36 



theorise about it and say, that tc horolog-iumpest " 

 was a fearful disorder to which watches are subject ; 

 that one watch never takes it except by con- 

 tng-ion from another ; that the salubrity of the Eng- 

 lish climate is such, that the disease is never taken in 

 this country spontaneously, but that it is always im- 

 ported direct from Geneva. The proof of this being- 

 that watches in Geneva are notoriously known to be 

 often afflicted with the disease, and that large numbers 

 are always being 1 imported into England ; further- 

 more we should say, that keeping- the watch clean 

 and treating- it well, thoug-h desirable thing-s enoug-h 

 in themselves can do nothing- towards preventing 

 this terrible complaint, and that the only real measure 

 is, immediately a watch is observed to g'O wrong-, to 

 stamp upon it until it has ceased to tick, and then 

 bury the fragments in the gTound, the chain and key 

 to be either buried with it or carefully disinfected with 

 carbolic acid. 



" What is this funny little round thing-, papa ?" 

 " It is a ' pillula calomelanos et opii/ my dear." 

 And away the little boy runs perfectly satisfied j his 

 fancy setting- him to work with all sorts of credulous 

 imagining-s about his newly-acquired " knowledge." 

 Are we not all like children ? 



