General Science . 
m 
of jelly, containing a number of elongated filaments, has the re- 
markable property of dissolving in water. It always disappears 
when the rain has ceased, leaving only a small dry membrane, 
apparently inorganised, which resumes its original form, by 
being wetted. A curious paper on this plant, and on the diffe- 
rent names it has received, is published by M. Vallot, in the 
Journal de Physique , Mars 1821, tom. 93. p. 216,-227. 
31. Impediments of Speech. — All impediments of speech may 
be divided into two kinds, natural and artificial. Natural 
impediments arise from a diseased or misconstructed state of the 
organ of speech. Artificial impediments are certain acquired 
habits, occasioned by a false application of the organs, and 
other causes. Natural impediments are so very rare, that not 
one case in five hundred of those affected with impediments of 
speech, can be traced to physical causes. But there are other 
causes that operate most powerfully in preventing those afflicted 
with impediments, from submitting to a proper course of tui- 
tion ; and, finally, of having them completely removed.— Me- 
dical men too frequently assert, when any case of marked im- 
pediment of speech is submitted to their examination, that it 
arises from a deficiency, or malconformation of the organ of 
speech ; and is therefore incurable. This is most distressing, 
because many of these very cases, however, have been found to 
be purely artificial , and under proper management, and a due 
course of tuition, the supposed natural impediments have been 
completely removed. — Another prevailing opinion, which has a 
powerful effect in preventing any attempt to remove impedi- 
ments of speech, without any respect to the origin of the evil, 
is, that they are incurable, and of course, without farther inves- 
tigation, it is taken for granted that all plans to effect a cure 
are nugatory and delusive. This opinion has, unfortunately, 
been too frequently confirmed by the misgiving of success with 
those, who, without hesitation, pretend to remove all impedi- 
ments of speech, natural or artificial.— Parents and guardians 
ought to know, that impediments of speech are, in most cases, 
contagious, and are often attended with the most serious conse- 
quences, where there are younger branches in the family that 
many impediments, which, had they been taken in time, might 
