Scientific Intelligence. — Miscellaneous. 375 



of cash in clothing, moveables and luxuries, — besides the enormous 

 expenses of warming, lighting, and cleaning so vast a space. The 

 supply of water amounts to at least 75 millions of gallons daily to 

 about 300,000 houses ; while the coals consumed are averaged at 

 2,000,000 of chaldrons annually ; and everything is still on the in- 

 crease. The present sewerage amounts to upwards of 7 millions of 

 cubic feet on the north side of the Thames, and nearly 2^^ millions on 

 the south side. Here, then, is an extent and population sufficient 

 to cast our old map into comparative insignificance ; but London at 

 both periods was politically the same, commanding great trade, pro- 

 perty of every description flowing into and distributed from it, bear- 

 ing an important sway in deciding the opinions of the empire at 

 large, and arbitrating the fate of many nations. 



These plans, therefore, shew — on grounds which topography 

 renders unquestionable — how a city which so largely towered in 

 public estimation in a former age, has swollen into its present 

 amazing extent and splendour : being now the nucleus of the destiny 

 of millions, and a monument to the world of the wealth, refinement, 

 and public spirit of its inhabitants. In contemplating this remark- 

 able growth, the mind is pleased with the advance of extent and 

 proportionate populousness, instead of having, as in some cases, to 

 deplore spaces once busy with the hum of men, but now utterly 

 desolate. I have dwelt upon this, in order that Bacon's idea of the 

 pleasure of studying — not merely looking at — a map, and the melan- 

 choly Burton's opinion also, may be understood. Indeed, such 

 mental application, by leading to the further unveiling of the general 

 cosmogony and phenomena of nature, contributes largely to the 

 manifestation of the glorious plan, design, and harmonious fitness of 

 creation. — The Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of Lon- 

 don, vol. XX., 1850. Part I., p. Ixx. 



8. Surgical Operations without Pain, by Papin. — A manuscript, 

 written by Papin, so well known for his successful experiments con- 

 nected with the motive power of steam, has just been discovered 

 (says the Siecle) near Marburg, a small town of Electoral Hesse. 

 This work bears the name of " Traite des Operations sans douleur," 

 and in it are examined the different means that might be employed 

 to deaden, or rather altogether to nullify sensibility when surgical 

 operations are being performed on the human body. Papin com- 

 posed this work in 1681, when tiUing the situation of Professor in 

 the University of Marburg ; and in it he has anticipated the effects 

 produced in modern times by chloroform and sulphuric ether. He 

 communicated his ideas to his colleagues in the University, but from 

 them received any thing but encouragement. In consequence he 

 took such a disgust to medical pursuits that he gave up his pro- 

 fession as a physician, and directed his attention to natural philo- 

 sophy, in which he subsequently became so celebrated. On quitting 

 Germany to return to France, he gave the manuscript to a friend of 



