THE OLDEST AIR-BREATHERS. 



395 



than any others in prescribing for old people the acid form, where 

 there is an excess of acid found in the stomach, and the atonic form, 

 where there is sluggish action of the mucous membrane of the stom- 

 ach, and the time for digestion is greatly lengthened. In acid dyspep- 

 sia, Dr. Ringer recommends the use of glycerine, stating that an old 

 gentleman, upon learning that glycerine prevented milk from turning 

 sour, concluded that it would be just the thing to prevent " himself 

 from turning sour." I have used glycerine combined with charcoal 

 with considerable success in remedying this form of dyspepsia. 



Dilute nitro-muriatic acid, a half-teaspoonful in a claret-glass of 

 water, immediately after meals, breaking up the weaker acids and 

 affording the natural acids of the stomach, is an exceedingly useful 

 remedy. The atonic form of dyspepsia, combined with loss of appe- 

 tite, requires quite a different treatment. The stomach is feeble, and 

 needs stimulating ; two or three grains of capsicum with one half- 

 grain of aloes in a capsule will excite it to action ; the constipation 

 which often accompanies this form will be obviated. When there 

 are accumulations of gas, charcoal tablets au hour or two after meals 

 generally give great relief ; but it is not a good plan to keep up their 

 use permanently, as it tends somewhat toward constipation. Electric- 

 ity is the great tonic for these debilitated, relaxed stomachs. The 

 sympathetic nervous system is rehabilitated, and the most marvelous 

 effects are often produced. The apathetic condition of the intestinal 

 track is dissipated, the liver pours out its bile, and life seems to move 

 on again. Alkalies taken before meals stimulate the flow of the gas- 

 tric juices. Slight fatigue often spoils the appetite, and lowers the 

 digestive power. Nothing so securely revives this as a glass of wine 

 before meals. While small quantities of alcohol aid digestion, larger 

 quantities retard it and encourage gastric catarrh. The quantity of 

 wine or brandy must be small when taken for this purpose. 







THE OLDEST AIR-BREATHERS. 



WE alluded in the March number of the " Monthly," to the fossil 

 scorpions recently discovered in the Upper Silurian formations of 

 Sweden and Scotland, recognizing them as the most ancient specimens 

 of land or air-breathing animals yet found. The subject has since gained 

 a new interest through the discovery of a still older fossil of an insect, 

 and by these our knowledge of the land of the earth and of some of its 

 inhabitants is carried back by at least two immense geological periods. 

 We therefore give place to a fuller account of the discoveries, with 

 portraits of these newly found oldest inhabitants of the solid part 

 of the globe, collating the facts and borrowing the illustrations from 



