392 
Improved means of Extinguishing Lights. [Dec. 1, 
these gases; these I should employ for 
its destruction, audthe lime to prevent 
its reproduction. I would strenuously 
recommend such an unlimited applica¬ 
tion of these principles, as that every 
building in the suffering district should ' 
be impregnated with the antiseptic 
effluvia. The materials are at hand in 
great abundance, aud a few thousand 
pounds, if necessary, might do as much 
for the preservation of human life, as 
is too often expended on its voluntary 
destruction. This would indeed be an 
atfempt worthy of the improvements 
in modern chemistry, and make some 
reparation to humanity for the miseries 
it has inflicted by supplying additional 
means to the evils of war. 
If the common wheel carriages of 
the town were employed, and the fumi¬ 
gating process used in each of them, 
aud at the same time quantities of lime 
carried to distribute where most want¬ 
ed ; let these vehicles have awnings to 
confine the gas when first produced to 
the lower parts of the atmosphere, and 
the whole employed in the windward 
direction; aud the danger of the ope¬ 
rators I should hope and believe, would 
be inconsiderable, and I cannot think 
it a wild or visionary expectation that 
the effects of the attempt should be 
instantaneous and powerful. Some of 
our public papers state the intention of 
bombarding one of the wretched towns, 
and reducing it to a heap of rubbish. 
What an unpkilosophic idea? As if 
smothering the infection could destroy 
its future effects, or as if the baneful 
cause would be destroyed by removing 
it from the eye. 
The heroism of the French physici¬ 
ans is deserving of the most gratifying 
reward in the power of man to bestow, 
even should their labours be ineffective: 
what then would be due from the 
united world to him who could demon¬ 
strate that he had arrested the terrific 
scourge in its mid-career, and not 
only succeeded in the present instance, 
but relieved posterity from the agoniz¬ 
ing and perpetual alarm of its fatal re¬ 
currence? This is a subject which 
comes home for should do) to every 
mams bosom. We know not how soon 
the case may be our own. A single 
act of desperation from the miserable 
crew of a diseased vessel, or number¬ 
less instances which the most vigilant 
precautions cannot always avoid, may 
bring the distress into the bosom of 
our own families, and this considera¬ 
tion will not only apologize for indi¬ 
vidual advice and interference, but 
render them absolute and imperious 
duties. 
But. perhaps I am deceiving myself, 
these means may already have been ap¬ 
plied. There are many Spaniards in 
England, and it would be a great sa¬ 
tisfaction to millions of feeling hearts 
to be informed more particularly what 
efforts have been made. 
Joseph Luckcock. 
Edgbaston . near Birmingham , 
^ Nov. 7th, 1821. 
♦ ■ ■ 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
sir, 
EING both a “ constant reader” 
of the Monthly Magazine, and an 
• 4 occasional contributor” to its pages, 
I have had repeated opportunities of 
perceiving its great utility, and of ex¬ 
periencing kind attention from you to¬ 
wards one or two letters with which I 
have thought it expedient to trouble 
you ; and I beg of you to-day the favour 
of an insertion, if the theme, on exami¬ 
nation, shall appear worthy of a place 
in your columns. It is a description 
of an improvement in the present mode 
of extinguishing the lights of common 
chamber candlesticks and lamps , by the 
application and use of which, sufficient 
time and light may be afforded to get 
into bed with comfort and safety. 
Those candlesticks or lamps must be 
selected for the purpose, which enclose 
the flame in a glass 44 chimney ” or tube ; 
and which, by the bye, are certainly 
preferable for general purposes on ac¬ 
count of the steadiness of the flame, 
aud their peculiar safety. To the upper 
opening of the glass, let a top or cover of 
either tin or brass be fitted,and when the 
light is to be put out, you have merely 
to cover up the aperture with it, when 
the flame will gradually sink, till it is 
extinguished by the rarefaction of the 
air enclosed. Upon the length and 
diameter of the tube, will of course 
depend the time occupied in the ex¬ 
tinction, a circumstance which should 
be considered by anyone about to order 
the apparatus. It is scarcely necessary 
to add, that where a candle is used, tire 
cover should be at least three or four 
inches above the flame, or the extinc¬ 
tion will be too sudden. If the cover 
be provided with a hook, similar to 
those now fixed on the common extin¬ 
guishers, it may, like them be conve¬ 
niently secured when out of use. 
For 
