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terrible fhapes. tation and here the perfon was kept meditating and fafting for twenty-four hours; he was then worked up to the pitch, at which his employers wanted him, by an intoxicating draught; and, fhocking as it is to tell, it is nevertheless true, that the errand on which he was fometimes fent after this preparation was MURDER.

This was called the chamber of medi

Perhaps, fays Dr. PERCIVAL, in the cafe of SEXTIUS BACULUS, as recorded in the Commentaries of Cæfar, the extraordinary courage and prowefs which he suddenly exerted, might be aided by the exhilarating effect of fuftenance, which, under fuch circumftances, it is probable he would no longer decline. He had fafted feveral days: but hearing that the enemy was entering by the gate of the fortrefs, he alone refifted the combined efforts of a superior power, until the centurions, and others, came to his affiftance, who took him away from the place of conteft covered with wounds.

I have been informed, adds this eminent philofopher, by a young physician from Geneva, that, when he was ftudent at Montpelier, he fafted three days and nights with no other refreshment than a pint of water daily. His hunger was keen, but never painful, during the first and second days of his abstinence; and on the third VOL. III.

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day

day he perceived only a faintness, when he attempted either bodily or mental exertion. A fenfe of coldness was diffused over his whole frame, but more particularly affected the extremities. During the whole period the alvine exertions were fuppreffed *, and at the close of it, his skin became tinged with a shade of yellow. firft food he took was veal broth, which had fomething of an intoxicating effect, producing a glow of warmth, and raifing his fpirits, fo as to render him afhamed of his despondency.

The

HIPPOCRATES has very juftly obferved, that children, (who poffefs abundant irritability), are more affected by abstinence than young perfons; these more than the middle aged; and the middle aged more than old men.

Agreeable to this aphorifm, DANTE is faid, by his countryman MORGAGNI, to have framed the incidents in the affecting ftory of Count UGOLINO, a nobleman of Pifa, who was confined, with his four fons, in the dungeon of a tower; the key of which being caft into the river Arno, they were, in this horrible fituation, starved to death. And they are represented by the poet, as dying at different periods, according to their respective ages.

* Vide page 532.

Now

Now the fourth morning rofe; the youngest child
fell at his father's fect, in accent wild,

ftruggling with pain, with his laft fleeting breath,

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Help me, my fire," he cried, and funk in death.
He faw the others follow one by one-

Heard their laft fcream,-and their expiring groan.

In our attempts to recover thofe who have fuffered under the calamities of FAMINE, great circumfpection is required. Warmth, and cordials, are the means usually employed; and it is evident that these may prove too powerful in their operation, if not administered with caution and judgment. For the body, by long fafting, as we have seen, is reduced to a state of extreme irritability; the minuter veffels of the brain, and of other organs, collapfe for want of fluids to diftend them; the ftomach and inteftines fhrink in their capacity; and the pulfations of the heart and arteries are quick and feeble, with scarce fufficient energy to propel the scanty current of blood. Under fuch circumftances there are inftances of persons who have been suddenly struck dead in confequence of having took a full meal, and drank a glass of brandy. As with those who have been froft-bitten, or drowned, friction with now or cold water, is the only 4 B 2

fafe

fafe ftimulus that can at first be applied to the furface, fo here the lowest ftimulus in the fcale is to be preferred to that fudden tranfition too often practised by unphilofophic practitioners. The external heat, fays Dr. PERCIVAL, fhould be at first lower than that of the human body, and gradually increased, according to the effects of that ftimulus. Whey, gruel, weak broth, is the only nourishment that can with propriety be adminiftered. If cordials are employed, they should be given with the most frugal hand, and confiderably diluted. Perhaps wine-whey might be better, and when the superfluous irritability is a little worn off, and the ftomach ftrengthened, an egg may be mixed with the whey, or administered under fome more agreeable form. But let it be remembered as an indubitable maxim, adds Dr. PERCIVAL," that the return to a full diet fhould be con"ducted with great caution, and by very flow gradations."

SECT.

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ON ASPHYXIA FROM COLD.

THE advantage of clothing, as fencing out the cold, or, in more philofophic language, as retaining the inbred, or vital, heat, has been before confidered. We are now therefore to contemplate the effects of extreme cold.

Ah! little think the gay licentious proud,

whom pleasure, power, and affluence furround;
they, who their thoughtless hours in giddy mirth,
and wanton, often cruel, riot waste.

Ah! little think they, while they dance along,
how many feel, this very moment, death
and all the fad variety of pain.

How many fink in the devouring flood,
or more devouring flame. How many bleed,
by shameful variance betwixt man and man.
How many pine in want, and dungeon-glooms;
fhut from the common air, and common use
of their own limbs. How many drink the cup
of baleful grief, or eat the bitter bread
of mifery. Sore pierced by wintry winds,
how many fhrink into the fordid hut
of cheerless poverty.-Perhaps, the swain
hieing homeward to his family, now
disaster'd stands; fees other hills afcend,

of unknown joyless brow; and other scenes
of horrid prospect, bleach the trackless plain :
nor finds the river, nor the foreft, hid▾
beneath the formlefs wild; but wanders on
from hill to dale, ftill more and more astray;

impatient

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