error has so divested the people of common humanity, that not only are the sick and wounded abandoned to their fate, but those who fly to the open country or mountains, (where, in fact, the malady cannot exist, much less propagate itself,) are treated like contaminated de serters from a pest-hospital, and either left to starve or put to death by their barbarous countrymen. It is consoling, however, to be certain (and it is most certain,) that a few weeks more,—that is, the approach of cold weather, will cut off the sources of the epidemic, (which could not be the case where it a common contagion,) and thus annihilate, at least for a season, the disease itself.

In proof that the disease is not personally contagious, Dr. Jackson brings forward the following, among other authentic facts:-" In the year 1800, when upwards of ten thousand people died at Xeres de la Frontera, sixty persons were employed to bury the dead. The buriers entered the houses where the dead lay,-took the bodies in their arms, often, it is presumed, in a loathsome state,-put them into the carts in heaps, and drove them to the place of interment. None of the biriers were infected." A somewhat similar event happened in the year 1819, at Saint Lucar. The buriers of the dead having shamefully abused their office, the friars of the Franciscan convent most nobly volunteered the interment themselves. "The offer," says Dr. Jackson, "was accepted; and the friars, on entering on the duty they had thus imposed upon themselves, found the majority of the houses, or sick apartments, deserted, the bodies of the dead lying in various postures upon beds or on the floors. They wrapped them in sheets, or in such other covering as presented itself in the apartment, carried them to the bier in their arms, and afterwards in the bier on their shoulders to the grave. Not one of the meritorious band was attacked by the disease.” In short, from the records of the past and the evidence of the present, there is not the least reason to doubt that the epidemic now ravaging Andalusia is of the same nature, though perhaps more violent in degree, as those which have, in autumnal seasons, appeared in the same places, at longer or shorter intervals, for centuries. The poison, or malaria, which produces the discase, is the product of the soil itself, elicited by particular seasons; and the fever so generated, if directly exported to other countries, could not there be propagated, for want of its primary pabulum.

Ex

Such is the opinion of Dr. Jackson, who visited the dying, and examined with his own hands the dead, so lately as in October 1820. It' is also the opinion of the most enlightened English and French physicians who have visited the unfortunate theatre of the pestilence. cepting the inconvenience, no harm apparently results from the quarantine precautions adopted by the neighbouring states; but the contagion conviction, impressed on the minds of those residing in and near the sickly towns and districts, gives rise to the most deplorable events, and deprives the unhappy sufferers of all succour or consolation from even their nearest friends or relatives! The operations of nature, however, and the revolution of the seasons, will soon put a period to the ravages of the epidemic. JAMES JOHNSON, M.D.

Yellow-Fever in Spain. -THE details of the ravages committed by the contagious fever in Spain, are most lamentable. To guard against the propagation of this alarming malady, the French government has adopted the most rigorous precautions. A cordon of health is imme. diately to be extended along the frontiers of Spain, between which kingdom and France all communication is limited to one prescribed route, and travellers will be subjected to the performance of quarantine. All intercourse with the departments of l'Arreige and the Higher Pyrennees is rigorously interdicted for the present.

"A letter from Perpignan, dated the 18th instant, confirms the details already given relatively to the sad situation of Barcelona and a part of Catalonia. The number of persons who have quitted Bar. celona is stated to be from thirty-five to forty thousand, who are scattered in different parts of that ill-fated province. Tortosa, and the whole shore of the Ebro, is a prey to this terrible scourge: Malaga, Cadiz, Xeres, and Port St. Mary, are not exempt from the infection. It is feared that the state of political affairs does not permit the government to deliberate with effect upon the necessary measures which such grievous circumstances require. Barcelona, it is said, is only occupied by individuals whom the hope of pillage has induced to remain. The lazaretto of that town is now empty: all those who were confined there have died. That of Barcelonetta is menaced with the same results.

"A letter from Mount Lewis, dated the 19th instant, announces that all Catalonia is in desolation, and that the streets of Barcelona are deserted; as the unhappy inhabitants have withdrawn to the mountains, from whence they are repulsed by the peasantry, and die of famine and misery. This letter confirms the previous accounts, that upwards of 67,000 passports were delivered before the establishment of the cordon of health. It was concealed from the inhabitants that this cordon would be formed at a very little distance from the town: as soon, however, as it was known to them, they committed sad excesses. The civil authorities had quitted the town.

A letter from Bayonne, dated the 22d, says:-" Advices have reached our authorities respecting the progress of the infection in Catalonia, which has determined them to adopt more rigorous precautions on the frontier of Navarre and Guipurzcoa. The customs' posts have been reinforced by three companies of troops of the line, which now form a strong cordon. The first detachment will be stationed at Hendaye, Biriatoco, the Pas-de-Behobia, and Olhetta; the second at Sare and St. Pée; the third at Ainhod and Itsazou.

"The Pas-de-Behobia is the only point by which communication with France will be permitted.

"These measures are at present merely precautionary, because but little communication exists between Catalonia and our neighbouring provinces. Even should contagious symptoms appear amongst us, the vigilance of the authorities and the fidelity of the troops would inspire us with security."

State of Health at Malaga.-WE translate, from "El Universel," a Madrid paper, of the 25th September, the following extract respecting the present state of health of Malaga.

"Malaga, 18th Sept. The inhabitants of this town enjoy the most complete health. No contagious disorder seems to menace them at present; in proof of which fact we subjoin an account of the number of patients existing at present in the town, in the hospitals and lazarettos, all afflicted with common complaints, and of those who died yesterday.

"Population.-Patients known to exist yesterday, 60; died, 7. Hospitals.-Patients existing yesterday, 84; died, 1. "Lazarettos.-0.

"Harbour and Bay.-One of the infected vessels, which had been ordered to Mahon, has returned; but will again be sent off immediately."

Further Information respecting the Yellow-Fever.--THE Conclusion of the official correspondence from Marseilles, inserted in another part of this Number, was communicated to us as the Journal was going to press. It appears that no fresh cases of fever have occurred since the last report,--thanks to the immediate and vigorous steps taken by the government to prevent the infection, even among the crews of ships in quarantine. The whole number of sick amounted to 23, of whom 12 died. The second guard, who had contracted the fever onboard the Danish vessel, and who had been landed with the corpse of his companion, as noticed in the above correspondence, fell also a victim to the disease in the lazaretto of Pomergue.

In the latest accounts received from Spain, the ravages committed by the epidemy are represented in the most formidable colours. Lerida, Barbastro, Tortosa, Mequinenza, and Trajor, are all exposed to it, from want of proper measures of sequestration. Saragossa having also been threatened, the Board of Health have been under the necessity of resorting to rigorous precautions. Various extracts of letters of the 3d and 5th instant (October,) represent the epidemic discase as having increased in severity. On the 23d and 24th of September, 260 persons died, exclusive of children. The whole population of Tortosa is said to have been swept away by the disorder. A cordon has been formed on the frontiers of France and Catalonia. The inhabitants of the latter province are flying from their homes. The situation of Barcelona becomes daily more distressing. It was hoped (observes the writer,) that the last days of September would, with a cooler temperature, bring the cheering prospect of freedom from our sufferings, and put an end to the devouring malady that afflicts us; but we are disappointed: the victims of the yellow.fever increase in number. Ninety died yesterday, and 600 new cases have been de. clared."

The northern powers have lately issued orders for subjecting every vessel coming from Spain to the most rigorous quarantine, and for NO. 273. 3 x

rejecting all those on-board of which any case of fever may have occurred.

Drs. PARISET, MAZET, and BAILLY, three of the physicians deputed by the French government to proceed to Spain, to inquire into the nature and progress of the epidemy, are said to have begun their labours.

Paris, 13th October.-SEVEN days ago, a Danish ship was stranded in the night, about two leagues from Marscilles. Three members of the Board of Health instantly repaired to the spot, when they learned that two of the crew had died of the fever on the passage. The ship was accordingly burned without delay, and the men conveyed to the lazaretto.

Juridical Medicine.-Two inquisitions have been taken, in the course of last month, at Mildenhall, before Mr. WAYMAN, the coroner for the liberty of Bury, in consequence of premature death occurring in an adult and an infant, the causes of which merit the attention of the medical profession. It appeared upon evidence, that the former, named John Harris, had eaten some honey from the honey-comb, and that a bee concealed in it getting into his throat, he died almost imme diately from suffocation. The second, Mary Bacon, fell with her face upon a quantity of slacked lime, when a particle of it getting into the wind-pipe, produced inflammation of the lungs and sloughing of the trachea, of which this infant died. The verdict in each case was "Accidental Death."

University of Edinburgh.-THE medical class for the ensuing ses sion was opened as follows:

Dietetics, Materica Medica, and Pharmacy, Wednesday, Oct. 31, at eight o'clock, Dr. DUNCAN, jun.

Practice of Physic, Wednesday, Oct. 31, at nine o'clock, Dr. HOME. Chemistry and Chemical Pharmacy, Wednesday, Oct. 31, at ten o'clock, Dr. HOPE.

Theory of Physic, Wednesday, Oct. 31, at eleven o'clock, Dr. DUNCAN, sen. and Dr. ALISON.

Anatomy and Pathology, Wednesday, Oct. 13, at one o'clock; and Principles and Practice of Surgery, Wednesday, Nov. 14, at four o'clock; Dr. MONRO.

Theory and Practice of Midwifery, Thursday, Nov. 13, at three o'clock, Dr. HAMILTON.

Clinical Medicine, Tuesday, Nov. 13, at four o'clock, Dr. GRAHAM and Dr. ALISON.

Clinical Surgery, Monday, Nov. 5, at five o'clock, Mr. RUSSELL. Practical Anatomy, under the superintendance of Dr. MONRO. During the summer season, Lectures will be given on the following branches of education:-Botany, by Dr. GRAHAM; Midwifery, by Dr. HAMILTON; Clinical Lectures on Medicine, by Dr. GRAHAM ; Clinical Lectures on Surgery, by Mr. RUSSELL; and Universal History, by Sir W. HAMILTON.

Attendance will be given in the Library every lawful day, from ten till three o'clock, to enrol the names of the students in the Album, which is the only legal record of their attendance in the University.

Cæsarean Operation.-Ar the meeting of the Royal Academy of Medicine at Paris of the 7th of July last, Mr. BECLARD, one of the most distinguished surgeons of that capital, reported that he had, the day before, performed the Cæsarean operation, and that both the mother and child were doing well. The incision was made in the direction of the linca alba. The report continues favourable down to the 10th of July, after which day we have received no further account.

A Reply to Dr. James Johnson's Letter, inserted in the present Number. We hold it to be part of our duty, as journalists, to avail ourselves of every transient incident that can benefit the health of mankind, in every part of the globe where our periodical labours circulate we therefore cannot refrain from making use of a testimony, which, though not from a professional person, yet, as mere matter of fact, is entitled to as much, or perhaps more, attention than the like attestations of professional gentlemen, whose minds are too often warped by preconceived opinions. An article has appeared in the Liverpool and London newspapers, signed by a private gentleman, of the name of CHEVALIER, stating, in reply to Dr. James Johnson's letter regarding the non-infectious nature of yellow-fever, that he can affirm, of his own knowledge, that the fever in question was introduced into Cadiz, in the year 1800, by a ship from Philadelphia, on-board of which some persons had died of it during the voyage. This vessel was at first put into quarantine, but was soon after released through the influence of a merchant with a magistrate, both of whose names he gives; and, from the landing of the people, and their baggage, belonging to this ship, the infection was traced on that occasion.

We are assured, on the authority of Señor LARREA, the Spanish consul residing in this country, part of whose family resided at Malaga, that this dreadful epidemic was introduced there in 1803, by a vessel from St. Domingo, which, by the interference of interested people, was excused from quarantine, though it was well known that the disease was on-board at the time. From Malaga, the fever spread on the following year, 1804, to Gibraltar, where 6000 inhabitants fell victims to it.

THE unexpected demise of Don FERNANDO MILLARES, the governor of Malaga, which took place on the 27th of September, has created the liveliest alarm among the inhabitants of that town; two thousand of whom immediately left it, under an apprehension that the complaint of which that officer had died was the yellow.fever.-Madrid Gazette, October 2d.