Natural History, 4^ 



with the whole force of the expiration the different letters of the 

 alphabet, numerals, and monosyllables, one hy one. This may be 

 prefaced or not by several hours' practice of deep and slow 

 breathing. This practice is to be continued for hours, days, or 

 weeks, according to the inveteracy of the habit j and then poly- 

 syllables are to be pronounced during one expiration j then short 

 sentences, and ultimately long sentences. Thus, reversing the 

 evil habit, a new habit is acquired, and the cure effected. In 

 general, a few days, or at most weeks, will be sufficient. — Med, 

 Rep. N. S. vi. 571. 



7. Communication of Disease by Leeches. — In a journal entitled 

 the ** Westphaelischer Anzeiger," a case is recorded where some 

 leeches, which had been employed first on a syphilitic patient and 

 afterwards on an infant, communicated the disease to the latter. 

 This warns us not to apply leeches to a second person without 

 having sufficient assurance that the previous aflfection of the first 

 patient was not infectious. — Med. Rep. vi. 477. 



8. Preservation of Leeches. — A new vessel of deal large enough 

 to contain sufficient water for five hundred leeches is to be fur- 

 nished with a stop-cock to draw off the water. It is to be half 

 filled with the mud from the lake or pond whence the leeches 

 have been taken, and two or three roots of the Florence Iris 

 {Calamus A romaticus) are to be set in the mud. The leeches like 

 this plant. The usual precautions as to temperature, frequent 

 change of water, &c. are to be taken ; the water is to be changed 

 slowly, and the fresh water added by means of a funnel descend- 

 ing to the bottom of the vessel. This method has been found 

 preferable to all others tried at the hospital of Bamberg. — Bull, 

 Univ. cxiii. 369. 



9. St. Helena Silk. — A specimen of raw silk produced in the 

 island of St. Helena, has arrived in England. It is the first 

 perfect one, and is considered as being of very fine quality. It is 

 entirely free from any disagreeable odour, which is much in its 

 favour. In last August the number of worms in progress was 

 218,000, which were in a very healthy condition, and expected to 

 spin in a few days. The mulberry trees thrive well and have a 

 very luxuriant appearance. 



10. Migration of Butterflies. — Madame de Meurin Wolff, being 

 in the country with her family, in the district of Grandson in the 

 Canton de Vaud, perceived, on the 8th or 10th of June, 1626, an 

 enormous quantity of butterflies {Papilio Cardvi, L.) traversing 

 the garden with great rapidity ; they all proceeded in the same 

 direction from south to north, not deviating to the right or left, 

 flying close to each other, and not being disturbed by human 

 beings. This continued for at least two hours 3 the insects did not 



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