approbation of the medical practitioner. A personal visit will often enable him most usefully to direct and instruct the inexperienced and ignorant; and he will find ample opportunities of directing his benevolence more beneficially than through the medium of spirit or wine, (excepting, of course, in cases really requiring such stimulants.) I am, &c.

Nov. 1825.

Z.

REFLECTIONS ON MATTHEW, CHAP. I. VERSES 17, 19, 20, 21.

"ALL the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations."

When we survey such a series of generations, it is obvious to reflect, how, like the leaves of a tree, one passeth away, and another cometh; yet the earth still abideth, and with it the goodness of the Lord, which runs on from generation to generation, the common hope of parents and children. Of those who formerly lived upon the earth, and, perhaps, made the most conspicuous figure, how many are there whose names have perished with them; how many, of whom only the name is remaining! Thus are we passing away, and thus shall we shortly be forgotten: Happy, if while we are forgotten of men, we are remembered of God. Happy, if our names, lost on earth, are at length found written in the Book of Life!

"Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily."

We have in Joseph an excellent pattern of gentleness and prudence. In an affair which appeared doubtful, he chose, as we should always do, rather

to err on the favourable than on the severe extreme; he was careful to avoid any precipitate steps, and, in the moments of deliberation, God interposed to guide and determine his resolves. It is good for us to think, to reflect on things as Joseph did. Were there more of deliberation in our censures and judgments, there would be more of mercy and moderation in them.

"Behold the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins."

With what wonder and pleasure must Joseph have received the glad tidings so honourable to Mary, so satisfactory to himself! With what pleasure should we also receive them! For we too are informed of Jesus, who came to save his people from their sins. How important and glorious a salvation! Blessed Jesus! answer thy character, in delivering us not only from sin's condemning, but from its reigning power. May our souls bow to Emmanuel, our incarnate God, and gratefully adore that wonderful condescension,-God and man united in Christ, that God and man may be for ever reconciled.

EFFECTS OF DRAM-DRINKING; WITH DIRECTIONS FOR THOSE WHO ARE DESIROUS OF RETURNING TO SOBRIETY AND HEALTH.

THE intemperate use of Spirituous Liquors bas been found, by experience, more destructive than all the injuries arising from any other cause. It is likewise ascertained, that the same bad habit not only produces a tedious and peculiar malady, but

is often the means of rendering inveterate, or even fatal, many diseases of the throat and lungs, also fevers and inflammations of the bowels, liver, kidneys, &c.

These pernicious liquors are generally supposed to have an immediate and specific effect on the liver; which has been found, after death, in drinkers of spirits, hardened or altered as to its texture, discoloured, and diminished. It appears, however, that the stomach and bowels suffer first from the use of spirits; and that their baneful influence is afterwards extended gradually to every part of the body, producing the following symptoms.

In the first Stage.

Indigestion, attended with a disrelish of plain food; with frequent nausea, and oppressive pains at the stomach.—Racking pains, and violent contractions of the stomach and bowels. These symptoms often return periodically, about four o'clock in the morning, being attended with extreme oppression, or languor, a shortness of breath, and the most dreadful apprehensions.

Effects and Appearances in the second Stage.

Swelling of the body, emaciation of the limbs, with frequent cramps; and pains of the joints, finally settling in the soles of the feet. These symptoms are succeeded by a degree of palsy, or, at least, an incapacity of moving the limbs with any considerable effect.-Sallowness of complexion, with dryness and scaliness of the skin.-Jaundice and dropsical swellings of the legs, with general redness or inflammation of the skin, terminating in black spots and gangrenous ulcers.-Ulcers in the mouth, throat, &c.

Effects in the last Stage.

An entire change in the state of the mind. At

first, low spirits, strange sensations, and fears, al ternate with unseasonable, and often boisterous, mirth; a degree of stupidity, or confusion of ideas, succeeds, the memory, and the faculties depending on it, being impaired.

Directions in the first Stage.

Those who are awakened to a sense of the evils which threaten them, in the first stage of the above disorder, while only the stomach and bowels are much affected, have it in their power to retreat from danger, to avoid a lingering painful death, and to recover health with tranquillity. Some have resolutely broken the chain, rejecting at once all fermented liquors, and have persevered through life in drinking water alone. Examples of this kind, though praiseworthy, are seldom followed. A gradual weaning from the destructive beverage has been attended with more success; but it requires a fixed determination.

The spirit should first be diluted with an equal proportion of water, and its quantity be afterwards a little diminished daily.

Whoever makes the attempt to abandon spiritdrinking will find, from time to time, a rankling on the stomach, with a sensation of sinking, coldness, and inexpressible anxiety. This may be relieved by taking often a cup full of an infusion of cloves, made by steeping about an ounce of them in a pint of boiling water for six hours, and then straining off the liquor. The diet should be so regulated, as to nourish and support the body, without oppressing the organs of digestion.-But little should be taken at a time, and repeated according to the state of the appetite.

Directions in the second Stage.

In the second stage of the disorder, when the complexion becomes sallow, the face bloated, the eyes pearl-coloured; it is not only necessary to re

frain from the exciting cause, but to apply (under the direction of some experienced practitioner) a course of medicine, adapted to the circumstances of the case, and to the constitution of the sufferer. Any attempt to discontinue the use of spirit at the period when the habit is fully confirmed occasions extreme debility, lowness, tremors, and even the dread of instant death. An unexceptionable plan, which has by some at least been adopted with success, is to drink as often in the day as usual, and always out of the same glass, but, every time it is emptied, to put in a drop of melted sealing-wax till at last no cavity shall remain, when it is presumable the habit may be subdued, and health, with selfcommand, be restored. A light nutritive diet is at the same time proper.

Directions as to the last Stage.

In the last stage, when both the bodily powers and faculties of the mind are impaired, or nearly lost, any representations to the patients themselves must be fruitless. The interference of relations or friends becomes necessary; and their exertions, with the assistance of a confidential physician, or surgeon, may sometimes reinstate a shattered constitution. Most of the persons affected, however, sink from their state of wretchedness to the grave.-Let their fate admonish others, who have thoughtlessly commenced the same career, to stop in time, and to endeavour, while it is yet in their power, to regain that peace of mind, and vigour of body, which render human existence most truly valuable.

Dr. Willan.