toad, which he mixed up with cinnabar and having eaten it, died mimediately. Alas!' exclaims the doctor, 'that I should have to write such sad instances as these in order to break the delusions of mankind. Those who write such things to deceive their fellow-men commit a great crime.' In the Pun Tsaou, the ordure of bats is prescribed as an ingredient in several pills; and it is said that this substance is to be found in dark and dry places in the fourth month and after. The blood, gall, and wings, are also specifics in some diseases; besides which the entire body is recommended to ensure longevity.

The luy shoo, which we suppose to be a species of flying squirrel, has several names. It was formerly classed among beasts, when the name was written under the radical of shoo, a rat; but now, being more appropriately put along with birds, it is written under the radical neaou, a bird. It is called woo shoo, the woo rat, and eyew, both of which names are arbitrary designations; also urh-shoo, the 'eared rat,' and fe săng neaou the flying nourishing bird.' The last name is given because this is the only species among birds which gives suck to its young when flying. By one author it is described as being like a bat, and inhabiting the vallies and mountains; but the Urh Ya says, it is in form like a fox, though yet bearing some resemblance to the bat. It is about the size of a sparrow-hawk, and flies during the night, when people sally out to catch it. Its hair is of a brownish red, (or a reddish-gray, with a greenish back, says another,) the belly is yellow, and throat a dirty white. It has four short legs, which are armed with long claws; the tail is nearly three cubits long; the wings are fieshy and extend along the side, between the legs, and are connected with the tail, which from its length aids the wings very much in flying. The hair of those found in Shanse is very fine; and if the skin be held in the hand during child-birth, it will greatly assist parturition, because the animal itself is of a lively disposition. When it flies it suckles its young; and when they have grown, they follow close after the dam; its cry is like that of a man when calling. It eats smoke. It can in its flights descend very easily, but it is difficult for it to fly far, nor can it again ascend without much trouble. Its cry is usually heard in the night. The skin is made into winter caps, which are warm; and the hairs are supposed to possess sanatory properties, being prescribed in several diseases. The luy shoo delights in eating the fruit called lung yen, or dragon's eyes. The Japanese call it musárábi; but there is nothing in the descrip tion contained in their work additional to the Chinese account. Werd

it not for the names and descriptions being almost alike, we should hardly have imagined the three animals here represented to be the

same.

་་་་

The figure on the left, with bat's wings, is taken from a Japanese book. That on the right is from the Pun Tsaou; and the middle one is taken out of the Urh Ya, the book which says it was formerly erroneously placed among animals. Both of the Chinese works place the luy shoo among birds, but the Japanese class it with squirrels, and have in their figure adhered much closer to the description than either of the Chinese works, besides giving a much neater picture.

W.

ART. IV. Ophthalmic Hospital at Canton: the eighth report including the period from January 1st to June 30th, 1838. By the Rev. P. PARKER, M. D.

THE whole number of patients is 5600 of whom 1025 have been admitted since the last report. A smaller number than has been received in any preceding equal period — on account of the impracticability of treating more. The urgency of patients for admittance has exceeded all precedent. It has often been unpleasant to go to or

from the hospital, in consequence of the importunate applicants, who often fall upon their knees in the street, or in numbers seize the arm, pleading poverty, and that they have come a long distance and waited many days; and having spent the little money they brought, must return home; they therefore entreat that at least their eyes be examined and a day appointed for their admission. In some instances, they have pursued me even to my residence, after being told the impracticability of receiving them.

The expenses for the present term are $1231.77, viz.:

-$1231.77

For rent (for one year, from Sep. 1837) 500.00

Diseases presented during the term; 1st, of the eye, 2d, miscellaneous.

As heretofore official gentlemen have been my patients. One, alluded to in the last report, has been long resident in the hospital. As illustrative of the character of the Chinese in the higher ranks and remoter provinces, and as it is our object to give impartial reports, his case is here introduced.

No. 4535. Dec. 18th, 1837. Ching Chungyew, aged 56, is a native of Keängnan. For several years he was a district magistrate in the province of Hoopih. At this date he came to the hospital, having made a journey of six weeks, to reach the provincial city. There was something imposing in the person, and prepossessing in the urbanity, of this gentleman. He came in full dress, and on being introduced, he fell upon his knees, stating his case, and what he had heard of the institution, and entreated with strong feeling that he might be admitted. During his administration as a magistrate, he said, he was often compelled to examine official papers to a late hour of the night, and from a long continuance of this practice his eyes failed him. It was extremely painful to find his case was nearly hopeless. There was adhesion of the iris to the lens in both eyes; and in the right, the irregular pupil was nearly closed, and the lenses were slightly opaque. He was just sensible to light. The little prospect of benefitting him was explained, at the same time a willingness expressed to do the utmost for him. He replied, 'I shall be extremely grateful for the slightest degree of vision that can be restored,' and that death

was almost preferable to his helpless condition. He remarked, however, that he should be entirely reconciled, if received, whatever might be the result. In this he has verified his promise.

His habits were full; his pulse, from 90 to 100, was strong and bounding. The first object was to reduce him by chathartics, and then by leeching. Belladonna immediately detached the adhesion of the iris to the lens in a degree, and the old man was elated at the change in his sense of light. In the course of a week or ten days strychnine was applied to a blistered surface at the external angle of each eye, one eighth of a grain at first, and increased to a grain, when the effect of it was painfully sensible. Subsequently a seaton was inserted in his neck, which was attended with a free discharge. This, the old gentleman seemed to regard as the most barbarous part of the treatment, and in my absence for a fortnight, discontinued it at his own discretion. Belladonna was applied at intervals. In March the strychnine was administered internally in one eighth grain pills three times daily, and increased to one fourth grain. This was continued some weeks when the spasmodic effects of it upon the system became manifest. Occasionally the patient thought he experienced a flash of light-for it was momentary-early in the morning, but perseverance with the strychnine for some time, varying the constitutional treatment according to symptoms, did not restore the vision. As a last resort, it was proposed to depress the lens, for in repeated instances of 'black cataract' with less opacity, good sight had been restored. This sensibility of light encouraged the hope that the retina and optic nerve had not entirely lost their function. The case was

explained to the patient; that if sight was not restored he would only be as before, and the pain of operation was trifling. It was the only thing that remained to be done, and that were he my parent I could do no more, than what had been done for him. His feelings were quite overcome and he shed tears, not less of gratitude, than of sorrow, and desired the operation to be performed. Early in April the lens in his left eye was depressed. No inflamation followed. He slept as quietly the following as the preceding night. The degree of sight remained much the same. In about a fortnight he was discharged, when the poor man wept like a child. He was probably as sincere a woshiper of an imaginary deity as the heathen world ever produced. He was a devoted follower of Budha, Hours were spent daily in his worship, and in extempory addresses. He was much of the time attended by two or three servants. His personal servant was as old as himself, with a long flowing jet black beard, and was unwearied in his attention to his blind master.