Agricultural Report. 



554 



irritafion was bo great as Imperiously to re- 

 quire opium, vvliile the iiliosyncracy of tlie 

 patient was such as to forbid its internal 

 use.* 



Now, in these examples of beneficial 

 resnlt, what has been the modus operandi? 

 Is a warm and anodyne plaster to rheu- 

 matic muscles a meclianical support to 

 their fihres? If so, one should anticipate 

 an equal effect from mere bandage. Are 

 the cutaneous nerves, or the cutaneous 

 absorbents, parts of the series through 

 which the mitigation of pain or the subduc- 

 tion of irritation are brought about ? In 

 thit rase, what becomes of our theory, 

 that the outer skin while nnabraded forms 

 a barrier against the admission of things 

 from without? And why cannot we effect 

 the same good through the media of the 

 stomach and internal absorbents ? The 

 fact is, that vital circumstance, either in 

 orderly manifestation or irregular dis- 



* All practitioners of medicine will oc- 

 casionally have met with these peculiar 

 susceptibilities to certain drugs, and ii:deed 

 to articles of diet. Many individuals, 

 even with a poweiful stomach generally, 

 can never eat with impunity of some kinds 

 of meat, which are abstractedly easy of 

 digestion ; and to some persons the smal- 

 lest conceivable quantity of opium proves 

 positively poisonous. 



[July 1, 



play, presents us With a coastant p<izzle to 

 ingenuity and employment of thought ; 

 and we are apt, by entering with too 

 much eagerness into seeming openings for 

 solution, to pursue their tract into con- 

 fusing labyrinths of useless speculation. 



During the past month of humidity and 

 cold, there has been more of general in- 

 disposition than of positive or specific 

 disease. What an astonishing influence 

 do the changes of the atmosphere exercise 

 over our functions and feelings ! who shall 

 tell the reason why this morning we rise 

 to our daily dnty with a springiness and 

 alacrity of mind, as well as free from achea 

 and pains ; while to-morrow perhaps hebe- 

 tude and indisposition shall attend us in all 

 our movements and pursuits, pains pene- 

 trate into the very marrow of our bones; 

 and existence, which is now a pleasure, 

 shall then be a burden ? With these varia- 

 tions, indeed,we find our barometers consi- 

 derably to synjpatliize, — they go with us 

 from fair to changeai)le, and from high to 

 low ; but u-hy a cloud in the atmosphere 

 should thus clog our spirits and cramp our 

 limbs, not all the anatomy of Brooks, nor 

 the physiology of Majendie, nor the patho- 

 logy of Philip, nor the meteorology of 

 Forster, with their united powers, can 

 explain. D. UwiNS, M.D. 



Bedford-row ; June 20, 18i!<l. 



MONTHLY AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



THE present month has nearly passed 

 away without inducing, in their full 

 measure, those genial improvements of the 

 season which we had hoped. The solar 

 heat, so jiecessary to expand and mature 

 the earth's products, lias jet been but oc- 

 casional and evanescent. Chilling north- 

 east winds have still prevailed, accompa- 

 nied by enfeebling and blighting mists. 

 The atmospheric character of the last 

 month has been singular. In the north- 

 west parts of England, and in Walts, the 

 north winds were so dry and parching, 

 that vegetation was impeded, and in con- 

 siderable danger, from want of moisture ;. 

 whilst in these parts, and to the eastward, 

 the lands were drenched and sodden with 

 rain. In all parts the fallows have been 

 barsb and stubborn, and worked with 

 difficulty. The report of the wheat crop, 

 thus far, is universally good, and an ave- 

 rage crop is expected ; but it must not be 

 forgotten, that a cold and junfavourable 

 spring must aiecessaiily impart some da- 

 luiage, although that may remain invisible 

 during the -early stages of the plant. 

 Wheat is scarcely yet in the ear, excepting 

 on our most forward soils ; an advantage, 

 the state of weather considered, which we 

 may expect soon to be more favourable for 

 the flowering process. Of the spring crops. 



barley and oats, our accounts are not so 

 favourable. 



Beans promise highly, and peas also, in 

 veiy favourable soils and situations. Grass 

 is plentiful; and warm dry weather want- 

 ed, to make an abundant hay-harvest. 

 Tuvnip-sowiug and sheep-shearing have 

 chiefly employed the country since our 

 last. Wool does not hang in <faand, nor 

 are there any considerable stocks. Hops 

 can neither be a great or a good crop. 

 Price of oak-bark from nine to ten pounds 

 per ton. All corn maintains a conside- 

 rable and steady price ; nor is it easy to. 

 speculate on the probable event of ave- 

 rage crops at harvest. The meat market, 

 by consequence, follows that of corn, and. 

 is in a similar state. Fruits are essentially 

 injured by the rigour of the spring. The 

 potato crop has, in course, sustained some 

 injury ; but the plant has of late years be- 

 come so extensive, that we never expe- 

 rience any want of that most useful root. 

 In Ireland, most unfortunately, the potato 

 crop has received great damage. Land 

 universally, but gradually, risiitg in price, 

 and farms letting readily. Agricultural 

 prosperity is returning with gradual, but 

 firm and solid, steps, needing nothing now 

 for its succour Wit a reduced and mode- 

 rate ta.xation. A correspouident from an 

 eastern 



