Part 4

_Poisoned Arrows_ used in Guiana are not shot from a bow, but blown through a tube. They are made of the hard substance of the cokarito tree, and are about a foot long, and the size of a knitting-needle. One end is sharply pointed, and dipped in the poison of worraia, the other is adjusted to the cavity of the reed, from which it is to be blown by a roll of cotton. The reed is several feet in length. A single breath carries the arrow 30 or 40 yards.

* * * * *

_Sterling Applause_.--Lord Bolingbroke was so pleased with Barton Booth's performance of _Cato_, at Drury Lane Theatre, in 1712, that he presented the actor with fifty guineas from the stage-box--an example which was immediately followed by Bolingbroke's political opponents.

* * * * *

_Claret_ has been accused of producing the gout, but without reason. Persons who drench themselves with Madeira, Port, &c. and indulge in an occasional debauch of Claret, may indeed be visited in that way; because a transition from the strong brandied wines to the lighter, is always followed by a derangement of the digestive organs.

* * * * *

_Quarantine in America_.--Dr. Richard Bayley is the person to whom New York is chiefly indebted for its quarantine laws. His death was, however, by contagion. In August, 1801, Doctor Bayley, in the discharge of his duty as health physician, enjoined the passengers and crew of an Irish emigrant ship, afflicted with the ship fever, to go on shore to the rooms and tents appointed for them, leaving their luggage behind. The next morning, on going to the hospital, he found that both crew and passengers, well, sick, and dying, were huddled together in one apartment, where they had passed the night. He inconsiderately entered this room before it had been properly ventilated, but remained scarcely a moment, being obliged to retire by a deadly sickness at the stomach, and violent pain in the head, with which he was suddenly seized. He returned home, retired to bed, and in the afternoon of the seventh day following, he expired.

* * * * *

_Shaving_ is said to have come into use during the reigns of Louis XIII. and XIV. of France, both of whom ascended the throne without a beard. Courtiers and citizens then began to shave, in order to look like the king, and, as France soon took the lead in all matters of fashion on the continent, shaving became general. It is at best a tedious operation. Seume, a German author, says, in his journal, "To-day I threw my powder apparatus out of the window, when will come the blessed day that I shall send the shaving apparatus after it."

* * * * *

_Book Morality_.--Dr. Beddoes wrote a history of Isaac Jenkins, which was intended to impress useful moral lessons on the labouring classes in an attractive manner. Above 40,000 copies of this work were sold in a short time.

* * * * *

_The Bedford Missal_ throws even the costly scrap-books of these times into the shade. It was made for the celebrated John, Duke of Bedford, (one of the younger sons of Henry IV.) and contains 59 large, and more than 1,000 small miniature paintings.

* * * * *

_The Bedford Level_ was drained at an expense of £400,000. by the noble family of Russell, Earls and Dukes of Bedford, and others; by which means 100,000 acres of good land have been brought into use.

* * * * *

POPULAR SCIENCE.

With many Engravings, price 5s.

ARCANA OF SCIENCE

And Annual Register of the Useful Arts for 1832. Abridged from the Transactions of Public Societies, and Scientific Journals, British and Foreign, for the past year. This volume will contain all the Important Facts in the year 1831--in the Mechanic Arts, Chemical Science, Zoology, Botany, Mineralogy, Geology, Meteorology, Rural Economy, Gardening, Domestic Economy, Useful and Elegant Arts, Miscellaneous Scientific Information.

"It is with great pleasure that we find the success of the former volumes of this valuable record of whatever is new in science or interesting in art, such as to encourage its publisher to make fresh exertions for public favour, in the compilation of the year passed. Such a work is exceedingly valuable, and may be considered in the light of a Cyclopaedia, to which the most eminent of their time for talent and attainments are constantly contributing."--_New Monthly Magazine. March_, 1832.

"As heretofore, a very useful record of the improvements and novelties of the year."--_Literary Gazette_.

"The Arcana of Science and Art contains a vast deal of information of an useful kind."--_Athenaeum_.

Printed for JOHN LIMBIRD, 143, Strand; of whom may be had volumes (upon the same plan) for 1828, price 4s. 6d, 1829--30--31, price 5s. each.

* * * * *

_Printed and Published by J. LIMBIRD, 143, Strand, (near Somerset House,) London; sold by ERNEST FLEISCHER, 626, New Market, Leipsic; C.G. BENNIS, 55, Rue Neuve, St. Augustin, Paris; and by all Newsmen and Booksellers._