From The Spectator. and the railway madness of some ten years ago, there is an obvious starting-point in the So far as intention can be inferred from cupidity and gullibility of mankind. The language, the design of Dr. Madden in this prosaic cause of surplus capital seeking a bulky work was to investigate the "epide- more profitable investment than can be safely mic" superstitions and other delusions or obtained is also an element. In this last phantasies of mankind, in order to deter- case, the high rate of dividend on railway mine their physical and mental causes. shares, and the fact of the (present NorthHow much, for instance, is due to traceable Western) £100 shares standing between disease; how much to causes which, though £230 and £240, might fairly tempt people possibly of corporeal influence, are too subtile with a sanguine turn to invest their money. in their nature to be demonstrated to the In the case of witchcraft, a mistaken public senses, so that mankind agree to call the opinion operating upon the ignorance and result mania and to ascribe it to the mind. superstition of the vulgar, prompted too Neither are external circumstances to be dis- often, it is to be feared, by malice and enregarded in such an investigation,-such as couraged by bigotry, will resolve a good deal the social and economical condition of the into assignable causes. The dæmoniac pospeople, with the character of the rule or the session of the middle ages, the convulsions of tyranny they are subject to; which things, the Methodist assemblies of the last century, Dr. Madden thinks, have much influence and of the contemporary camp meetings of upon popular manias. The state of public America, may also be traced to ignorance opinion at the time is also a matter of con- and the uucontrolled nervous excitement sideration, for it is powerful in determining which the vulgar display under strong emothe form such delusions take; less, however, tion. Still, when investigation has done all we think, by shaping than by controlling that it can in superstitious manias, there them. Who will deny that a witch and will be something unaccounted for, more exwizard mania could be got up now if opin- tensive and difficult to deal with than in the ion would permit it? who can say that an tangible "phantasmata of pecuniary order of flagellants could not be instituted, greediness. to roam in bodies from place to place and flog themselves in public, if it were not for the police? The element of numbers should receive a close attention, for probably a good deal rests upon it. Economists tell us of a saluPhilosophically conducted, an inquiry like tary law that operates in scarcities. The that avowedly aimed at by Dr. Madden persons who suffer first and most in such would be curious, and probably useful; visitations are the pariahs of society-people though, as in all other cases when mental who cannot or will not work, who have no operations are in question, a satisfactory or accumulated resource for even one day in adcomplete conclusion cannot be attained. vance. The force of an unhealthy season After all is done and said, there are manias not accompanied by famine falls heaviest in -fashions-on which no rational resolution like manner on the outcasts. In severe can be formed: those fashions sometimes modern epidemics, however general they may taking up the most important, sometimes be, a comparatively small number only are the most trivial subjects. There are "Tom affected. In the statistics of the "black and Jerry" manias, there are "Boz" death" of the fourteenth century, we have manias, there are manias for cant words, slender faith-a wonder never lost in and a mania for "Palmerston," which, monkish hands; but even in their terrible though partly traceable to " causes," cannot altogether be found out. In like manner, the origin of larger delusions may in part to traced. In such things as the tulip mania, the Mississippi scheme, the South Sea bubble, *Phantasmata; or Illusions and Fanaticisms of Protean Forms productive of Great Evils. By R. R. Madden, F. R. C.S. Eng., M.R.S.A., &c., Author of "Memoirs of Lady Blessington," &c. In two volumes. Published by Newby. If we account more escaped than perished. The teenth century, the flagellants of the same be very poor stupid people, and some of them period, the different manias that at diffierent times have seized the residents in different convents or other societies, an inconceiveably small portion of society was directly or indirectly affected. As the mass of men, except in very wretched times indeed, seem capable of resisting physical epidemics, so the sluggishness of mankind resists the mental or physical mania of bodily disease as usually understood. It is also a significant fact, that the resistance of any thing like an equal power to the persecutors stops the persecution, and sometimes the mere interference of reason. Cornelius Agrippa readily got the lay power to back him in saving an unfortunate man accused of sorcery by the priests. Some medical practitioners preserved a number of poor people in France during a rather hot provincial persecution in the latter part of the fifteenth century. The report of one of the members is important also as evidence of the true disease of the so-called sorcerers. insane; many of them were quite indifferent "Their case was thereupon taken into further consideration; and the Parliament, after mature counsel amongst all the members, ordered the poor creatures to be sent to their homes, without inflicting any punishment upon them.'" Whatever conclusion might be finally reached by an inquirer into the delusions spoken of, he would, like the husbandman's sons in the fable, digging for a supposed treasure, arrive at many curious and impor tant results. Remarkable facts will be found in Dr. Madden's book, but rather because it was impossible to pursue his subject through upwards of a thousand pages without presenting interesting matter, than from any active care or effort on the part of the author. He scarcely makes an attempt to "In 1589, a medical officer named Pigray, in view. The account of the various phansolve the problems he professes to have had charged with three other Commissaries with the examination of fourteen persons accused tasmata from ancient times to the seventeenth of sorcery, who had been previously tried and slightly to the eighteenth century is the and condemned to death while the Parlia- merest compilation in point of substance, ment sat at Tours, in a medical treatise and unskilfully or carelessly presented in (book VII. ch. x.) in which a report of this point of form. inquiry is given, says, We found them to Theory and Practice of Just Intonation: with | tain perfect correctness, but to conceal inevitable a View to the Abolition of Temperament. As incorrectness with the utmost art. The inaccuIllustrated on the New Enharmonic Organ. racies are carefully extended over the whole Effingham Wilson. range of the octave, in order that they may not Ir is an attempt of no small magnitude to be harshly perceptible in any one note. This construct an organ capaple of the same perfect process is termed tempering. It is the best correctness in all its keys and intervals as the method which until now has been found of violin or the human voice. The experiment overcoming a mechanical difficulty, but there is has been tried in the enharmonic organ, and we no doubt that it is but a poor compromise with have here a description of the manner in which the requirements of art. With a view to abolish it has been done. The different lengths of "temperament" our author has devised the enstring necessary for the various intervals in use harmonic organ, and if it offer no more serious having been carefully calculated, new tones are practical difficulties than appear in the descripintroduced where the ordinary tones do not tion, he will have rendered an invaluable sersupply those intervals with accuracy. Thus we vice to the cause of music. His instrument conhave two major seconds and two minor sevenths, tains three boards. The distinctions between respectively designated grave and acute, and the notes are made, as usual by black and white distinguished from each other on the instrument keys, but the colors are differently disposed. by white and black keys. This system is fol- An ingenious device is introduced for the use of lowed out as far as it is practicable, and intro- the blind, the black keys being all serrated at duces, of course, a very complicated mechanism the edge, whereas the white ones are smooth. and great additional difficulties to the perform- The treatise concludes with an appendix tracBut this is a small price to pay for perfect ing the identity of design with the enharmonic purity of tone. In the construction of common of the ancients.-Economist. er. pianofortes and organs the object is, not to ob FRENCH SUPPLEMENT TO A STOCK A SOMEWHAT characteristic mode of testing the merits of the various prize animals at the recent fat stock show at Poissy, near Paris, was adopted by the jurors of that ex After the animals had been slaughtered as required by the regulations under which the exhibition took place, and the weight had been ascertained, the jury were entertained at a dinner in which. portions of the various prize animals were served up; the "object being to test which breeds give the best quality of meat. The flesh of the first prize animals was selected to undergo the ordeal. A portion of each animal was cooked separately; the time taken to make ready, the weight bofore and after cooking, &c., were gone into with considerable minuteness." The writer in the North British Agriculturist, from whom we take the particulars of this novel agricultural competition, says "Those who have not paid much attention to this subject, esteeming meat simply as fat or lean, would be astonished at the difference in the taste of the soups, and of the meat from which they were prepared, were they to make the experiment. They would find that the flesh of certain breeds is better adapted than that of others for boiling others for roasting." On each dish the jurors came to a division, which was often very close-seven to seventhe votes being taken by a show of hands. Each juror took notes by the numbers-the number being the only distinguishing mark. The votes were put after each division of Soups or meat was partaken of. petition was very close, the first division being equal one juror on a second division giving his adhesion to the Cotswold roast. We think this quite right, for though in this country it is the fashion to like the darkerfleshed mutton, an unprejudiced taste must we think prefer the Cotswold, which produces much more lean meat than the Leicester to all other breeds. We should notice that the reporter, obviously a Scotchman, demurs to the mutton decision. Last of all was the trial of roast beef, of which there were no less than thirteen specimens, "all very good, requiring on the part of the jurors more than ordinary balancing of points of merit." Nor was the difficulty of the final trial lessened by the circumstance of "the appetite being somewhat palled by the food previously partaken of." Indeed, giving all credit to the small portion only from each dish of which it is the French custom to partake, we can scarcely understand how the jurors could have undergone the labor of devouring even a mouthful from each specimen. And yet we learn that between each trial course there intervened some noncompeting course, such as fish, fowls, sweetbreads and asparagus, and so forth. The roast beef had been cooked" before a small grate containing charcoal, with a bachelor's oven behind"; and the color of several of the roasts was not good.". Some, however, "would have gratified the taste of the most fastidious epicure." The following are the results: The West Highland ox of the Duke of Beaufort was first; the Devon ox of the Earl of .Leicester, second; the Charolaise, third; the cross First came the trial of soups, of which ox of Mr. Dudgeon, Shorthorn-Angus, eight specimens were prepared from the flesh fourth; Mr. M'Combie's ox, Angas, aged, of oxen-English and French. The soup class fifth; the Limousine, sixth; the Duke made from the Duke of Beaufort's prize of Beaufort's Shorthorn ox, seventh; ParShorthorn ox was considered by a majority thenais, eighth. The others were not to have made the best soup. So the best classed. Probably the testing powers of the boiled meat-that from which the soup had jurors had by this time been overpowered. been made-was considered to be that of the It is said, "after voting on the roasts, same ox. Next was the trial of roast pork. which was attended with considerable exciteAnd the first quality was found to be that ment, each juror appearing to acquire infrom a cross of the new Leicester pig with a creased confidence in his judgment and taste French breed called Augerou. Then came as the testing proceeded." The dinner conroast mutton, of which eight sorts invited cluded with fruits and pastry.-Economist the trial of gastronomic discrimination. The 23 May. Cotswold was placed first, though the com DCLXXXIX. LIVING AGE. VOL. XVIII. 23 From The Press 13 June. finished and fanciful tracery. But his conTHE circle of London wits has lost its versational wit was his main distinction. brightest star this week. Douglas Jerrold While its quality was often too lurid, its has passed away. Always brilliant, and of- quantity was truly surprising. It flashed ten bitter, his poignancy pleased by its spar- forth in sheet and forked lightning. He had kles, and pained by its corrosiveness. His nothing in common with a jest-book on two wit was rapid, electric, and vivid; but it legs: he was no wag passed off for a humorwas also cynical and narrow, and its sharp-its; he was a true wit, with a peculiar neat ness was unrelieved by poetical color. A ness in the turn of his points. For hours beautiful saying, picturesquely worded, and Jerrold could without the least fatigue keep touching by its pathos, rarely came from his up the small-sword exercise of conversational caustic tongue. With less gall, his faculty carte and tierce.. Gentleman Palmer said of would have shone brighter; but for a long the elder Mathews before he came to London part of his life Douglas Jerrold seemed to that "he was the tallest and the funniest have aspired to the fame of an epigrammatic man you ever saw in your life, and had got terrorist. Friend and foes alike came in for no mouth at all, but spoke from a little slit the strokes of his mordant humor, and no in the left cheek; " and of Jerrold it might eminent wit ever uncorked so much sour be said that " he was ary An abridgement of all that was poignant in man, champagne; but it must be remembered that though his vintage was occasionally to be criticized, Jerrold was never caught offering" and had got no tongue, but two inches and gooseberry for grapejuice. He had little of a half of a scimitar, which was never idle." the rich humor of Theodore Hook: and he This scalping propensity had, greatly to his could not be classed with Sidney Smith, credit, diminished much of late years, and whose benevolence of heart beamed as bright he was a favored guest in the choicest and ly as his brilliancy of thought. To etch most refined circles. That there was somepeople in aquafortis was his idea of drawing thing unhappy in his temperament, some unfrom nature; and not a few persons in liter- explained cause of aching pain, appears and dramatic circles had reason to quail probable. As a political writer he failed in before the dazzling derision of his scintillat- argument, and he was deficient in solid ining and sarcastic lips; while some social pre- formation, but his pen was ready in its ran tenders will respire more freely on being de- cour and satirically light in its cutting com livered from the rack of his excrutiating ments. He was never without a bunch mockery. For many years Jerrold's airy of nettles, and he stung if he could not bitterness retarded his just social pretensions; crush, and punished when he could not conbut his talents were undeniable, and were vince. It is to be regretted that he did not sterling in their kind, and he had many per- more cultivate his vein of humor, to which sonal merits of the highest order. He rose he did not do justice. In some of his politi without a patron, and under unfavorable au- cal writings there were passages of grave spices; but his self-reliance on his own re- irony not unworthy of Swift. Amongst the markable literary powers was fully justified. wits of the last hundred years, Jerrold will In an age when popular authors have injured probably be placed midway between Foote English style by their diffuseness, Jerrold set and James Smith. It is not unlikely that the example of writing with scholarly con- his reputation will sink with time, but ciseness; and with more leisure for study enough will remain to preserve his name and reflection, his works would have had a buoyant for many generations; and though richness of illustration and breadth of view his portable battery of sarcasm left him with now wanting in them. Some of his dra- not a few foes, his many good qualities will matic pieces are extremely clever, and many be remembered to his honor by a large circle of his essays are like Dutch paintings in their of admiring and tolerating friends. FEVER-POISONS. [On the subject of scarlet-fever, which has been lately making extraordinary havoc among old and young, the following useful observations occur in a small tract intended for popular dissemination by Mr. R. Pairman, surgeon, Biggar.] in an English town, we extract from Mac- AFTER referring to the value of thorough ventilation, light, and cleanliness, in order to disinfect clothes and apartments from the invisible air-poison exhaled from the sick, the author proceeds: It is important to know regarding infection, that when not destroyed or dispersed in the sick-room, it attaches itself and adheres with great tenacity to all articles of furniture-chairs, The next point requiring notice is, that tables, drawers, &c., nestling in their innu- one man may convey infection to another, merable pores; and unless these articles be while he himself escapes the disease. Some scrubbed with a solution of chloride of lime, years ago, I received a message from a much or exposed to a strong heat, or a free current esteemed and worthy minister, requesting a of air for several hours, it may again be- visit to two of his children. On arriving, I come evolved, more virulently than at first, found them ill with scarlatina; and as they after the lapse of many weeks. But it had both become suddenly affected at the chiefly adheres to cotton and woollen mate- very same hour the previous evening, it was rials. The patient's body-clothes and blan-evident that both had simultaneously imkets become saturated with it, like a sponge bibed the poisonous dose. But the question with water. And in airing these materials, arose where could they possibly get infeca mere passing breeze is not always suffi- tion? for they had ever been carefully cient to carry it away. A genteel country tended by their nurse, come in contact with family lately related to me that a few years nobody but members of the family, and no ago they had occasion to reside some time in fever of any description was prevailing for Ediburgh; while there one of the domestics several miles around. At length the father became affected with fever of a peculiar remembered that about a week before he type. After her recovery, the bed-clothes- had visited a little girl under scarlatina in as was thought-were sufficiently aired, an adjoining parish; had, in the act of enpacked up, and conveyed home along with gaging in religious conversation, sat by her the family. Through some inadvertance, bed, taken her by the hand, rubbed his they remained for four months thus folded clothes on the bed-clothes of the patientup; after which,. being required for use, in a word, had quite unconsciously done they were opened out and washed. Within every thing likely to saturate his own a week, the person who washed them became clothes with infection; after which, the attacked with the same type of fever, night being cold, he wrapped his great-coat though none was prevailing in the district firmly around him-thus inadvertently preat the time; so that infection thus impris- venting its dispersion-mounted his horse, oned in a blanket, or any where else, and and trotted home at a rapid pace. On not exposed to any current of air, seems not reaching home, he threw off his great-coat, only quite indestructible, but, while thus drew in his chair to a comfortable fire, and confined, probably grows in virulence every as any fond parent would be apt to do, day. Thus the infection of plague-which forthwith got both of the children perched is just a form of typhus fever-has been upon his knee, little dreaming of the poisonpacked up in a bale of cotton, and after ous present a father's love was unconsciously being conveyed many hundred miles, struck bestowing. That this was the mode of comwith instant death the person who unloosed municating the disease was evident by a it. The following curious and dreadful in-process of exact calculation; for the infeocident, related by Dr. Parr of Exeter, tion of scarlatina lurks in the blood about shewing how plague was once disseminated five days before the fever shews itself; and |