1846.] The Work of Faith and Hope. 217 



point of capitulating on account of the ravages of the scurvy. 

 The Prince of Orange introduced a few vials of sham medicine 

 which were said to be an infallible specific for the disease. It 

 was given in drops, and produced a w^onderful effect. 



Park tells us in his travels that one day in his journey through 

 the burning desert, he laid himself down, exhausted with priva- 

 tions, as he supposed, to die. He saw at that moment a flower 

 which reared its head above the waste. What, thought he, will 

 that Providence which has watched over this humble plant not 

 care for me who has been taught to regard Him as a heavenly 

 Father? His drooping spirit rose at the thought, his strength re- 

 turned, and from that hour his soul was fortified against despond- 

 ency — " Behold the lilies of the field." 



Dr. Beddoes, who was a thoughtful and ingenious man, im- 

 agined that the nitrous oxide gas might be a specific for paralysis. 

 He selected a patient for trial, and gave the details to be perform- 

 ed by young Davy, afterwards the celebrated Sir Humphrey 

 Davy. The young chemist wished to ascertain the actual temper- 

 ature of the patient, placed a thermometer under his tongue. Being 

 ignorant of the nature of the operation to which he was to be 

 subjected in the experiment, and having imbibed the highest hopes 

 and expectations from his enthusiastic physician, supposed when 

 the thermometer was inserted under his tongue that the experi- 

 ment was in full blast, at once exclaimed that he felt the influence 

 of the remedy through his whole body. Davy was too intelli- 

 gent to lose the hint. He desired the patient to renew his visit 

 on the follow^ing day, v/hen the same ceremony was performed 

 with like results. The patient was dismissed cured in a fortnight. 



An amusing anecdote, it is said, used to be related by the cele- 

 brated Dr. Gregory in his lectures. A pupil laboring under fever 

 and very restless, was told that an opiate had been prescribed; 

 but the student understood that the prescription was a purgative. 

 On the next visit the physician inquired whether the opiate had 

 procured sleep. " Opiate!" exclaimed the patient, " I understood 

 that it w^as a purgative, and most nobly has it operated, and I feel 

 all the better for it." 



