Sept. 8, 1882.] 



o KNOWLEDGE 



249 



that, if it were followed, no game would ever end in a 

 • draw, none would fail to fill the whole time assigned to it, 

 and in none would either side have any undue advantage 

 from the state of the ground or weather. It may be added 

 that matches played on this plan would be intensely inte- 

 resting, and that neither side would be kept (as now often 

 happens) waiting idly during a day, or even two days, of 

 a long innings. But the three great advantages first 

 named are such as to dwarf all others, and, I conceive, 

 to make such few disadvantages as the system (properly 

 arranged) might involve altogether as nothing by compari- 

 son. 



"The system is worth trying. Once tried, I believe it 

 would quickly replace the imperfect system at present in 

 vogue, which in four cases out of five leads to most unsatis- 

 factory results." 



THE USE OF OPIUM. 



AT the quarterly general meeting of the British Medic.il Tem- 

 perance Association, held recently in the rooms of the 

 Medical Society of London, 11, Chandos-strect, Cavendish-sqnare, 

 a paper was read by Dr. G. Shearer, of . Liverpool, on " Kecent 

 Apologists for the Opium Trade." Dr. Norman Kerr presided. 

 The attendance was small. The most poweifnl apologist, in his 

 opinion, Dr. Shearer remarked, was the present Prime Minister. 

 In 1870, daring a debate in the Honse of Commons, in reply to 

 Sir W. Lawson, Mr. Gladstone said, " I aflirm that if we are to 

 denounce the use of opium as something which is universally, 

 essentially, and irretrievably bad, that must be done after it has 

 been proved that the use of opium is to be broadly distinguished 

 from the use of every other stimulant — a point which is not 

 settled yet." But, argued Dr. Shearer, though there is a distinc- 

 tion to be drawn between opium and alcohol, and the common use 

 of the former might vastly exceed in its baneful effects the common 

 use of the latter, which there was an overwhelming weight of 

 testimony to prove, still for the purpose of justice and fair dealing 

 towards an injured people this was unnecessary. There was a 

 preponderating weight of testimony as to the destructiveness of the 

 vice. Among the Chinese people no advocates for the practice 

 could he found ; the nature of the commercial treaties between the 

 Japanese and the Coreans and other nations, which were absolutely 

 prohibitive of tl)0 trade in opium, and the action of the Indian 

 Government in putting down the retail sale of the drug in Burmah, 

 went as far in proof of the unmixed mischief caused by the use of 

 opium, he should think, as Mr. Gladstone could desire. Against 

 the views of Sir George Birdwood, Deputy Surgeon-Gereral Jlroro, 

 and Dr. Ayres, he set the evidence of many medical men, beginning 

 with Dr. Kane, who had seen the results of the custom in his 

 practice in the United States. Dr. Kane i\TOte that, " Viewed from 

 any standpoint, the practice is filthy and disgusting; is a reef that 

 is bound to sink morality; is a curse to the parent, the family, 

 and the Government ; is a fertile cause of crime, lying, in- 

 sanity, debt, and suicide ; is a poison to hope and ambition ; a 

 Bunderer of family tics; a breeder of sensuality; a destroyer of 

 bodily and mental function ; and a thing to be viewed with abhor- 

 rence by every honest man and virtuous woman." The late Dr. 

 Reid, of Hankow, stated that " Opium differed from alcoholic in- 

 dnJgence by the absolute necessity of having a daily quantity. A 

 drunkard may abstain until means accumulate to enable him to 

 purchase liquor, and may do his work efficiently in the intervals ; 

 but the opium-smoker must have his daily stimulant, or he breaks 

 down." Dr. Myers, of Takow, Formosa, thought opium-smokers 

 might be divided into two classes — first a minority who, being 

 cither officials or well-to-do persons, could afford to give vent to 

 their passion and indulge to an extent which would in many cases 

 justify the worst that had been said as to the effects and conse- 

 quences of the vice; and, secondly, the majority, consisting of 

 persons who were obliged to work hard for a living, and among 

 whom moderation was the rule. Kven among the former class 

 there were some who )iad a remarkable power of self-regu- 

 lation, taking just so much as they knew would abate the 

 craving and remove the state of exhaustion, languor, and 

 misery consequent on previous indulgence, and stopping short of all 

 unmanageable or incapacitating indulgence. There was no doubt 

 that many in this class retained sufficient self-control to continue 

 the practice consistently with the discharge of their official duties 

 or business, and with a fair measure of health and strength for 

 many years. The tolerance of poisons by the human constitution 



was one of tho most singular and least invesiigated of the processes 

 of life. Uaving quoted the testimony of several observers, medical 

 and official, as to the effects of opium-taking, Dr. Shearer spoke 

 from his own experience, gained during a residence of over six 

 years in China, which had led him to the conclusion that the Chinese 

 did not enjoy even comparative immunity from consumption and 

 diseases of the respiratory organs ; that while the drug might be of 

 value during the paroxysms of febrile disorders, it was not a pro- 

 phylactic against fever, and that, considered merely as a stimulant 

 and substitute for food, its usefulness had been overrated. The 

 truth was, that many used the drug with apparent impunity for 

 many years, and that manj', but much the smaller number, were 

 very seriously injured by the practice. Dr. C. R. Drysdale moved, 

 and Dr. J. J. Ridgo seconded the following resolution, which, after 

 discussion, was unanimously adopted : — "That this meeting, having 

 considered the evidence for and against the use of opium, condemns 

 it as most injurious to health and happiness." 



BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS. 

 By "W. J. H. Clarke. 



THE PROMINENT MOTHS (continued). 



IN our last paper we gave a short sketch of the first six Prominent 

 Moths, and this week we purpose finishing that family by 

 ■giving desciptions of the remainder. 



The last mentioned was the Wliite Prominent (Notodonta bicolor), 

 and next upon our list we find the Swallow Prominent {Notodonta 

 dictcea). This is a very handsome species, the fore wings being of 

 a greyish-brown tint in the centre, with the front edge darker, 

 and a large purple-brown spot near the tip ; the inner margin is of 

 a fine brown, which shades off into the lighter colour of the centre. 

 The hind wings are of a very pale hue, with a compound brown 

 blotch at the anal angle; the body and thorax are brown. The 

 caterpillar is green, with the usual yellow stripe down the side ; it 

 has also a black lino on the twelfth segment. The leaves of the 

 poplar and willow form its food, and the insect in all its stages 

 should be looked for thereabouts. 



Xery similar to the last, and next in order comes the Lesser 

 Swallow Prominent {Notodonta dictwoides). In colour it is precisely 

 similar to N. dictwa, with the exception of tho white mark oil the 

 anal angle of the fore wings, which is linear in dietary being wedge- 

 shaped and more noticeable. This moth flies in June, and is not 

 very abundant. The caterpillar is, we believe, green, with a yellow 

 stripe similar to the last, but we have never had the good luck to 

 capture one. It feeds on the birch. 



The Iron Prominent (Notodonta dromcdarius) next claims our 

 attention. This moth should be sought for during the month of 

 June, and thoujjh not common, it is to be found generally through- 

 out the Midland and Southern counties of England. In colour the 

 fore wings of this species are dull purplish brown, with a buff patch 

 at the base of the front margin ; the hind wings are greyish-brown. 

 The caterpillar appears in August, and feeds on the birch and alder ; 

 it is yellowish green in colour, with a dull purple stripe down the 

 back" from the second to the fourth segments, and the remaining 

 portion of the body is covered with small humps. 



Next on our list of Promincnts comes the Three-Humped Promi- 

 nent (Notodonta trilophus). This very rare species is on the wing 

 in May and August ; tho fore wings are dull yellowish bro^vn, with 

 two brown streaks, between which is a dull spot ; tho hind wings 

 are white. The caterpillar may be sought for on tlie aspen, poplar, 

 and birch during tho month of July. It is dark-green in colour, 

 with humps on several of tho segments, and a reddish streak down 

 the back, from the head to the fifth segment j along the spiracles is 

 a broken, reddish streak. 



The next species coming under notice is the Pebble Prominent 

 (Notodonta ziczac). This, the commonest of tho British Prominents, 

 is one of the most handsome, and in tho caterpillnr state tho most 

 singular. The colour of the wings is yellowish brown, with a slight 

 reddish tinge towards the upper margin ; beyond the middle there 

 is a large oval patch of purple and brown. The caterpillar is of a 

 greyish colour, with tlireo palo stripes on tho sides, and is covered 

 with humps in every direction ; it feeds on the juiplar, and is to bo 

 found towards the end of June, and in September and October. The 

 perfect insect files in May. 



The last species of all i's the Great Prominent (Notodonta Irepida). 

 It is the finest of its tribe, sometimes attaining the great size of 

 two-and-a-half inches acro.ss tho wings. The whole surface of tho 

 wings has a beautiful marbled apjiearance, tho colour being smoky 

 brown, with two streaks of a darker brown before the middle, and 

 some brown spots on tho hind margin. Tho perfect insect ajipoars 

 in May ond June, and is rather rare. Tho caterpillar feeds upon 



