We reached the creek where the boat was generally moored-she was away-we knocked at Angus's cottage-it was deserted. We strained our eyes if we could discover any moving object amid the strife of elements-we saw nothing but the sleet and snow driving furiously over the loch. We listened-we shouted-but our own shout was lost to us in the now redoubled howlings of the Storm. Though the sun was yet in heaven, darkness fell in a bodily shape upon the earth, and it seemed as if the shadow of the wrath of God were stretched across that black impenetrable sky. At length we fancied that something at a great distance was moving upon the waters. But the loch was now trembling with unnumbered waves, and even if the object were the boat, how was she to come to land through all the surf?-We saw her!-at last we saw her—making slowly for the creek. In an agony of hope and doubt, and thanksgiving and fear, we watched her every motion. She was lost occasionally for a moment and then became visible on the ridge of some vast billow. Nearer and nearer she came in her perilous course, and when about twenty yards from where we stood, she grounded on the rock. The water sprung high above her into the air, and a death-shriek of agony and despair made itself distinctly audible through the roaring of the wind. We saw but one flutter of the tartan plaid that Marion always wore, and with a spring that carried us far into the loch we dashed through the breakers. By the exertion of all our strength we reached the boat. Joy, joy! we have that blessed one in our arms, and the timbers of the shattered pinnace are floating in broken pieces over the lake. With our precious burden, insensible from fear and cold, we fought our way once more to shore. We landed, but no help was near. We therefore, still keeping her close to our bosom, attempted to carry her to the Cottage. We toiled, we strove,-and what will not young limbs accomplish when love strengthens their sinews ?--we reached the house at last. Hope, fear, and joy, joined to the fatigue, now overcame us, and laying our dripping and still fainting burden gently before the parlour fire, we sank at Marion's side as insensible as herself. But not long is youth in recovering its energies. That very night we saw our Marion pale, indeed, but beautiful as ever, presiding at the frugal but contented board. Yet did that widowed father seem to take no share in our rejoicing, no gladness seemed to mingle in his thanksgiving for her escape, and as he kissed her that night his eyes filled to the brim with tears, and he bent over her long and passionately in prayer, and said, "God who hath stricken me and afflicted me aforetime, hath seen meet to chasten me still farther. It hath been revealed to me, when solitude and fear gathered themselves around my spirit,even this night it hath been revealed to me, that I prepare for yet greater sorrow." But these forebodings were lost upon hearts so joyous, so buoyant, so devoted as ours. Again we wandered— "From morn till noon, from noon till dewy eve;" no longer as mere boy and girl, for that hour of peril and of deliverance had given to our love the maturity and strength of many years; and THE NATURE AND CURE OF THE INDIAN CHOLERA. IN a paper devoted to the geographical progress of the Indian or Spasmodic Cholera, and submitted to the public in the preceding number of the Magazine, we stated that it was a species of disease quite distinct from the Bilious Cholera, which is common in England at certain seasons of the year. We shall now speak of the characters of both, and shew in what the difference consists. The generic appellative, cholera,* is radically derived from the Greek word xon, signifying bile. The title was appropriated in consequence of one of the most prominent symptoms being either a redundant flow of bile into the intestines, accompanied with evacuations of a bilious fluid characterising Bilious Cholera; or a total absence of bile in the intestines, with evacuations of a watery fluid, characterising Spasmodic Cholera. These symptoms are so completely opposed to each other in the quality of the fluid discharged, that attending to them alone will in general preclude the possibility of confounding the two species. In this country, the more severe forms of Bilious Cholera usually occur in the latter end of summer, or the beginning of autumn. At these periods, the extreme heat of the sun stimulates the liver to an increased secretion of bile, which, flowing in excess through the biliary canals, accumulates within the intestines. In the condition of health, a certain quantity of bile is a necessary adjuvant to the perfecting of the digestive process; but, like other natural secretions, when above or below the salutary measure, it becomes the cause, or the indication of diseased action. The opening symptoms of Bilious Cholera, are simply the efforts of nature to expel the superfluous bile from the system. The patient complains of nausea and universal languor, to which retchings and evacuations of a bilious fluid quickly succeed. There is also thirst, restlessness, and pain. In many cases occasional cramps are experienced in the limbs, resulting doubtless from the irritating effects of the bile upon the internal surface of the intestines. Of spasmodic action, induced in distant parts of the body in an analogous manner, there is conclusive evidence. In children, convulsions are often excited by the irritation of worms, or indigestible matter lodged in some part of the alimentary canal. A knowledge of the nature and seat of a disease, will lead to a judicious plan of medical treatment. The course to be adopted here is very obvious. There are two objects to be attained. One, to dilute and remove the irritating fluid from the bowels; the other, to allay the thirst, pain, and spasms. The first indication is followed in the free exhibition of mucilaginous liquids, and the use of an occasional purga * Cholera Morbus, the vulgar name, is an absurd pleonasm. you -"Did I not tell you," she said with sudden joy,-" did I not tell he would come-that I should see him yet before I died? come near me-nearer-nearer yet.-Let me but lay my head upon your shoulder, as it used to lie long, long ago, when we looked not to such an ending of all our hopes as this. You love me still-I see you do— oh! what a happy life has mine been-a long bright dream of joy-and now, while I nestle thus-thus-into your bosom-how happily, how contentedly I die!" Back, back into thy cell, O Memory! Away! and disappear from our vision, thou time-shattered, life-forsaken Cottage, seen dimly glistening through our tears! for Lo! even as we form the wish, there rises to our retina the presentment of another home. Half hid amongst a grove of sheltering Oaks-above which curls in many coloured wreathes into a sky of spotless blue, the smoke from the white-walled cottages of a happy and secluded village, it presents to our imagination the image of that "Blest retirement, friend to life's decline," which forms the charm and value of English country-life. The Church, a short way down the valley, just shews itself through the young leaved trees, with a flood of light poured on its venerable grey tower. -And hark! as we drop off into a sleep beneath this Sycamore, we are wafted into Elysium by the sound of its musical and heavenseeking bells! MAY! SWEET MAY! FRESH flowers are on the green sward, young blossoms on the bough, And so 'twill be when chilled by death this heart shall beat no more, As freely yon majestic Sun shall laugh above my grave, THE NATURE AND CURE OF THE INDIAN CHOLERA. In a paper devoted to the geographical progress of the Indian or Spasmodic Cholera, and submitted to the public in the preceding number of the Magazine, we stated that it was a species of disease quite distinct from the Bilious Cholera, which is common in England at certain seasons of the year. We shall now speak of the characters of both, and shew in what the difference consists. * The generic appellative, cholera, is radically derived from the Greek word xon, signifying bile. The title was appropriated in consequence of one of the most prominent symptoms being either a redundant flow of bile into the intestines, accompanied with evacuations of a bilious fluid characterising Bilious Cholera; or a total absence of bile in the intestines, with evacuations of a watery fluid, characterising Spasmodic Cholera. These symptoms are so completely opposed to each other in the quality of the fluid discharged, that attending to them alone will in general preclude the possibility of confounding the two species. In this country, the more severe forms of Bilious Cholera usually occur in the latter end of summer, or the beginning of autumn. At these periods, the extreme heat of the sun stimulates the liver to an increased secretion of bile, which, flowing in excess through the biliary canals, accumulates within the intestines. In the condition of health, a certain quantity of bile is a necessary adjuvant to the perfecting of the digestive process; but, like other natural secretions, when above or below the salutary measure, it becomes the cause, or the indication of diseased action. The opening symptoms of Bilious Cholera, are simply the efforts of nature to expel the superfluous bile from the system. The patient complains of nausea and universal languor, to which retchings and evacuations of a bilious fluid quickly succeed. There is also thirst, restlessness, and pain. In many cases occasional cramps are experienced in the limbs, resulting doubtless from the irritating effects of the bile upon the internal surface of the intestines. Of spasmodic action, induced in distant parts of the body in an analogous manner, there is conclusive evidence. In children, convulsions are often excited by the irritation of worms, or indigestible matter lodged in some part of the alimentary canal. A knowledge of the nature and seat of a disease, will lead to a judicious plan of medical treatment. The course to be adopted here is very obvious. There are two objects to be attained. One, to dilute and remove the irritating fluid from the bowels; the other, to allay the thirst, pain, and spasms. The first indication is followed in the free exhibition of mucilaginous liquids, and the use of an occasional purga * Cholera Morbus, the vulgar name, is an absurd pleonasm. |