first of these informed us there were above three hundred more bound for the same place, which we afterwards found to be a fact. They eagerly inquired concerning the state of affairs at Magdeburgh; and, on our assuring them that they must not lose a moment, if they wished to arrive in time to enter the port, they declared the frequent tolls made it impossible to proceed more expeditiously; but though they certainly were exposed to real danger, not one of them expressed the least dissatisfaction. They had, however, the advantage of a favourable wind, which continued nearly a fortnight, and which delayed us extremely; but we could not complain of a circumstance which we hoped might be productive of such good consequences. The inconvenience suffered by these vessels at so important a moment, naturally led us to inquire whether a method might not be found to obviate it and we immediately thought, that it would be easy to place flat-bottomed boats on the river, of the same kind as those on which the millers erect their houses and mills. The custom-house officers, their clerks, &c. would then have a better opportunity of examining vessels and receiving the tolls, and the trader and traveller would be presently at liberty to continue their voyage, and, even if they wished it, could have no plausible pretext for delay. The custom-house might indeed object to this new kind of dwelling, but the discontent of a few individuals is trifling, when compared to the general utility of such an arrange ment. Besides, it is but reasonable, that those who live at the

public expense should sacrifice their personal interest to the public good; and I am perfectly assured, that this plan would be a great saving to government, and produce advantage to commerce beyond all calculation.

Our boatmen were so extremely fatigued with rowing constantly against the wind, that they were obliged to stop for the night fifteen miles short of Wittembergen. After passing that town the following morning, the Elbe was again crowded with small islands and sand-banks. We landed at a small village in Hanover, where, though the custom-house officers were not very strict in examining the baggage, we were detained some time. They were equally indulgent at Lenzen in the Prussian territories, which is half a mile from the shore. There we cast anchor, and passed the night in company with ten or twelve vessels laden with provisions for Magdeburgh, which were not suf fered to proceed till past ten in the morning, though the customhouse officers had time enough to examine them the evening before, and though they knew the importance of the commission with which they were charged.

The wind rising and blowing violently, we could not possibly proceed any further; and being told that it might probably continue in the same quarter for several days, I consulted with my fellow travellers, and determined upon going by land to Hamburgh. The idea of being separated from my friends, and leaving them exposed to dangers which they thought it more prudent in me to avoid, was so very painful, that I

was more than once tempted to return, during my walk to Lenzen. I, however, went on to that town, where I was informed at the posthouse that orders had been received to keep seventy horses in readiness. A species dollar (four and sixpence) induced the hostler to provide me with an open waggon and a pair of miserable horses. The first post was twenty-five miles (before it was measured they only charged twenty-one), and the road so dreadful, that it would be scarcely passable for a large English carriage. I was, however, driven tolerably fast, and found a very excellent inn at Lupthen, which, though large, was so crowded, that ten or twelve people who arrived some hours before me, were forced to remain in their carriages. The master of the inn spoke good English, and taking me for a courier, invited me into his own room, and promised to procure me a peasant's waggon and a pair of horses; he added, that he was greatly embarrassed, having a hundred horses bespoke, and that he was going to send an express to order eighty at every post the whole of the way to Hamburgh. I gave a mark (sixteen-pence) to the man who carried the express, to order me likewise a post waggon and pair, which he faithfully promised, hut forgot to keep his word. I passed a wretched night in my open waggon, it raining violently, and blowing a strong north-east wind in my face. I was five hours in going the seventeen miles between Lupthen and Boitzenbourg, where I found no horses ready at the post-house, and was told I could not possibly have any for seven or eight hours. Two light

carriages-and-four arrived at the same moment, and received the same answer as myself. I entered into conversation with these travellers, who were Jews from Leipsick, and who told me they had been constantly within sight of the French ever since they had left that town; adding, that they would give any sum for horses, sooner than fall into their hands. This induced me to bribe my postillion with a species dollar, who presently procured me a pair, and I went the twenty miles to Eschburg so fast, that I soon passed the two light carriages, though they had paid enormously for double the number of horses, and rewarded the postillions most handsomely. Lauenbourg is the only remarkable place on this road, and when time is not wanting, is well worth seeing. A Swedish officer at Eschburg asked me very politely formy passport, and when he heard my name, almost insisted upon my dining with him. I could not help acquainting this hospitable officer of the fate which awaited him, and the troop under his command should they persist in remaining in their present situation. "You know the king," replied he, "and not a Swedish soldier, let the number of the enemy be what it may, will ever quit his post till he has received orders to abandon it."

Impressed with sentiments of admiration for a man so heroically devoted to his duty, I quitted him with my heart full, and had nearly been too late for the gates at Hamburgh, from having conversed with him so long. I was the last person who entered the city that evening, and I had no small difficulty in procuring a

Indeed

(the City of London), which is in much the finest situation in Hamburgh, though certainly the dearest inn in the whole place. My first inquiry was naturally respecting the march of the French army, but no one could give me any exact intelligence, and I did not learn till the next morning that it was at too great a distance to overtake my friends; yet still the wind continued so violent and so contrary, that I suffered great uneasiness; the French marching with such rapidity, and losing no time in pursuing their enemies. Happily, however, on the sixth day after our separation, I was joined by my fellow travellers.

HISTORY OF FATAL EFFECTS

FROM THE ACCIDENTAL USE

OF WHITE LEAD. By John Deering, Surgeon, F. M. S.; with additional Remarks by William Shearman, M. D. F. M. S. From the Transactions of the Me

dical Society of London.

Aldersgate Street, Oct. 4, 1809. If the following narrative do not convey any important medical information, it may not be wholly uninstructive, as it relates to a domestic calamity, occasioned by a circumstance which at the time was wholly unsuspected; and it may at least inculcate the necessity of a closer investigation of symptoms from causes not fully ascertained, and at the same time evince the fallacy of hasty prog

nostics.

On the 21st of October last, I was desired to visit Mrs. R. the wife of a respectable tradesman in

ed of violent pain in the scrobiculus cordis, with great soreness of the epigastric region when pressed upon. She had vomited a considerable quantity of bilious matter, and at the same time her bowels were constipated: the pulse was calm and regular, the tongue clean and moist, and there was no symptom of fever present. She immediately took a cathartic, which operated, and an opiate in the evening. The following morning the patient appeared relieved; in the evening, however, the pains and vomiting recurred, and these symptoms continued for some successive days, in so distressing a degree, that it was deemed adviseable to consult the family physician, which was done on Nov. 4, 1808. At this time these symptoms continued as already intimated, without any appearance of fever, and hence the physician was induced to consider the affections as of a rheumatic and spasmodic

nature

In

In a few days, in consequence of the amendment of the patient, he discontinued his visits. about a week after this period, a boy in the same family, nearly sixteen years of age, was seized with symptoms exactly similar to those of the preceding case, and similar remedies afforded only partial relief, till at length he was removed into the country, and thereby recovered his health.

A week after the attack of this youth, the eldest child, a boy six years old, was also seized with analogous symptoms, and, the mother having relapsed into her former state, the physician was again consulted on the 19th of

November. At this time three other persons in the family laboured under similar affections, and suspicions were now entertained that some poisonous substance might have caused this general indisposition of the family; but after minute investigation no one circumstance was discovered to confirm this suspicion, or to elucidate the source of so extensive a calamity.

The sickness and pain continued unabated in Mrs. R.; but the son, after the period of a fortnight, was deemed in a state of convalescence by his physician, who discontinued his attendance; he was, however, soon after seized with convulsions, and expired within a few hours. Unexpected and severe as this shock was, Mrs. R. afterwards gradually grew a little better. She had hitherto continued to suckle her child, which, it being fifteen months old, she was advised to wean to this she reluctantly consented. In about ten days after wards the child became somewhat costive, without any other apparent indisposition; but at this period it was seized with vomiting and convulsions, and suddenly expired. The unhappy parent now experienced a return of her complaints, and, under a persuasion of the inefficacy of professional aid, she was prevailed upon to consult an empiric, whose attendance, though continued to the end of the year, proved unavailing; and on the 3rd of January, 1809, she had the advice of Mr. Chevalier, an experienced surgeon, who considered the patient's complaint to be chronic rheumatism; and by the use of clysters of warm water, oily mucilaginous medicines, fo

mentations, and vesicatories, she appeared to experience more relief than at any period since the first attack; but, although the vomiting and sickness were less violent and frequent, the pain and soreness of the abdomen, first complained of, never entirely subsided; she was, however, able to sit up, and amuse herself with a little needlework, and even to go about the domestic concerns of the family, and Mr. Chevalier had proposed to pay his final visit on the 21st. On the morning of this day she rose at ten o'clock, and within the space of an hour afterwards, whilst standing near the desk of drawers, she suddenly exclaimed, "I am dying!" She was seized with convulsions, which continued till five o'clock, when she expired.

On the subsequent day, Mr. Chevalier, whose anatomical skill is well known, examined the body by dissection. Neither the thoracic and abdominal viscera, nor the brain, upon the most minute examination, exhibited the least appearance of disease; in short, not the least trace could be discovered of any morbid affection.

With respect to the three other persons already mentioned to have been indisposed, the servant maid, one of them, was conveyed to her friends, and recovered. A sisterin-law of Mrs. R. also recovered; but the third, who was her motherin-law, died, after lingering under disease till March.

These circumstances having been cursorily communicated to the Medical Society, Dr. Adams, Dr. Hamilton, and Mr. Lawrence, were requested to visit the house of this unfortunate family, and to endeavour to ascertain the cause

of the calamity. Every culinary article, and the whole premises were accurately examined, but without its leading to any discovery. It appeared, indeed, that Mr. R. the husband of the deceased lady, had purchased a cask of sugar at a sale, a considerable part of which had been disposed of to some friends in the country, who had used it without inconvenience, and hence no suspicion was entertained of this article having produced the fatality in Mr. R.'s family.

In this state of uncertainty, Dr. Laird, another member of the Medical Society, visited the house; and, on examining the cask which had contained the sugar, he observed a white powder adhering to its inner surface, and which, on being heated by the blow-pipe on charcoal, afforded globules of lead in the metallic state.

The mystery was thus at length developed. The sugar had been injudiciously put into a cask which had previously contained white lead. That part of the sugar which was sent into the country had probably been taken out of the middle of the cask, and had never come in contact with the lead; whilst that which was used by the family, having been taken from the side, was impregnated with this metal, and doubtless was the source of the fatal events described.

Of nine persons in this family, who were more or less indisposed, four died, and the effects of the poison appear to have been nearly in the ratio of their respective

the child six years of age survived a fortnight: Mrs. R. aged forty, lingered three months before the fatal event took place; and the mother-in-law, aged sixty-seven, died four months after the attack.

The symptoms in each were very similar. The vomiting, pain in the stomach, and costiveness, marked the attack of the disease; and the soreness of the epigastric region in those who recovered was not removed by medicine, but seemed rather gradually to wear away by time or change of air. The matter vomited was usually of a dark yellow colour, though sometimes green; the fæces were in general dark-coloured; but in the case of Mrs. R. they were completely white during the space of twenty-four hours only.

There was a considerable sameness in the medical treatment. The opiates which were given afforded no mitigation of the symptoms, unless joined with cathartics, and aided by fomentations, &c. The countenances of all the patients exhibited a pale, sickly, wan_aspect. The pulse in each was slow and regular, rather indeed sluggish, and generally below the natural state; but in no instance was there any symptom of paralysis.

J. Deering.

FURTHER OBSERVATIONS ON THE SAME SUBJECT. By William Shearman, M. D. F. M. S.

The circumstance related in. the preceding communication of several persons in the same family being attacked with similar symptoms, differing only in degree, and resembling in appearance those of the colica pictonum, the exciting