282 — Art of Memory. 
the lower extremities are atrophous ; the anus is obliterated ~ 
and quite close. 
This unfortunate individual only prolongs his existence 
by means of the glands of the stomach, which pump up 2 
slight portion of chyle, diluted by the salivary and gastric 
juices. In half a quar ter of an hour after having lance food, 
he voids it by the mouth, in the state of a ck emulsion, 
with as much and even more ease than by the ordinary me- 
thod. The bile, this animal soap and the glands of the 
lower belly, not concurring to the extraction of the nutritive 
parts of his food, the voiding of it is thus facilitated, and 
obliges him to eat frequently. 
This simple account of it may excite surprise and: curi- 
osity ; but we presume that such of our readers as are de- 
voted to the study of nature will make some observations 
on the subject.—JMagazin Encyclopedique, 1806, tome le 
p. 418, 
ART OF MEMORY. 
Germany.—A new branch of science is begun to be stu- 
died in Germany. It is the science called by the antients 
mnemonica, or the art of memory. We find in Herodotus, 
that it was carefully taught and practised in Egypt, whence it 
was transplanted into Greece. This historian attributes the 
invention of it to Simonides ; but this opinion is refuted in 
a dissertation published by M. Morgenstern, of Dorpat, 
upon mnemonica. He there asserts, that this science is 
more intimately connected with the Egyptian hieroglyphics 
than is generally thought, and that this connection may 
help to explain them. However the case may be, this sin- 
gular art, so long neglected, has reappeared in Germany 
with some eclat. M. Aretin, who may be accounted the 
restorer of it, has recently had M. Keestner, a clergyman, as 
his pupil, whom be has permitted to teach his new doctrine 
at Leipsic ; at the same time exacting a promise from him not 
to suffer his pupils to write down his lectures. M. Keest~ 
ner travels about like Dr. Gall. 
According to a book written, it is said, by a child of 
iwelye years of age, and mentioned in the Leipzic. cata~ 
Jogue 
