs from another stone, and one
wood from another wood, and one flesh from
another flesh, yet their composition is similar
and Of nearly the same elements. It is thena-
ture, quality, and property Of these several
elements that constitute the study of chemis-
try-not medicine, for that's but mere branch
Of chemistry-the composition of all things
By analogy, the analytical chemist can state
with certainty the principal qualities and com
position Of everything placed in his hands, what
use to make of it, and how it is to be applied
for the welfare and benefit Of his fellow man.
| Huferland, in bis treatise on sleep, has some
curious as we'll as forcible ideas on the necessi-
| ty Of devoting midnight to rest and sleep. He
considers that the period Of twenty four hours,
which is produced by the regular revolution Of
the earth on its axle, marks its influence most
definitely on the physical economy of man.
Diseases show this regular influence, in their
daily rise and fall Settled, regular fever ex-
hibits a twenty four hours fux and rehux. In
the healthful state, there is manifest the same
regular influence, and the more habitual our
meals our hours Of exercise or employment,
and our hours Of sleep, the more power is there
in the system to resist disease. In the morning
the pulse is slow and the nerves calmer, and
the mind and body better fitted for labor. As
| we advance towards the evening of the day, the
pulse becomes accelerated, and an almost fever
ish state is produced, which in excitable per-
| sons, it becomes an absolute evening fever, Rest
carries off this fever by its sleep, and the. re-
freshing opening of the pores which sleep pro-
duces. In this nightly respiration, there is an
absolute crisis Of this evening fever, and this
periodical crisis is necessary to every one, for
| it carries off whatever useless or pernicious
particles our bodies may have imbibed
This evening fever, Huferland thinks, is not
entirely owing to the accession of new chyle to
the system, but to the departure of the sun and
the light. The crisis Of this fever, to be most
effective by its regularity, ought to take place
at midnight, when the sun is in its nadir, and
then the body becomes refreshed for the early
morning labor. Those who neglect this period
either push this diurnal crisis into the morning
and thus undermine the Importance of its regu
larity, or lose it entirely and arise to their
labors unrefreshed by sleep Their bodies will
not have been purified by the nightly crisis, and
the seeds of disease will have thus been planted.
Nervous people are peculiarly subject to the
Influence of this evening fever, and think they
cannot labor without its excitement. Hence
their mental efforts are performed in the=night
alone, the important time for the crisis of their
nervous excitement passes over in wakefulness,
and no refreshing perspiration cleanses the
body or strengthens the nerves. Such people
WI +J,a1y o6o tI,o;,
habits and seek rest when. nature and the hu-
man constitution dictate.
These considerations ought to be deeply
studied and regarded BY all who are in the
ruinous habit Of turning night into day and of
changing the functions of each. A failure of
health will soon manifest the truth of these
remarks.
VIRG1N1A.-The gold mining interest of Vir-
ginia, it appears, is more extensive than many
persons are aware. The Petersburg Intell-
gencer gives the following names, locality, and
estimated value Of some of the most prominent
mines, also by whom they are worked and
owned:
.sGarnett & Moseley, Buckingham county,
owned by an English company, $500, 900; Buck
ingbam mines, Buckingham county, owned by
an American company, $4,000 Ayes mines
buckingham county, not worked, $4,000. Tel
lureum mines, Fluvanna county, owned BY com.
Stockton, 100000 Long Island mines, Flu
wanna county, owned by Virginia Stockton,
$4,000. Snead mines, Fluvanna county, not
worked, s25, 600 Belzora mines, Goochland
county, owned by English, $4,000. Columbia
mines, Goochand county, not worked, SIS 200.
Aigle D'Ormines, Goochland county owned by
English, 100000 Waller mines, Goochland
county, 100000. Goode mines, Goochland
county, not worked, $4,000. Whitehall mines, |
Louisa county, not worked, 100000. Vancluse
mines, Orange county, owned by English,
S25O,OOo Gardiner mines, Orange county, /
owned by Americans, $4,000. Woodyille
mines, Orange county, owned By Americans, /
100000
'sThe above comprises a large majority of the
mines. Those not worked are either in dis /
pute or are lying idle for want of capital. There
are many other mines opened, butnot sold their
owners do not understand operating them,
neither have they capital"