The hydraulic press., 1859-01-22
THE FRENuH CoRkAh ACCIDENT.

HE FRENCH CORRAL ACCIDENT
The last issue of the PRESS contained d
brief account of the accidental shooting
of little boy at French Corral, but in
correctly stated that the CHANGING ball
did not even break the skin on the spot
where it struck. DIR. r. A: Barney has
very kindly forwarded an interesting
communication concerning the case,
which is quite curious, and we make
room for as much of his letter as our
space will permit. The Doctor writes:
The bali struck the child upon the
left side of the frontal bone, just above
the frontal eminence, inficting most
dangerous and painful wound of over
an inch in length, and destroying some
of the bone. Had it not been that the
boy had on a cap at the time, with
very strong thick leather fore-piece,
which was ploughed through by the
ball, he probably would have been in
stantly killed!
The conclusion at first appeared
slight, for, according to the boys state
ment, when struck he only fell upon one
hand, quickly regained his equilibrium,
and Immediately ran screaming to doc
tors Office. A physician was very soon
in attendance, yet perceived nothing
more than that the child was suffering
from fright with slight bleeding.
After about two hours from the first
injury had elapsed, the patient COM
menced growing stupid, vomited little,
and soon went into state of insensibili-
ty, which was followed by commissions,
lock-jaw, and palsy of all voluntary mo-
ton. The two physicians of French
Corral nearly despaired of saving the
child's life at this time After cupping
away ten or twelve ounces of blood from
the neck and spine, the spasms slowly
commenced leaving, and in the course
of one hour and half, nearly ceased
but again occurred, though not as badly
as at first. At this time, anti-spasmod-
les were administered, and soon the
lock-jaw left, and the little spark of life
again shone to gladden. all hearts present;
especially those of his poor distressed
mother and father! Iexplain this case
at some length, as it may be interesting
to the medical profession, although SIM
liar cases have occurred before, as ap-
parently slight conclusion followed, af-
ter an interval, by compression Of the
brain, or symptoms to that effect. !.
The extravasation of blood upon the
brain in this instance must have gone
on very slowly, yet was sufficient to pro-
duce paralysis of both sides ofthe body:
STEAMING 1T TO CHINA.-The pro-
ject of establishing steam communfca-
ton with China and the Pacific Islands
is occupying to some extent the attention
of the San Francisco press. MONEYS
Express, published at Folsom, gives an
elaborate article on the subject, and
presents plan which seems practicable
enough.
He proposes the organization of a
Company with a capital of three million
dollars, divided into thirty thousand
shares of 500 each; charter of in
corporation to be obtained in the Cali
fornia Legislature, harmonizing with
the British Colonial laws. Mr.. Mooney
was the original protector of the Galway
line of steamers, and his suggestions
come with the weight Of experience
He says:
Nine propeller ships, of 1000 tons
register each, would enable us to send
off vessel once fortnight, and have
the return boats from China, allowing
two days for stoppage, coaling, Sc, at
each of the foregoing places-and caE
culating the speed of the vessels in the
quiet waters of the Pacific, at 800 miles
in "a hours, which is quite moderate
run-we should compute the voyage
out and home in between 125 and 1870
days-such line would secure the
mails for Europe and America, China
and Australia, because, when the tele-
graph wires shall be completed from San
Francisco to the Atlantic side, We should
completely anticipate every other agen-
cy Of intelligence.
ENroMoI oaICAL.-Fort the last seven
years, says the Mountain Democrat, a
gentleman named Pierce, who now rel
sides at White Rock in Placer county,
has been engaged in collecting, classify
ing, and studying the lives and habits
of the various insect tribes peculiar to
the Pacific coast The result of his
labors is one of the rarest and most ex-