1825.] 
trading along the coast of Norfolk.— 
Your’s respectfully, | F. Drummonp. 
Rosary, Norwich, 7th Dec. 1824. 
——<=— 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
Sir: 
J SHALL be greatly obliged if you 
will allow me to present to the pub- 
lic the successful result of an experi- 
ment of truly vital importance. Chance 
has discovered to me that oil, taken 
frequently and for a considerable time, 
has magical powers in alleviating the 
pangs of child-birth. Perhaps a detail 
of this experiment will, therefore, be 
acceptable. One day I sat ruminating, 
almost in despair, on an approaching 
event, of which past experience had 
made me dread the recurrence. Vague 
rumours had reached me that oil was 
found beneficial in certain circum- 
stances, in the mitigation of acute pains, 
but I never could learn why. Seek- 
ing for information on a subject so inte- 
resting, I turned over the leaves of an old 
medical book, written by the celebrated 
Dr. Radcliffe, physician to Queen Anne. 
I wished to know in what diseases oil 
was prescribed, and wherefore? My 
attention was instantly riveted by the 
very curious remarks Dr. R. makes in 
various places on the salutary effects of 
oily medicines in that painful disease 
the stone. I immediately determined 
to try its effects in my own case; and 
every day, for six months, I took a 
large table spoonful of Florence oil. 
Only a mother can judge of my anxiety 
during this interval, or of my delight 
when, at the crisis, a considerable alle- 
viation of the usual suffering was the 
happy consequence. The faculty will, 
perhaps, forgive a simple woman for 
daring to peep into their books, espe- 
cially if a successful experiment has 
been the result. Itis not, however, to 
be supposed that skilful practitioners 
would try- on such authority new 
experiments on those whose lives are 
entrusted to their care. But as, in five 
different instances, and on two separate 
subjects, I have proved it to be as effica- 
cious as it is a safe and simple remedy 
or alleviation, I venture to recom- 
mend it to professional adoption. The 
remembrance of the cruel fate of our 
dear and lamented Princess would 
alone be sufficient to give importance 
to every discovery and consideration 
connected with this subject. It is im- 
possible to give here more explicit in- 
formation on this subject, without de- 
parting from that reserve which, in a 
Mr. Klaproth’s Appreciation of the Asiatic Researches. 
511 
station purely private, best becomes our 
sex; but I cannot think that I should 
discharge my duty to society if I suf- 
fered the knowledge of a fact capable of 
such extensive application to perish 
with me. : 
[We think it necessary to state, whatever 
may be thought of the practical value of 
this communication, that we are in posses- 
sion of the real and respectable name of the 
lady by whom we are favoured with this 
communication ; andhave ascertained, upon 
authority equally respectable, that as on the 
one hand there are not even the remotest 
possibilities of any personal interests con- 
nected with the statement, so upon the 
other the facts described are considered in 
the circle of her immediate friends as of 
equal authenticity and importance.—ED. | 
——= 
Mr. Kuarrorn’s Apprecration of the 
Astatic HisTorIAns. 
HE history of ancient nations natu- 
rally divides itself into three parts : 
1. Mythological, which contains a portion 
of truth, enveloped in an impenetrable 
veil of fables and allegories, commonly 
referring to astronomical periods, calcu- 
lated at an early time, and subsequently 
transformed into dynasties of heroes. 
2. Uncertain History, in which the facts 
are true, or at least are not improbable, 
and the personages real, but the chro- 
nology either unnoted or unascertained. 
3. True History, in which the facts and 
the chronology are clearly recorded. 
This latter, however, begins but very 
late, among most Asiatic nations: it 
does so, generally, only when writing 
becomes prevalent—when the caste of 
the priesthood has fallen into decay, 
and science has risen to control the 
power of rulers. 
Among the Mohammedan nations of 
Asia, viz. the Arabs, the Turks, and the 
Persians, religion has destroyed the 
whole of ancient history; agreeably to 
the principle, not only that whatever is 
not conformable to the Koran is untrue, 
but that it is even an impiety to be- 
lieve it. 
The real history of the Arabs scarcely 
advances to the fifth century of our era; 
it connects itself with the traditions of 
the Old Testament, and farther on is 
lost in fabulous uncertainty. Even their 
own writers of sense reject most of the 
facts previous to Mohammed, from 
whose time their history may be said to 
begin. 
Persia was conquered by the Arabs 
during the seventh century, and sub- 
jected to the Mohammedan religion. 
The ‘fire-worship was destroyed, me 
wit 
