288 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
July 14. 
; or perspiration, it follows that, although the alkaline, and 
| acid, and watery elements are thus carried off, the earthy 
particles must remain in tlie body, to be evacuated after 
they become moths. If the perspiration be checked, all 
these particles remaining in the body of the worm induce a 
chemical process which is the cause of all the diseases the 
creature suffers from. 
The disease of the segno, or spot, is the highest degree of 
this process which decomposes the animal and produces 
one totally different. The various elements engender what 
chemists call reciprocal affinity, and destroy the animal 
matter. The black or red spots, which appear at first on the 
under side of the worm, are caused by the check given to 
the perspiration when they are too crowded, and they indi¬ 
cate that the worm is about to become hard and die. The 
complaint is not infectious; worms attacked by it are found 
amongst others perfectly healthy, and in the cocoons some 
chrysalises are hard and others not so, which proves that it 
depends on accidental causes. The disease called Catci- 
naccio is of the same description ; under its attack the worm 
becomes more or less hard, and is called calcined, because 
it is covered with a substance like lime or chalk. This 
disease occurs at every stage, but more commonly after the 
fourth change, and upon the bush before they skin, and 
sometimes to the chrysalis, and so, by a chemical process, 
the creature from a soft and corruptible substance is 
changed to one hard and incorruptible. Sometimes the 
chemical process reduces the worms to a mere mummy, and 
it is then called Negron e. Sometimes the decomposition 
takes another course, and the creature is changed into a 
soapy substance, extremely putrid and offensive. The 
cocoons thus affected must bo wound immediately, or they 
will be spoilt. 
The Giallume is of various kinds, or rather the same 
complaint assumes different forms, and is called by different 
names, but the causes are the same. Sometimes the worms 
are attacked by the diarrhoea, which is fatal to those affected, 
and very injurious, by reason of the fetid smell produced by 
it, to the others, unless they are promptly separated. There 
is another malady called sojfoyamento or suffocation, which 
is entirely owing to want of care. It is produced by damp, 
and heat, and impure air, engendered by the fermentation 
of the leaves, and which will soon destroy all the worms— 
turning the establishment into a sepulchre. The worm 
will die sooner in damp air than in dry, even though impure, 
if the temperature be equal. 
Having thus glanced at the principal maladies of Silk¬ 
worms, we pass over many others which are not so universal, 
which do not prevail in all climates, nor with all food; for 
it would be tedious to enumerate those peculiar to different 
localities. But the most trustworthy writers, in different 
countries, have observed, that all disease usually proceeds 
from the same cause—want of care in the management of 
the Worm. The Silkworm, like other caterpillars, is formed 
for the open air, and if man, for his own advantage, brings 
it from its own country and cultivates it, he should endeavour, 
by every means in liis power, to remedy the variations 
of climate, and other circumstances which affect its well¬ 
being. It is very difficult to frame a system, and to adhere 
practically to it, so as to avoid all these inconveniences; 
but unless this is done, the Worm must sutler more or less. 
Of course, the best system of treatment is that which follows 
as closely as possible the law of nature. And he must not i 
he surprised, if acting upon the old plans, and leaving the 
supervision of the worms to ignorant bigoted people, the 
produce of silk should be scanty, and that there should be 
constant sickness among the insects. The only matter of 
surprise is, that under such treatment any advantage at all 
; should accrue to the owner. 
The eggs having been ill-kept, are hatched in an ill-re¬ 
gulated atmosphere, and amongst fetid exhalations. The 
little worms are first heaped together in suffocating heat, 
then exposed to a cold temperature, which in time becomes 
unwholesome, and unfit for respiration, they are left 
crowded together amidst the fetid exhalations from their 
beds, which if changed are not immediately removed, the 
attendants not being sufficiently alive to the prejudicial 
effects of the fermentation. 
When the beds are to be changed, the whole family 
assemble in the room, forgetting that the smell of the 
human body injures the worms, which they take up by hand¬ 
fuls, throw upon plates or dishes, and afterwards return 
to the new beds, with most likely some of the filth from the 
old ones adhering to them. No care is taken to give them 
light, that most valuable stimulant to animal life. 
{To be continued.) 
THE HISTORY OE FRANK RANDALL. 
By the Authoress of “My Flowers." 
{Concluded from page 248.) 
We have followed Frank Randall, my readers, from ! 
steady respectability to a state of confirmed drunkenness. I 
A short, but awful journey! We are now going to attend 
him during the remaining stages ; and it would be well for I 
us all to consider oar ways, as we mark his downward course. | 
We may not all be drunkards; but we may be habitual 
breakers of one of God’s commandments, at least; and “ he ! 
that shall offend in one point is guilty of all.” So let us j 
not lay false comfort to our hearts, or say to ourselves i 
“ peace, when there is no peace.” 
“Frank Randall became a confirmed drunkard, so that at 
last I told him that I could no longer keep him in my em¬ 
ploy, and that he must look out for another situation ; but 
his promises of amendment were so earnest, and his appeals 
so pathetic, that I resolved to give him another trial. 
“ Shortly after this I was called away for a few days, and 
on my return, was informed by his fellow-workmen that he 
had been taken ill in my absence, and was gone home—a j 
distance of six miles into the country—where he had taken 
a cottage, and was in the habit of walking home on a 
Saturday night (staying during the week in a lodging in the 
town). I found, afterwards, that immediately I left home 
he rushed away to his drunken friends, and was seized with 
illness during a state of intoxication. I understood he ex¬ 
pressed a great wish to see me, and, accordingly, I took the 
earliest opportunity of riding over to his house. As I ap¬ 
proached his dwelling, I saw him seated upon a stile in the 
lane, inhaling the breezes of that early summer day, hoping, 
I suppose, to drink in renovated health by its invigorating 
breath. But alas! how greatly was he changed! I could 
scarcely have credited that so short a time could have 
effected an alteration so fearful! Death, I felt persuaded, 
was stamped upon his brow; he complained of a violent 
pain in his side, and a constant and wearying cough; decided 
consumptive symptoms had shown themselves, and the only 
medical man that had seen him was the club - doctor, when 
first taken ill. A very able physician, was, I knew, a daily 
visitor at a neighbovuing gentleman’s seat, and I begged 
him to call at the cottage, which he kindly did ; and, on his 
return, informed me, that the only chance for his life was 
to get him into an Infirmary as an inmate, where he could 
have good nursing, and the best advice. 
“ On paying him another visit, I found his removal im¬ 
possible, for he had become rapidly worse; and I now asked 
whether he would not wish to see a clergyman, to which, 
with great readiness, he assented. IVould that I could have i 
taken every intemperate man to his death-bed; they then j 
would have seen to what wretchedness, both of mind and i 
body, this fearful sin reduces its victim! They r would have 
heard the self-accusations of a broken heart; the deep wail¬ 
ing for opportunities lost, and a life mis-spent! ‘ Oh ! ’ 
he said, ‘ that God would once more raise me up, what a 
different life would I lead; ’ but it was evident that nothing 
short of a miracle could restore him to health. Poor 
Randall’s cottage was situated in a distant hamlet of a 
parish, whose vicar was well known to me, and I lost no 
time in begging him to call. In a day or two afterwards, I 
received a note, telling me that he had seen him several 
times; that he was much interested in his case; that he 
had discovered that he had never been admitted into the 
Christian Church by baptism; that he proposed administer¬ 
ing that sacrament to him on the following day ; and as a 
witness was required in cases of adult baptism, he begged 
me to come over and be present on the occasion. 
“I reached the cottage at the appointed horn - , and found 
the excellent clergyman arrived before me, preparing poor 
