dysentery are the most prevalent disorders. Intermittent fever also exists to some extent, but it is remarkable that this latter affection should present itself so seldom except in parts of the country which are low and marshy. This subject has been alluded to in previous reports, and further experience confirms the opinions therein offerred respecting intermittent fever at this place. The city and all the surrounding country presents an extensive flat or level of alluvial soil, which when dug into to the depth of four feet yields water abundantly; were the surface constantly irrigated for the purpose of rice cultivation, possibly intermittent fever might prevail here, as it does under such circumstances at Chusan. The cultivation of cotton, wheat and many kinds of edible vegetables however prevails in this district, and as this does not require irrigation, the surface is for the most part dry, except during the season of heavy rains. It is also worthy of observation, that catarrh, dysentery, diarrhea, &c., appear to take an intermittent or periodical character among the natives and also among Europeans. The latter are also more subject to intermittent fever in all its various forms than the former; the natives have of course become thoroughly acclimated, and are not affected by the climate to the same extent as are the foreigners; European children are especial. ly subject to this aguish influence, and almost all the disorders of children take a periodic form. This subject merits further enquiry, and it is of much consequence that it be always attended to by medical men practising their profession in a climate such as that of China, and especially in those parts where rice is grown to a great extent. Notwithstanding the great changes of temperature to which this part of the country is subject, the heat in summer being sometimes 100° and 101°, and the cold in winter at its lowest for last year 15°, and the changes frequently so sudden that the thermometer falls 30° or 40° in twenty four hours, still it is gratifying to find that since Europeans took up their residence here three years ago, they have ou the whole enjoyed so large a measure of good health.

RANGE OF THERMOMETER IN THE SHADE IN THE

On the 4th of August,-1846, at to 4 A. M., a severe shock of an earthquake was felt at this place, lasting for about 60 seconds. The vibration of the earth appeared to be in a direction from East to West, and consisted of one severe shock, followed by a second slighter shock, and the continuance of the vibration or oscillation for the above space of time. The motion of the earth was great, but slow; had the same amount of motion taken place in a shorter space of time, much damage to the city must have ensued; as it was, few if any accidents occurred, but the Chinese were very much alarmed. Several pendulum clocks stopped, especially those facing the East or West. From accounts since received, the earthquake is known to have been felt over the whole of the southern portion of Keang-nan, and the northern part of Chekiang, but its action must have extended much farther. The centre of the earthquake was probably in Japan, and may be supposed to have resulted from a violent eruption of one of the large volcanoes in that country. On the night of the same day, another but very slight shock was also felt; but although it was distinctly perceptible, it might possibly not have attracted attention, had it not already been aroused by the occurrence of the violent shock in the morning. Slight shocks of earthquake are not uncommon here, but the natives generally allow that the one above noticed, was much more severe than those ordinarily felt.

During the winter season, ice is collected in large quantities and carefully stored in ice-houses, the walls of which are constructed of nud and are about 12 feet thick; the roof is thickly thatched with rice-straw and the door well covered over at all times. The ice is used almost exclusively by the Chinese for the preservation of fish, but there is another use made of it which has only lately been ascertained. When any one dies in a wealthy family, the friends sometimes wish to keep the body for three days, and if the weather be hot the body is placed on a plank and two or three peculs of ice on the floor underneath it; this being renewed as it melts, keeps the body at a low temperature and to a great extent prevents decomposition.

Several cases of suicide, and attempted suicide by swallowing opium presented themselves as usual, and it may be remarked that severe counter-irritation on the surface offers an excellent adjunct in the treatment of such cases, rousing the powers of life, and enabling the stomach to feel the effects of emetics, as in the following case :— -A young man, 22 years of age, took a large quantity of opium, because his father had scolded him for spending 700 cash. He was perfectly comatose, pupils contracted, and skin insensible both to pricking with a pin, and pinching with spring-forceps, mouth firmly closed. He had been made sick with tung-yew or wood-oil, (as it is usually called, being the drying oil used by painters), and goat's blood. Solution of sulphate of copper was poured down his throat, followed by a mixture of mustard in hot water, slight vomiting was induced by the finger put into the fauces, but it was evident that no good would be done by these means. Violent stimulants were therefore applied to the skin, moxa to the epigastrium, over which a mustard poultice was applied, with boiling water to the legs; by these means he was roused in some degree and groaned from pain, violent vomiting quickly supervened, which brought up a quantity of opium, after which he rapidly regained his sensibility, and in an hour or two was out of all danger, but complained of feeling very sore.

One night about 11 o'clock, a man was seen standing at a door with a lantern in his hand, calling apparently on some absent person, at intervals, and in a plaintive tone. He was answered by another person within the house in the same tone of voice. On enquiry it was found that a child in the family had fever and delirium, or as the native phrase runs, "his soul had gone away or was wandering abroad." The father then hangs up on the side of the house a paper figure of Buddha, which he burns, and having lighted the candle in a lantern, holds it at the door while he calls in a mournful and be

seeching tone for his child, A-sze hwuy lae," A-sze come home,” on which the person who is watching the child replies, "A-sze lae tsae," "A-sze has come back." This is continued till the delirium subsides or some change takes place. The wandering spirit is supposed to see the light and hear the cry and then return to its usual abode.

In the case of the loss of the anterior part of the inferior maxilla, the entire arch of the jaw containing 6 teeth, including the lower margin of the bone, had separated, and came away on the application of a slight degree of force, the cavity gradually filled up, and the case terminated successfully.

Extensive laceration of the leg. A man was in a boat filled with empty oil jars; from some accident he slipped and fell among the jars one of which broke, and cut up an enormous flap of skin, fascia, and muscle ou the front and lateral part of the leg, from the ancle to the knee; much hemorrhage ensued, but suppuration and granulation went on well, and the case was advancing satisfactorily, when the man was obliged to return home to the country, as his family were afraid of his being among strangers; he was supplied with dressings and no doubt soon recovered.

It may not be out of place in this report to mention two benevolent institutions existing at this place in addition to the Foundling Hospital and Hall of United Benevolence, which have been spoken of in former reports. They are the Humane Society, and the Public Dispensary.

The Humane Society, or Kew-sang-keuh, (establishment for saving life), is situated on the bank of the river, outside the great east gate of the city; its object is to save lives of those who fall into the river. In cases of accident on board ship, boats are sent to pick up any who may have fallen into the water. The bodies of any thus rescued are taken to the institution, where efforts are made to restore life; but from the list of persons received it would seem that the chief duty of the superintendent consists in furnishing coffins for his patients. This is done at the expense of the establishment, which like the Tung-jin-tang or hall of united benevolence, is supported by public subscription. Among the plans adopted for restoring suspended animation, one is to place the patient on his back, and then invert a large iron boiler, commonly used for cooking rice, over the abdomen. This they say "on account of the connexion between the empty space, and the distended abdomen of the patient, causes the ejection of water by the nose." Another plan is to suspend the

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patient by his feet from the shoulders of a man standing erect, stopping up the anus by a dossil of cotton to prevent the passing of a motion, which would be fatal. This will soon be followed by the flowing of water from the mouth, and the patient's life will be thus spared." This institution does not appear to be carried on with much vigour, and the applications for aid are not very numerous. The list for a year did not contain more than 30 or 40 cases, both of persons who had been saved and of those who had been buried.

The following is a translation of the Report of the Public Dispens ary, as printed and distributed among the Subscribers.

REPORT OF THE PUBLIC DISPENSARY,

Attached to the Poo-yuen-tang at Shanghai, for the 25th year of
Taoukwang, or 1815.

THAT part of the country called San-woo-te (anciently denominated the kingdom of Woo, and now corresponding to the southern part of the province of Keang-nan) is very damp, and that portion of it which lies near the sea is salt and still more damp than the interior, and in the summer and autumn, is much exposed to strong winds. In the Hwang-poo and Woosung rivers there are the day and night tides, but in the brooks, streams and canals which join them, there being no flow and ebb of the tide, the water is still or stagnant, and acquires a greenish colour and brackish taste; the water of the wells is also affected in a similar manner, and as regards the people who live in these places, the dampness moistens them, the wind shrivels them, the stagnant water soaks them, and they are thus rendered liable to discase. On the cotton lands, if while the cotton plants are growing up, they be choked by weeds they will not thrive, therefore after the rains, during the 5th and 6th months, the labourers immediately leave their houses, and putting on their hats and taking up their hoes proceed to labour, and though midday may have passed, they do not stop until their work is accomplished. Hence during the summer and autumn months much sickness prevails among the people. Those who have the means of doing so, call in a physician to cure their indisposition, and it is thus of little consequence, but if the poor and destitute be exposed to these pernicious influences and become sick they are un. able to procure medical aid, and their diseases speedily become severe, This state of things having come to the knowledge of several benevo. lent individuals has excited their compassion and sympathy.