1 experiment by A la gem tit* prows Hint narcotih may product-
2 different effects, accordin'* to the different combination : in which
3 it is administered. One grain ol’ narcotin, dissolved in olive oil,
4 killed a dog in twenty-four hours, hut 24 grains, dissolved in
5 acetic acid, were admiristercd to another without nnv prejudicial
6 effect. In i'i natural state it is still less energetic, and 120
7 tt i diis did not do the least harm. From these experiments, it
8 may 1>_ conceived how easily medical skill may be baffled by the
9 combination of the. drug with oil, as in the case of the lady
10 whom uicide I have already mentioned. I cited a receipt
11 of a Kashgar physician, and another taken trout a Persian book,
12 and I could cite a still greater number of similar receipts,
13 which however, are all possessed of some, peculiarity or oddity.
14 It is true, that we cannot deny the utility of some, hut most
15 of them are of such a nature, that it is scarcely conceivable
16 how the human brain could invent such ridiculous imaginations.
17 The following may serve as an example of Persian wisdom,
18 and I mention it for the benefit of our accoucheurs, who may
19 make u.-e of it. if - they choose. It is nothing less than a method
20 of replacing an abortion of two months, and of carrying it to
21 maturity. For that purpose they say. the embryo ma t be
22 wrapped in some raw yellow silk, bestrewed with sugar and
23 aix'/tniirii irionis, and then swallowed by a wife or girl,
24 which will produce the desired result. It is quite indifferent
25 whether it is swallowed by the mother or any other female,
26 only that when a girl is to undergo this operation she must,
27 be of the age of puberty. When the child is horn, it will
28 come forth with the silk on its feet! I hope the reader will
29 i'eei much edified at the recital of this new revelation of
30 medical science; but we must remember that this outrageous
31 Operation is described in a dingy manuscript of very ancient
32 date. But what, shall we say when, in the year of grace 1850,
33 in the most civilised part of Europe, viz., in the city of Weimar,
34 in Germs v, there was a work published which surpassc in its
35 absurdities all the oriental manuscripts with which we are
36 acquainted. The book in question was probably written for the