
KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 

313 

the best. They come from the well; and, as they 
keep us “ well,” and merry—what more could we 
desire ?] 
Another new Planet !—Mr. Hind has discovered 
another planet, the ninth since the commence- 
ment of his systematic search in 1846. He ob- 
served it on the night of the 8th November, at 
7h. 50m., in the constellation Taurus, about two 
degrees south of the ecliptic, appearing rather 
brighter than a star of the ninth magnitude. 
There are now known to be twenty-seven of these 
asteroid planets, or, as Mr. Hind terms them, 
“that extraordinary group of worlds,” between 
Mars and Jupiter. ‘Ihe diurnal motion of the 
new planet at the present time, is in right ascen- 
sion one minute two seconds towards the west, 
and in declination about two minutes thirty 
seconds towards the south —E. P. 


The Cure of Disease by “‘ Mesmerism.”—The 
high character your Journat has attained, in- 
duced me recently to become a subscriber; and I 
need hardly tell you that I am and shall continue 
one of your “‘best’’ friends. I feel I cannot be 
any other. [It is truly delightful, Mademoiselle, 
to observe how we “keep” our friends from the 
moment they become such.] Turning over the 
leaves of a former number, I see some very 
striking and interesting remarks of yours on Mes- 
merism, as a Curative Agent in Disease. Can 
you refer me to any work; or what is better, to 
any skilful practitioner of respectability, that I 
could personally “consult” on the subject? I 
am more than commonly interested in it; and I 
know that in your hands I shall be safe. I en- 
close my name and address (in confidence, of 
course), and shall be happy to hear from you, 
privately. Let my known signature in, Our 
JouRNAL be—SeEnina. 
[We will ourself wait upon you, Mademoiselle. 
We know very much of the curative power of 
mesmerism; indeed, we have ourself privately 
succeeded so well in relieving suffering friends, 
that we can “talk like a book” about facts. As 
a public practitioner, we refer you with pleasure 
to Mr. J. J. Birp (his card may be obtained at 
219, Regent Street), a gentleman of great power, 
who is eminently successful in the treatment of 
his numerous patients. Not long since, we were 
suffering severely from an undue excitement of 
the brain. Our head was “‘fiery hot.” Mental 
exertion had been too much for us; we were 
fairly over-done. We chanced to call on a friend 
that day; and luckily found Mr. Bren present. 
Sitting down for a quarter of an hour, and sub- 
mitting to his kind offices, we were not long in 
being put quite right. ‘‘ Richard was himself 
again ”’ in less than half-an-hour. We name this 
as an act of pleasing duty. Mesmerism is no 
longer a bugbear. Be it known, however, that 
we are uncompromising enemies to clairvoyance, 
spirit-rapping, and all those diabolical delusions 
that haye been so long leading silly people 
captive. Our fair name must not be mixed up 
with anything of this nature. We will see any, 
and every thing. We acknowledge to have wit- 
nessed many strange phenomena. Nay, weknow 
more than we care to divulge. But these things 
have no bearing on “‘science.”” There are many 
occult matters into which we do not wish to pry— 
many things which, ¢f they do exist, we are not 
at all desirous to know. Modus est in rebus,—in 
omnibus rebus. “Too much learning ” is rapidly 
filling our hospitals with madmen. We know 
“the penalty ” for looking beyond what is lawful ; 
and therefore are warned not to be over-curious. 
“Ne quid nimis,” shall be our watchword. Thus 
we shall be “safe.” | 

Warmth of Fur.—lt is commonly thought that 
warmth would be best obtained by wearing fur 
with the hair inwards, and that the practice of 
wearing it outwards has been adopted from its 
ornamental richness. Such, however, is not the 
case ; for fur garments have been found by expe- 
rience to be much warmer in cold weather, when 
worn with the hair outwards, than when it is 
turned inwards. Hence the disadvantage of lining 
cloaks and gloves with furs. The above is alleged 
as a proof that we are kept warm by our clothing, 
not so much by confining the heat of our bodies, 
as by repelling those frigorific rays which tend to 
cool us.—VioLetT, Worcester. 


The Cramp.-—This involuntary contraction of 
the muscles, attended with a convulsive effort of the 
neck, arms, and legs, as well as a violent, though 
transitory pain,—is often the portion of the seden- 
tary, the aged, and infirm. A variety of remedies 
have been tried with occasional success. Some- 
times broad tape, applied tightly round the part 
affected, removes the complaint; but when it is 
more obstinate, a heated brick wrapped in a flannel 
bag may be placed at the foot of the bed, against 
which the person afflicted may place his feet. The 
brick will remain warm the whole night ; a return, 
therefore, will thus be prevented. No remedy, how- 
ever, is equal to that. of diligent and persevering 
friction. This, while it restores the free circula- 
tion of the blood in the contracted part, is more 
simple, expeditious, and safe in its effects. If 
cramp attack the interior organs,—as the stomach 
or bowels, it is always attended with danger, as 
frequent returns of it may occasion death. Medi- 
cine may relieve, but cannot cure. I therefore 
advise all who are liable to be afflicted in this way 
to adopt a strictly temperate and regular mode of 
living—to abstain rigorously from all spirituous 
and fermented liquors—to shun inundating their 
stomachs twice or thrice a day with hot tea; and 
to avoid smoked, salted, and pickled provisions. 
Fly also from fat, rancid, and flatulent dishes, 
which require a vigorous digestion. In short, 
avoid both the predisposing and exciting causes. 
The latter are generally found in an irritable tem- 
per, indulgence in fits of anger, and other depres- 
sing passions. These generally relax the animal 
fibre ; so that it again becomes contracted, and a 
paroxysm of cramp is the inevitable consequence. 
—A GRANDMAMMA. 
[Thank you, good Grandmamma. Many, besides 
ourself, will pray for you during the coming cold 
season. | 

The Owl.—Is there a brown monastery, whose 
cloisters, navelled in windy woods, make twilight 
at noonday? There dwells the owl; his favorite 
shelter being the noble oriel, where flaunting ivy 
and eglantine weave a gloomy treillage over its 
stony flower-work. The illuminated rites, the 
| swelling organ, the monkish magnificence of pro- 


