The Rev. DR. BOOTH, F.R.S., believed that it would | His lordship then proceeded to detail instances of affection be impossible to obtain improved dwellings for the poor, to any great extent, whilst the present law of parochial settlement remained in force. At present it was to the interest of parishes not to allow cottages to be built, and until that state of things was altered it was almost impossible that they could have dwellings commensurate with the wants of the poor; for, whilst the population increased, the number of dwellings remained the same. Under the present system of settlement it was a pecuniary advantage to parishes to keep down the building of cottages for the poor as much as possible, and he considered the poor were as much adscripti gleba as in the days of William the Conqueror.

The Rev. James JACKSON agreed with Mr. Chester that it was their duty to do all in their power to assist Mr. Rogers in the work he had undertaken. He had made a most noble effort on behalf of a very degraded portion of the community, and he had been the means, not only of improving the condition of the children of that class, but also of the parents through the children. By the aid of government grants, and the donations of the charitable, he had raised large funds towards this object; but as these schools were mainly dependent upon voluntary contributions for support, much yet remained to be done in that direction. There was a good beginning on a large scale, but they must do all they could to assist Mr. Rogers in the noble efforts he had made.

fair

represen

66

The CHAIRMAN said it would have been more agreeable to himself to have closed the discussion without any observations of his own, but as the meeting had shown so much zeal in this cause, in which he had laboured for a considerable period of his life, he could not allow the subject to drop without offering one or two remarks. In the first place he would say that this was a subject with which the Society of Arts had done well to connect itself, because he was convinced that amongst the class of whom they were speaking there were as fine spirits, and as noble intelligences, which by due training could be brought to advance the interests of art and science, as could be found amongst the most wealthy and the best-born of this country. He would remark, in reply to the observations which fell from his friend Mr. Chester, that Mr. Rogers, in drawing up this paper, had given a very tation of the characteristics of the class he had been treating of. They were a people of a peculiar character, and it was impossible to be amongst them without being struck with the wonderful patience and good humour which generally distinguished them. regard to the objection which had been taken With by the author of the paper, to the term schools," he (Lord Shaftesbury) looked upon that title ragged as the chief recommendation of those establishments. The children who came to those schools were of the most miserable class in the metropolis. They came in hungry, shivering, and almost naked, and he adhered with more than ordinary pertinacity to the epithet "ragged schools." It was meant to designate the special class of the community for which these schools were intended. This title also implied the nature of the duty of the superintendants and the teachers in them. The title "ragged school" denoted that the business of the superintendants and teachers was with the ragged children. It was their duty to take the children from the mire and the gutter, and the moment they quitted that they quitted the sphere of their duty. Another important consideration was to keep these schools for the especial benefit of the destitute and miserable classes. Mr. Rogers had said that the title distasteful to the respectable portion of the community. That he (Lord Shaftesbury) considered was its greatest recommendation. Ragged schools were never intended for the children of those who could afford to pay for schooling. Again, his friend Mr. Rogers was in error when he stated that these schools failed to call forth the respect and the confidence of the children.

was

for the teachers and local missionaries displayed by the inmates of the ragged schools, which had come under his own knowledge, and described the wretched state of ignorance and depravity in which they were found, having no idea of the meaning of " property," farther than that they considered it was their right to appropriate as much as they could to themselves. His lordship then went on to remark that, notwithstanding the wretched condition in which this class of people lived, it was astonishing to know what could be affected by the introduction amongst them of a system of thrift. Last year, there was deposited in the penny banks attached to the reference to the condition of the dwellings of the ragged schools, no less a sum than £2,000. With poor, his lordship proceeded to state his conviction that, without improvement in this respect, there could be no hope for their domestic education, so essential as a foundation for moral advancement. The great difficulty in the way of improving the dwellings of the poor in the metropolis and large cities was the great cost it involved. There was no longer any doubt as to the desire of the people to avail themselves of them; but he might remark that when the plan of improving the present dwellings, by making the streets and alleys clean, and properly ventilating the houses, was adopted, it had been found highly remunerative. He was of opinion that by ing, painting, ventilating, and making them, intaking whole courts and alleys, renovating, repairstead of cul-de-sacs, open spaces, free for air and light, ample returns for capital employed might be obtained. His lordship then adverted to the benefits of the Lodging Houses Act, and the importance of assisting to carry out its regulations. His lordship concluded by moving a vote of thanks to Mr. Rogers for his able paper.

A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Rogers.

day evening next, the Eth inst., there would be No
The Secretary announced that on Wednes-
MEETING of the Society, and that on Wednesday
evening, the 15th inst., a Paper, by Mr. J. W;
Papworth, on
ought to be," would be read.
"Houses as they were, are, and

Home Eorrespondence.

NATURE PRINTING.

state, that I made no claim to novelty in printing from SIR,-In reply to Mr. Bradbury's letter, allow me to the leaf by means of colours on paper. was, printing from the leaf on lithographic stones or copper-plates, and so enabling the impressions to What I did claim be multiplied at pleasure. Mr. Bradbury considers that, as by his process the impressions are as good as in the specimens of an herbarium, full success in nature printing is achieved. But these are necessarily extremely imperfect, and do not at all represent the natural objects, while I contend that my process preserves the impressions in their original succulence and fulness, and without the unnatural contractions of the withered specimens of a Hortus siccus. I am, &c.,

CHRISTOPHER DRESSER.

THE ECONOMY OF FOOD. followed the reading of the valuable paper of Dr. Letheby, SIR, The interesting and prolonged discussion which prevented my offering some remarks on this important subject, which is too vast, as has been observed by one of the speakers, to be discussed even in a series of meetings. I shall not attempt, therefore, to enter into the fundamental principles of the question, but merely to

offer a few remarks relative to some points susceptible of same causes will produce the same effects either within or controversy. Much has been said and written on what to without the body. The above remarks will explain how, eat and to drink, but very little about how to do it. I according to the constitution of the individual, he may have heard several times from persons who have not lived secure a good digestion by finishing his meal either with on the Continent, that the English roast beef was more a salad or an extra glass of wine. healthy than the French "mess," as our cooking is called I shall beg leave, also, to observe, that Dr. Letheby, in by many. I was glad, therefore, to hear it scientifically his description of the virtue of coffee is not consistent explained and demonstrated, that a mixture of various with his first premises; if there are some absolute conarticles was necessary to make a wholesome and nutritious ditions required in a substance destined to maintain food, in order to engender force and to supply the wants and support the body, coffee must possess them or it of the various organs composing the body. All has not cannot be nutritious. He says that it excites the brain been said, however, on the necessity of admixture. It is on the one hand, while it calms the nervous system genewell known that the more component parts a substance rally; this is not in accordance with the physiological contains, the more easy is the decomposition, and as the data. He adds that Lechmann, who has inquired much process of digestion has for ultimate result the decompo- into the physiological effects of that substance, "has sition of our food, the more this is of a compound na- ascertained by experiments, that coffee greatly diminishes ture, the more easily is it digested. But digestion is me- the wear and tear of the system, it oils the machinery chanical as well as chemical, and one of the first condi- as it were, and checks the waste of friction; for those tions is the division of the particles, and their being kept who use it find, that during active exercise, the destrucasunder in order to allow the gastric juice to act on every tion of tissue is prevented, and then there is less demand particle individually. The molecules of the same sub- for food; in fact, and with a maximum of work to perstance having an affinity for each other, they cohere toge- form, and a minimum of food to accomplish it, he will ther, thereby preventing the operation alluded to, but best sustain his vital power who has resorted to a cup of when substances of a different nature are introduced into coffee." Unluckily, the great authority as the lecturer the stomach, the churning or mechanical action of that calls him, is mistaken, otherwise we could live altogether organ causes the interposition of molecules of different sub- on coffee, and it would certainly, says Lechmann, be a stances, and promotes their chemical decomposition. It great saving to the poor classes. If I contradict the is not what we eat which supports the body; it is what above statement, it is because it would induce many not we digest. My friend Dr. Kenan, an Irish gentleman, only to use, but to abuse, the employment of coffee. It is who came to London for the purpose of delivering lectures my principle never to believe or to submit to any kind of on physiology, used to say, "There are two kinds of people authorities however high they may be, unless their opinions who die from starvation; those who have not enough to agree with the rules of common sense. Now, in opposieat, and those who eat too much," and there are very tion to the above statement of Dr. Letheby, I shall refew persons who have not had the opportunity of late experiments made by Dr. A. Caron, médecin des verifying on themselves the correctness of this remark, prisons de la Seine, and inserted in La Gazette Médico by noticing that they felt a great deal weaker from chirurgicale, de Paris, No. 11, March 14, 1846, enhaving taken too much of the most nutritious arti- titled: De l'alimentation par le café au lait, considérée cles of diet. The only condiment alluded to in the paper comme cause pathogénique. Speaking of the popular was salt, and this again is in harmony with the English habit of breakfasting on coffee with milk, he says: I have custom of preferring plain food. We cannot admit, how-devoted my attention to this subject, and I think I am ever, that nature produces without design and utility a justified in attributing to this kind of aliment the provariety of condiments and spices which we know are not duction of the nervous and leuchorrhoeic diseases which nutritious articles of food, but which are the inert matter principally affect females of every class, particularly those destined to keep the particles of food in a state of inhabiting large towns. The very general coincidence division, and thereby to promote digestion, first me- of the same symptoms with the use of coffee and milk, chanically, and, secondly, by their stimulant and anti-induced me to examine what might be the cause of those septic virtues. Raspail, the French reformer, says, in his phenomena, and then I was led to investigate what the work entitled, "L'Histoire de la Santé et de la Maladie," action of coffee on milk is, and then the action of that the art of cooking is the chemistry of the man in health- mixture on the human economy. I was first obliged to Pharmacopeia, the cookery of the man who is diseased. make the analysis of the infusion of coffee, next to dePlain food does not produce strength; it gives only bulk. termine its physical and chemical properties; I was This is the reason why in England you judge of the strength obliged besides, to submit my first essays to new experiof a man by his weight, but the springing activity of a ments, which conducted me to a series of most interest. light Frenchman would defeat an English boxer, unless ing researches, which I now propose to describe. he was obliged, according to rules, to wait coolly the The infusion of coffee is a liquor of a dark brown, posheavy blow of his antagonist. The same author, speak- sessing a particular aromatic taste, slightly bitter, the ing of the modus operandi of digestion, says, "If you put chemical analysis containing the following principles, together, either in an open or close vessel, at a tempera- viz., a colouring matter soluble in water, a volatile emture of 10 to 15 degrees centigrade, a mixture of sugar pyreumatic oil soluble in alcohol, which is developed by or saccharine and glutinous or albuminous substances, torrefaction, some tannic and gallic acid, some resin and a fermentation takes place, the product of which is alcohol; an extract of cafeine. This liquor when warm and if, when the whole saccharine substance has been trans- sweetened, constitutes a stimulating and pleasing beverage formed into alcohol, an extra quantity of gluten or albu-known by every one, but what no one has thought of is, men remains, its reaction on the alcohol transforms it that when in contact with milk, its nutritious properties into acetic acid, and thus when the alimentary matter, are neutralised, because of its fermentation being retarded. by the process of digestion, has arrived at a proper Having put together some coffee and milk in a bottle, it degree of acidity, suitable to the physiological condition was 27 days before the mixture began to decompose, whilst of the organ, it is then propelled into the duodenum, milk and sugar were decomposed in three days; chocolate where it mixes with the bile, and acquires the alkaline with milk was five days; pure cafeine and milk eleven condition requisite to combine with the blood." I am days. It is evident that the astringent properties of cofaware that Raspail's opinion has been rejected by some fee hinder the digestion of milk; but it happens also, authors, who will not admit that the physiological func- that during the action of coffee on the principle of milk, tions have any similarity with the chemical phenomena the cafeine is set free and acts on the membrane of the which take place out of the organism; for my part, I stomach in the same manner as vegetable alkalies, prouphold Raspail's opinion, because chemical phenomena ducing the most evident hyposthenisation, a fact which are the consequence of immutable natural laws, and the till now has been overlooked. Then Dr. Caron continues

to relate the experiments he made on himself, and some of the Ancient World," by Mr. B. W. Hawkins; "The other persons willing to submit to the trial, the results of Life of Sydney Smith," by Rev. Brewin Grant; "Litewhich were general prostration, vital concentration, rary Beauties of the Bible," by Mr. Barnet Blake; "Moore's cephalagia, weakness and trembling of the legs, totter- Ballads and Shakespeare's Songs," by Mr. Barker; six ing walk, nausea supervening with fulness of the stomach, lectures "on the Protestant Reformation," by Mr. H. constant somnolence, great want of appetite, he having re- Vincent; "Life of John Calvin," by Mr. George Dawmained since the morning till 11 o'clock at night without son; "Old Books; their uses, beauties, and peculiarieating anything. But what is particularly worth noticing ties," by Mr. George Dawson; four lectures "on Natuheadds, is the condition of the pulse, which, on the average, ral History and the Extinct Animals of the Ancient was from 80 to 90, and which, under these circumstances, World," by Mr. B. W. Hawkins; "Some of the Beauties of was lowered to 68. At four o'clock in the afternoon it English Poetry," by Mr. John Harris; two lectures" on was reduced to 60, and two hours later to 56, when he America," by Mr. Henry Pease; "Natural History in contook some food in order to stop the effect. While taking nection with the late Darlington Polytechnic Exhibition," the meal he was subject from time to time to giddiness, by Mr. W. Fothergill. Through the liberality of Lord flushing of the face, and nausea; after the meal the pulse Ashburton, a gratuitous lecture was delivered in Seprose to 72, when he felt much relieved. He continues tember last by the Rev. J. A. D. D'Orsey, on "Common farther on and says, a mixture of coffee and milk as I have Things." The Saturday evening entertainments have stated above, having the property of hindering the fermen- again been brought forward with success. The literary tation when in vessels, acts identically in the same manner portion of the meetings has been zealously upheld, prinin the stomach, and constitutes an inert liquid, on which cipally by gentlemen resident in the town, who have the gastric juice has little or no action at all. Dr. Caron delivered short lectures and given select readings of continues the account of his experiments, mentioning high literary merit-prose, poetical and dramatic-from cases he has treated, and proves ultimately that many standard authors of ancient and modern times. The musical patients labouring under nervous irritation, leuchorrhoea portions of the entertainments have been ably sustained and hysteria, were restored to health by simple tonic by local talent, with occasional assistance from provincial treatment after having given up the use of coffee. I towns. The aggregate attendance at these entertainmust confess that in the first instance, when Dr. Caron ments during the winter has amounted to nearly 11,000. communicated to me the above observations previously to | A “ Penny Savings Bank," in connection with the Inreading his article, I had some difficulty in agreeing stitution, for the deposit of small sums, has been estabwith him on the subject, and told him that from my own lished. 185 volumes have, by presentation and purchase, experience I thought coffee a great supporter of the animal been added to the library, and the total number of books economy, relating at the same time, that by taking for belonging to the Institution is 2,429; the issue has been breakfast a cup of coffee and milk, I could go a whole 11,890 against 10,737 of the previous year. The preday without taking anything else; this remark he rightly sent number of members is 503, of whom 3 are life took as a proof of the truth of what he had advanced. members, 61 news room, 121 yearly, and 318 half The mistake made by Lechmann does not therefore yearly and quarterly. The number entered on the books surprise me, but I think it right to place the fact in its during the past year is 664. The following gentlemen are true light. I am, &c., the officers for the year 1857: President-Henry Pease, Esq.; Vice Presidents-Mr. Thomas Watson, and Mr. Andrew Common; Treasurer-John Church Backhouse, Esq.; Honorary Secretary-Mr. George Brigham; Committee-Mr. W. T. Robinson, Mr. Thomas Swinburne, Mr. Wm. Mossom, Mr. E. P. Elgee, Mr. George Shaw, Mr. Nicholas Bragg, Mr. J. F. Clapham, Mr. F. Mewburn, Jun., Mr. R. Mountford, Mr. Edward Pease, Jun., Mr. Richard Winter, Mr. Wm. C. Parker, Mr. John Harrison, Mr. Wm. A. Snaith, Mr. Edward Hall, Mr. J. R. Breckon, Mr. Jonathan Dresser, Mr. Wm. Forster, (Bank), Mr. H. K. Spark, Mr. R. Pincher; Auditors— Messrs. G. Harker, R. Teasdale, and H. Dunn; Serutineers-Messrs. T. L. Blyth, and H. F. Pease; Librarian Mr. Charles Forster.

9, York-place, Portman-square.

J. CAPLIN, M.D.

Proceedings of Institutions.

CHELTENHAM.-There have been second courses of lectures, since Christmas, both at the Athenæum and the Literary and Philosophical Institution. At the latter, Dr. Whewell, the master of Trinity College, Cambridge, delivered a lecture, (on Friday, the 27th ult.,) upon Plato. The subject itself, and the celebrity of the lecturer, combined to attract a fuller and more educated audience than has been drawn together for many years past. It was not, however, a discourse upon the mental character and philosophy of Plato generally; but a popular illustration of his mode of teaching, in a masterly analysis of the dialogue on 'True Courage," and a brief summary of some others. It is much to be regretted that the Institution is at present labouring under pecuniary difficulties. The attempt to support it as a readingroom has failed, and it is now proposed to confine it to the original objects of its founders,—as a Lecture-room, Museum, and Library of Reference.

LEWES.-An Exhibition and soirée in connection with the Mechanics' Institution, were held on the evenings of Thursday and Friday, the 26th and 27th Feb., when an interesting and varied collection of works of art and other objects of interest was displayed. The walls were hung with some fine pictures by the old masters, as well as some scientific diagrams; and cases of specimens illustrating various branches of Natural History, occupied a portion of the space. A choice collection of antiquities was contributed by the Sussex Archæological Society, as well as from other sources. Several tables DARLINGTON.-In the report of the Mechanics' Institu- were devoted to the illustration of various branches of tion for the year 1856, presented to the annual general physical science, and experiments in frictional and voltaic meeting, held on the 6th ult., the committee congra-electricity, magnetism, and chemistry were shown during tulate the members upon the very favourable aspect which the classes have presented during the past year, and are of opinion that the spirited and assiduous manner in which the various gratuitous teachers have fulfilled their self-imposed duties, deserves to be marked with the special approval of the meeting, and the grateful thanks of their pupils. The result of the lectures during the past session is encouraging. The following were delivered:-Six lectures "on the Commonwealth," by Mr. H. Vincent; two lectures "on Extinct Animals

the evenings. Electric telegraphs were arranged at the ends of the hall, and their working was shown and explained. In the mechanical department, there were several interesting machines exhibited in actual operation, and the steam-engine was explained and illustrated by working models. The attendance on both evenings was very large.

SALFORD. The Committee of the Salford Royal Museum Peel-park Institution have had their attention directed, for some time past, to the formation of an In