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MISCELLAJVIO US. srou‘rascous COMBUSTION or nauxxsnns.

The spontaneous combustion of drunkards is a fact well established in medical science. The following are among numerous in- stances which have been related by emi- nent physicians and others.

Dr. Peter Schofield, at a late address delivered at the formation ofa I‘emperance Society in the Township of Bastard, in the district of Johnstowu, in the province of Upper Canada, states a case of spontane- ous combustion which occurred in his practice. ‘It is well authenticated,‘ says the Doctor, ‘that many habitual drinkers of ardent spirits are brought to their end by what is called spontaneous combustion By spontaneous combustion I mean when a person takes fire by an electric shock, and burns upgwithout any external appli- cation. It was the case ot'ayoung man about 25 years old; he had been an habitual drinker for many years. Isaw him about nine o’clock in the evening on which it happened. He was then as usual not drunk, but full ofliquor. About 11 the same eve- ning Iwas called to see him. I found him literally roasted from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet. He Was found in a blacksmiths’ shop just across the way from where he had been. The owner all ofa sudden discovered an exten- sive light in his shep, as though the whole. building was in one general ﬂame. He ran with the greatest precipitancy, and on ﬂinging open the door, he discovered a a man standing erectin the midst ofa wide- ly extended silver colored blaze, hearing as he described it, exactly the appearance ofthe MOI: of a burning candle in the midst of its own ﬂame. He seized him by the shoulder andjerked him to the (1001', upon which the ﬂame was instantly extin- guished.

‘ There was no ﬁre in the shop, neither was there,any possibility of ﬁre having been communicated to him from any ex- ternal source. It was purely a case of ignition- A general sloughing soon came

on, and his ﬂesh was consumed, or re-.

moved in the dressing, leaving the bones and a few of the larger blood vessels stan- ding. The blood nevertheless rallied around the heart and maintained the vital spark, until the thirteenth day when he died, not only the most loathsome, ill-featured and dreadful picture that was ever presented to human view; but his shrieks, his cries, and lamentations, were enough to rend the heart of adamant. He complained of no pain of body; his ﬂesh was all gone. He said he was suffering the torments of hell; and that he was just upon its thresh- hold, and soon should enter its dismal caverns; in this frame of mind he gave up the host. 0, the death at the drunkard! Wef may it be said to beggar all descrip-

THE BRITISH AMERICAN.

tion. I have seen other drunkards die, but never in a manner so awful and affect- ting. They usually go off senseless and stupid as it regards a future state!’ Kingston Gazette.

PARENTS—Consider, than who art a pa- rent, the importance of thy trust. The being thou hast produced it is thy duty to support. Upon thee also it dependeth, whether the child of thy bosom shall be a blessing or a curse to thyself, a useless or a worthless member of the community. Prepare him early with instruction, and semen his mind early with the maxims of truth. Watch the bent ot'his inclination, set him right in his youth, and let no evil habit gain strength with his years. So shall he rise like a cedar on the mountain. His head shall be seen above the trees of the forest. The soil is thine own. Let it not want cultivation. The seed which thou sowest, that also shalt thou reap.

A wicked son is a reproach to his father; but he that doeth right is an honor to his gray hairs.

Teach him obedience, and he will bless thee.

Teach him modesty and he shall not be ashamed.

Teach him gratitude, and he shall receive benefits.

Teach him charity, and he shall gain love.

Teach him temperance, and he shall have health.

Teach him prudence, and fortune shall attend him.

Teach him justice, and he shall be ho- noured by the world.

Teach him sincerity, and his own heart shall not reproach him.

Teach him diligence, and his wealth shall increase.

Teach him benevolence, and, his mind shall be exalted.

Teach him science, and his life shall be useful,

Teach him religion, and his death shall be happy.

SELLING err AT cost—A new York pa- per says, that this pretence is so common that labels are struck off by hundreds for general use. But the public have a pleasure in being cheated.

‘ Doubtless the pleasure is as great Of being cheated as to cheat.‘

Otherwise the public would not be so slow to perceive that an honest dealer is willing to thrive in the ordinary way, and that sel- ling oﬁ‘ at cost is as little creditable to pru- dence as honesty.

There is another error into which the country are apt to fall. They think, in the simplicity of their hearts, that the seller has but a standing price for his goods, but a small abatement will be made

as a personal favor to the indivi The trader, therefore, who asksdsueairlelguyée lars a yard for cloth worth four, has ofto an advantage over him who sells at four e be will take offone half dollar, as a R; ring gratuity. The honest man, who as but the value of his goods, is thus on left for others, who asks double, and w? deduct a triﬂe from the one hundred I centum. p JV E. Pu Lorrnnv ron Lamas IN Iana.—[n on of the Calcutta newspapers, the followin advertisement appearedz—Be it known th six/air prelly young ladies, with two swec engaging young children, lately impm-le from Europe having the roses of llealt blooming on their cheeks, and joy spark ling in their eyes, possessing amiable man ners, and highly accomplished, are to b raﬂled for next door to the British Gallery Scheme, tweIVe tickets at twelve roopee each. ‘ How shamefully they treat you“ ladies in Calcutta.’—llze Worldq/ Fashion

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Marshall Saxe computed that, in a battle only one ball in 85 takes effect. Other that only one in forty strikes, and no mor than one in 400 is fatal. At the battle 0 'I‘ournay, in Flanders, fought on the 9. May 1793, itis calculated that 236 muske shots were expended in disabling each sol dier who suffered.

Cum: FOR THE RmowonM.—Take the mo of the common yellow, or wild dock; was it clean, bruise it, or cut it in very thi slices, put it in a cup, or other small res sel, and add vinegar sufﬁcient to cove it. Letit stand a day or two, then appl the moisture to the ringworm, by rubbin it with apiece of the root, two or thre times a day fora few successive days. Thi it is said, will effect an entire cure.

SLANDEREns.—Slanderers are like ﬂies that leap over all a man's good parts, t light only upon his sores.— Rule q/‘Iife.

CONUNDRUM. \N’hy is a voter, who hasjust put in bi vote, like the Galloway cattle of Scotland ﬁns. Because he is pollcd'

1X MILCH cow for sale.

’ A L s o:

A two year old HEIFER. Particulars made known on ap

plication at the British America

Ofﬁce. April 20.‘