Batimens de Vapeur can be with difficulty described, particularly if the wind be still and the sea calm. The rapidity and certainty of these vessels give them a decided advantage over any other nautical machine whatever: they can move in a calm, and can also weather a gale nearly as well as any of our ordinary packets. COELUM. The frequent occurrence of violent thunderstorms at this time of year, induces us to subjoin the following observations on these rapid and often dangerous electrical phenomena : A curious paper by Mr. B. P. Van Mons, reprinted in Nicholson's Phil. Jour. Sept. 1809, induced us to observe accurately the two different kinds of lightning therein mentioned. We will not venture to speculate on their causes, referring for them to his paper; but shall proceed to state the difference. One kind is a vivid flash, shortly afterwards followed by a loud clap of thunder, resembling the sound produced by the explosion of a mortar or cannon. This is found to be the mischievous kind, and is attributed to the discharge of the fluid analogous to the flying off of the electric spark. The other kind, ascribed by M. Van Mons to the combustion of the gases of water, is not so vivid, but has more latitude of light, and is followed by rolling thunder.* These two sorts often alternate in the same storm. But it is often the case in other storms that none but the rolling thunder is distinguished. The vespertine fulgurations, called Summer Lightning, are not followed by any thunder at all. By a comparison of journals, it appears that the occurrence of thunderstorms is often nearly simultaneous in very distant parts of the country, which indicates a disposition to their formation taking place in large tracts of atmosphere at once. But at other times they are very local and detached. Monday, the 29th of July, 1822, we were witness to a very violent storm about 6 P.M. at Gex by the Lake of Geneva, which returned again with great violence, while we were travelling near Nyon, at eight o'clock at night. On the 30th still more tremendous storms of thunder, lightning, and rain fell between Lausanne and Vevai, which destroyed the grapes in the vineyards. By comparing observations, it appeared that at the same time violent and mischievous storms occurred in France, all along the Rhine, through Holland, and in England as far as Bridgenorth in Shropshire, and were characterized by their destructive character in all those countries. Two kinds of lightning are mentioned by several ancient writers. Consult Seneca, Nat. Quaes. lib. ii. sc. 16. 20. From a discovery of the ingenious Dr. Franklin we have at length learned how to secure houses and other more elevated buildings, as well as ships at sea, from damage by lightning; and we are taught that a very small metallic conductor, if elevated above the highest part of an edifice and connected with the earth, is capable of conveying a very large quantity of electric matter from the clouds to the earth, without noise, and leaving no signs of its having been present. An elegant modern poet, who has endeavoured to enlist Imagination under the banner of Science, and has employed gnomes, sylphs, and nymphs for his machinery, has paid the following compliment to this philosopher for this important discovery : You led your Franklin to your glazed retreats, Snatched the raised lightning from the arm of Jove, Bowed his ambrosial locks and heaven relenting smiled. Dr. Russell has the following lines to a lady fearful of storms: Say, whence this sudden chill, my fair, And gain with greater speed the sky. HYGEIA. Treatment of Persons struck by Lightning.Inflate the lungs as early as possible; apply stimulants, more particularly gentle electrical shocks passed through the chest, and along the spine; keep up the temperature by external heat, and get warm cordials into the stomach, by means of the flexible tube and syringe. July 18. SS. Symphorosa and her seven Sons Martyrs. St. Philastrius. SS. Arnoul. St. Frederic. St. Odulph. St. Bruno Bp. and Confessor. CHRONOLOGY.-Francisco Petrarcha the Italian poet died at Arqua about the year 1872, aged 70 years. FAUNA. There is one circumstance that will always render the country in July and August less pleasing than in the other Summer and Spring months, namely, that the birds do not sing. Aves mutae might be regularly entered into the Calendar for these two months. Silence girt the woods; no warbling tongue HYGEIA. Rule for Health and Longevity.-The preservation of health and the attainment of old age, though in every country esteemed as the most desirable of earthly objects, have, as Sir John Sinclair observes, been wonderfully neglected in every age; and those maxims of temperance which are necessary to both have in every country been overlooked, instead of being taught and employed by the medical faculty. After wading through the "Code of Health and Longevity," and all its mass of learning and useful information, we have found nothing to alter the opinion that we originally derived from practical observation respecting the prolongation of human life, and the preservation of health. Longevity, in fact, like all other properties of animal bodies, depends mainly on the original structure of individual constitutions. It has been said that early rising and other active habits produce old age: we should, however, rather say that such habits resulted from an originally active state of the nervous system, which of itself was one of the principal conditions of a long life; for longevity runs very much in particular families, like particular varieties of disease, or particular sorts of health and strength. Nevertheless there can be no doubt that certain habits contribute to lengthen while others evidently shorten the term of life. Those practices which contribute to general health probably contribute also to longevity, such as early rising, regularity as to the times of meals and of exercise, due but not too large a proportion of sleep, unstimulating and nutritious food in small quantities, and the total abstinence from the stimulus of strong drinks. But it may be observed, at the same time, that the high state of health and temporary muscular power, caused by training and by high feeding in general, so far from contributing to length of life, like steady health, do in reality most materially shorten existence by exhausting the susceptibility to stimuli possessed by the animal body. For the same reason, the undue indulgence of any of the exhausting passions has the effect of weakening the vital power, and preparing for a premature decay of the constitution. Mental anxiety has the same effect; and when any mental exertions of an unpleasant nature are buoyed up by the use of opium or strong spirits, the effects are most calamitous. By using as little of stimulus as possible, we keep as it were a store of excitability in reserve, which we can use as occasion requires, and which will last us out to a good old age, if not abused. By preserving a steady and tranquil, but not a high state of health-by regulating the functions of the stomach and other digestive organs, if necessary, by gentle and simple medicines, particularly those made from herbs-by temperance as to the quantity and regularity as to the times of taking our food-by exercise to strengthen the body, and freedom from care of mind, we shall assuredly give our constitutions the best chance of enduring to the last with comparative comfort, whatever may be the original structure and predisposition of our constitution. Cornaro, Galen, Parr, and indeed most of the celebrated longevi, have lived in some measure by rule; and every day's experience, in spite of a few exceptions of longlived drunkards and profligates, only tends to corroborate the admonition inscribed as an epitaph on old Jenkins-that health and length of days are blessings entailed on temperance, a life of labour, and a mind at ease. Gymnasia. As an appendix to our Hygeia we may observe, that the gymnastic exercises and games of children contribute essentially to their health, and to laying the foundation for strong constitutions, and that school hours are generally much too long. We would have a child's calendar kept to remind him of the sports of each time of year-whipping tops in January, hoops in February, football in March, golf in April, trapball in May, cricket in June, kites in July, bandyball in August, pegtops in September, marbles in October, skipping rope in November, shuttlecocks in December,ut corpus vario motu conservanda valetudine exerceatur. July 19. St. Vincent of Paul C. St. Arsenius An- He was born the Lazarites This is also St. Vincent of Paul was one of the more modern saints who adorned the church in the 17th century. at Pouï near Acgs in Gascony, was founder of or Fathers of the Mission, and died in 1660. the festival of Epiphas. CHRONOLOGY.-Edward III. of England defeated the Scots near Berwick in 1333. Phillip II. of Spain landed in 1554. Spanish Armada set sail in 1588. His Majesty George IV. crowned in 1821. FLORA. The flowering Rush Butomus umbellatus now begins to be common on the margins of wet marsh ditches and by the sides of rivers. In Holland this plant is numerous, and grows among the Marsh Groundsel Senecio paludosus in the large ditches near Amsterdam in great abundance. FAUNA.-About this time of year a small tribe of warblers called Willow Wrens, of which we have three sorts, begin to be numerous. The Wood Wren is the largest, and is seen much among Oaks and other large trees; its plumage is a mixture of yellow and olive green. The Willow Wren is the next in size, and is seen much among Willows and Osier grounds. The third and last sort called Pettychaps inhabits large trees, particularly the Pine and Fir. We have seen both the two last mentioned sorts on the Larch trees at Walthamstow so late as the end of October. The rainy weather that sometimes follows St. Swithin affords good opportunity of watching these birds, as they may then be seen flitting and running about the boughs of trees and shrubs in pursuit of insects. We have already made frequent mention of these birds in our calendar. About this time young Frogs leave their ponds, and resort to the tall grass for shelter; Swallows and Martins congregate for a long time previously to their departure; and in proportion to the accession of the first, second, and third broods, increase in numbers, resting in large flocks on the roofs of buildings, the Swallows sometimes alighting on trees. Young Partridges are found now among the corn, and poultry moult; the Hoary Beetle Scarabaeus Solstitialis makes its appearance; Bees begin to expel and kill the drones; and the flying Ants quit their nests. Of the Ant some interesting particulars have been given to the world in the researches of Mr. Huber. We refer the curious reader to his work. The food of the Ant during Winter has been shown to consist principally of the honey of the Aphis. On Insects, from Madame Barbauld. |