44C Effect of Iron Pipes on Waters,—Meaning of Gambit, [13^c. 1, 
2. It is done, I am fully convinced, to sa* 
tlate the- liiirst induced by the febrile state 
O' parturition, which thirst thev, being con¬ 
fined, have not toe natural power to allay. 
Hence the horrid altfrnurive of sacrificing 
their young, an extrtmicy to which they are 
never driven in a state of nature. 
o. I I'.avehad rabbits which have been soli 
ire cheap, in consequence of this seeming 
proneness to eat tneir young, which I have 
entirely avoided by aliov.’ing the anirnai some 
short time anterior, at the time and for a 
v/eek or so after parturition, to drink freely 
of cold water 5 and, when i have taken this 
precaution, no such propensity ever evinced 
itself m tne least. 
-i. Cold water is rn no way iniurious, and 
the ainmal appears wonderfully gratified 
bv it. 
The fnreffoirg goes to prove, that the 
propensity is in fact one which has for 
its origin necessity; and that of the most 
imperious nature. Hence I recommend 
to S. F. Pilgrim, and to all those who 
may have suffered from this cause, to 
sufiply the parturient auima's with as, 
innch cold liquid as they require or can 
drink. To shew' how far disease will 
engender such unnatural propensities, 
under peculiar circumstances, I have 
known a man with diabetes, w’hen denied 
other liquids to satiate the ternbie thirst, 
drink with the most apparent gratifica¬ 
tion the urine he liad just before marie 
a case of this sort is mentioned by Dr. 
Kollo, in his very valuable publication 
©n Diabetes, {See page 526 ) 
Should the fact here stated, prevent 
only in some degree tins terrible prac¬ 
tice, I shall be amply repaid. It should 
be known perchance, that with some 
hunger, may prove a powerful incentive, 
togetlier wiih ihirst. 
The substance found by your cor- 
respovident, William Simmons, in the 
rectuin of-'Mr. Ledbeater’s mare, will be 
t()und to be materially diii'erent from 
stone ; on sawing it through, this will he 
proved. At least if it resembles, (and 
from his description it seems so to do) 
those I liave examir.ed. I have disco¬ 
vered in two dogs I opened after death, 
a number of calculi, (to every appear¬ 
ance) firmly impacted in the rectum, 
which, upon minute inspection, turned 
out to he hardened 'foeces, with indi¬ 
gested hones. 
Your c<trrespond8nt II. in liis letter, 
mentions tfie objections, fear, &c. of 
many persons, relative to the eiiect 
hkt-ly to he the con-sequence of con¬ 
veying water in iron pipes; and the dag¬ 
ger which they ridiculously appieheiid 
4 ' 
from its use. Happy would it be for 
London, if every drop of water which is 
used in that citv was conveved in iron 
pipes; for, so far from being in the least 
injurious, or to be feared, it should be 
h'.nied as one of the greatest blessings 
winch could lia'e been bestowed; 
so far a■^ is connected with the real 
health of the inhabitants. Very many 
London diseases would be altogether 
prevented, could its inhabitants enjoy a 
pure chalybeate water, which now hap¬ 
pily, in a slight degree, will be afforded 
by the West JMiddleses Water-company; 
and so far should “the Londoners be from 
fearing the impregnation of the water, 
that they should ret eiae the thing, and 
lament that the iron will but weakly im¬ 
part its healthful properties. A volume 
might be written on the subject; and i 
am well assured that no raediciiT man, 
uiio knows the valuable properties of 
iron, will ever entertain a fear on the 
occasioii, but rejoice, as will every sveii- 
inforined, unprejudiced, reasoning mart. 
As to the damsels of the suds, it is true, 
they will find some small difference in 
wateiy impregnated with iron, and that 
with soda; but this is no valid objection, 
it is too contemptible for notice. 
n. Tvl. Broivn'e, Surgeon. 
Banbury^ O.von, JS^uv. 1811. 
To' the Editor of the Monthly Magazine^ 
SIR, 
N reply to your correspondent's en¬ 
quiries, respecting the meaning of 
the word gambit’' used in several of 
the Treatises on the Game oT Chess, it 
appears to be derived from the word 
“ gariibeto,” assigned to it by a native of 
Calabria; denoting, I presume, his par¬ 
ticular manner of opening die game; 
which relates merely to moving the 
king’s pawn two squares ; and the king’s 
bishop’s pawn tvvo squares; or, the 
Queen’s pawn and the queen’s bislioj/s 
pawn in like manner; proceeding after¬ 
wards according to the rules laid down 
in all the books. 
There is great reason to suppose, that 
“ Cunningham’s Gnmhit,” - and the 
“ Gambit Pawn,” are fonntled on tint 
same principles, and chiefly intended to 
give variety to tlie game. 
Many seliemes have been devised by 
enthusiastic admirers of the game for 
this purpose; but, I believe it has been 
acknowledged by Piiihdor, and otiict 
celebrated masters, that, to attain a pr(>- 
ficiencY in the regular rrmde of playing 
it, i-hg nfuHt intense application, and the 
greatest 
