the interior of the island. Nothing but the arid rock and volcanic lava can be seen around this coast of desolation; but this gloomy and forbidding barrier passed, the most romantic and fairy scenes that poet's imagination ever fancied, burst, in succession, on the astonished and enraptured sight. The view of Sandy-Bay valley from Sandy-Bay ridge or from Diana's Peak, surpasses, in romantic and picturesque beauty, though not perhaps in sublimity, any thing which the Alps, Appenines, or Pyrennees present. Had Samuel Johnson's eye been familiar with this valley, he might have drawn, from Nature, a more enchanting abode for Rasselas, than his pen has done from the utmost flight of his fancy!*

In respect to the salubrity or insalubrity of St. Helena, the inquiries which we made, ten years before Napoleon's arrival there, joined with an examination of its medical topography, convinced us that there were few places on the earth more compatible with longevity, under ordinary circumstances. It cannot be doubted, however, that the degree of salubrity differs in different parts of the island. A sudden élevation of 3000 feet in the middle of a great ocean must naturally cause much concentration of vapour around the higher peaks, with corresponding fogs and even rain, while the vallies are dry and clear. The situation of Longwood, therefore, was both unfortunate and injudicious-unfortunate for the credit and the humanity of the British nation and the governor-injudicious, inasmuch as there could be no possible necessity for selecting one of the most disagreeable spots in an impregnable fortress like St. Helena, for the confinement of any prisoner. It appears that Napoleon enjoyed good health while at the Briars, a few miles from James Town; but soon after being transferred to Longwood, he got dissatisfied in mind and disordered in body. The wretched and crooked policy which dictated Napoleon's removal from the Briars, confinement at Longwood, and perpetual annoyance there, has, of course, cast a stain on our country which time can never efface-and we envy not the feelings of that man, whose conduct sickened the heart and revolted the feelings of every inhabitant of the civilized world.

Not only Napoleon, but those who accompanied him, the soldiers and the sailors, became sickly, and great numbers of the navy and army died. The circumstance of the sailors becoming unhealthy, would induce a suspicion that some of those inscrutable causes of insalubrity, which occasionally render the most delightful spots of the earth the scenes of desolating disease, happened to come into operation at the time of Napoleon's exile at St. Helena, and thus procured for that romantic isle a character for unhealthiness which it did not generally deserve. Be this as it may, we do not deny

* Vide Oriental Voyager. Even M. Hereau, who draws a frightful picture of St. Helena, is forced to confess that "la vue dont on jouit sur la chaîne de SANDY Bay, et sur le sommet de DIANA'S PEAK, est sublime. Tantôt l'on aperçoit de verts paturages-des jardins ornés d'arbres des maisons construites dans la vallée, ou sur le penchant des hauteurs, ce qui offre a l'oeil fatigué de la vue des precipices affreux et des ravins de couleur rougeâtre du voisinage, un agréable soulagement. Ces contrastes font trouver au spectateur la partie cultivée de l'isle pittoresque et romantique."

The above is nearly a literal translation of a passage in Dr. Johnson's description of St. Helena in the year 1806, and may reconcile the discrepancy of opinion between a traveller's and a prisoner's conception of things.

that physical causes operated on the health of Napoleon at Longwood, and proved auxiliaries (of greater or less power) to the host of moral causes, which were in full operation on both mind and body.

The conviction in the mind of Napoleon, and fully partaken by the author of the work before us, that the British ministry calculated, almost to a month, on the time which would be required to destroy Napoleon by the deleterious climate of Longwood, is perfectly preposterous. We are far from absolving the colonial minister from negligence of his duty, and from want of feeling; but to suppose that any English minister or ministry could calmly meditate on such murder as they are here charged with, is monstrous in the extreme.

The 4th chapter of the work is dedicated to an investigation of the disgusting restrictions imposed on Napoleon by Sir Hudson Lowe. We have not patience even to read them-and they can never be forgotten by the present generation, to whom they are but too familiar. The conduct of Sir Hudson Lowe evidently augmented the effects of the moral and physical causes previously acting on Napoleon, and his health now became visibly impaired. The sedentary life which he led-the humidity of the situation --and the perpetual vexation of mind, began to affect the digestive organs, and impair their functions. In July 1816, he complained of pain in his right side-and in September of the same year, he began to exhibit symptoms of sea-scurvy-namely, swelling and sponginess of the gums-hæmorrhage from the same-general debility and excessive lassitude, on making the least exertion. On the 29th November his legs were observed to be swelled, and the glands of the groin enlarged. On the 3d of December he had a rigor, succeeded by fever. On the 17th he was threatened with apoplexy -was advised to take aperients-but refused to do so, observing that he had never taken any medicine from his infancy, and he was sure that a purgative would be destructive to him. On the 24th March, 1817, Mr. O'Meara's journal closes for a period, at which time we find the Ex-Emperor with swelled legs, diarrhoea, head-ach, and insomnolency. A hiatus of six months ensues, during which, we are informed that the time was passed in alternations of head-ach, pains in the limbs, defluxions on the gums, insomnium, dyspepsy. On the 25th September (1817) we find Napoleon affected with nausea. On the 1st of October, Mr. O'Meara states that he complained of dull pain in the right hypochondrium, as also at the top of the shoulder of that side-slight disposition to cough-restlessness at night -spongy gums-oedematous legs. Mr. O'Meara pronounced a somewhat doubtful or hesitating diagnosis of HEPATITIS, at this time;-and afterwards, our author affirms, this was the prevalent idea among the prisoner's medical attendants. On the 3d October, the right side was found to be enlarged the appetite still farther diminished-the legs oedematous-inclination to vomit, from time to time-great anxiety of countenance, and watchfulness. On the 26th January, 1818, constipation and symptoms of dyspepsia-inclination to vomit-flatulence-continual pain in the right side.. During the succeeding six months, our author informs us that the symptoms continued to increase, "under the administration of remedies of a more and more irritating kind"-" medication de plus en plus perturbatrice."* On the 25th July, 1818, Mr. O'Meara quitted St. Helena. M.

* M. Hereau appears to be a worthy disciple of the school of radico-liberals in this country, who are free from every tie of honour and of medical ethics-and who conceive that

Hereau here recapitulates the symptoms of hepatitis, which have been alluded to, and argues that they were more indicative of a general inflammatory state of the abdominal viscera, and ought to have led to general and local depletion, instead of "le traitement excitateur," which the fatal error of routinism put in force.

Now we think there can be no doubt that the symptoms which we have described indicated local depletion, at least from the epigastric region; but we cannot help censuring the subterfuge which M. Hereau makes use of, in calling gentle purgation an "excitant treatment.' It is just as much a depletive measure as leeching; and we have no doubt that, had the late Napoleon been an obedient and tractable patient under Mr. O'Meara, Mr. Stokoe, and the other medical attendants, it would have been much better for him, and he would now, probably, have been in the land of the living. Mr. O'Meara, on his return to Europe, is reported to have made strong representations to the relatives of Bonaparte, and, in consequence thereof, two physicians were selected by Cardinal Fesch to repair to St. Helena. It has often been remarked that, whenever any want of success attended the French arms, some sinister accident was called in to account for the failure. So in this case. M. Hereau laments that two of the most eminent physicians of Paris (who would, he says, have been delighted with the expatriation in so noble a cause) were not selected, instead of "deux hommes obscurs," of whom, one was a priest, who had merely studied the principles of medicine for a few years! We suspect that very few of the eminent Parisian physicians would have volunteered upon this occasion. Be this as it may, M. Hereau enters here into a most severe critique on the medical report which Mr. O'Meara sent to ROME, and which was there taken into consideration, before the medical commissioners departed for St. Helena. It is not our intention to examine this critique. It is probable that Mr. O'Meara did not design it as a strictly medical case; but rather as a political one, in order that attention might be excited to the deplorable situation in which he left Napoleon. In a council of physicians who took Mr. O'Meara's statement into consideration at Rome, a code of instructions was drawn up, containing a series of puerile, or rather anile precepts, dietetic, disciplinal, and therapeutic, which we shall not impose on the patience of our readers. We may remark, however, that it was equally harmless and useless, whatever might be the nature of the complaint

Messrs. Vignali and Antommarchi having arrived in London, had the good fortune to meet Mr. O'Meara, who described to them, viva voce, the situation of their future patient Mr. Stokoe, who had only attended Napoleon for a few days, after the departure of O'Meara, represented the royal patient as in a state of extreme debility, labouring under violent pain in the region of the liver, darting thence to the right shoulder-severe pain in the head about mid-night, with vertigo, &c. On the second day's visit Mr. Stokoe prescribed venesection and a brisk purgative. The latter was refused-but the former was complied with; and the patient was much relieved by it. Mr. S. now examined carefully the region of the liver, and

the great object of a medical man is to traduce his neighbour, both publicly and privately, without any proof or evidence-since, in this consists the true LIBERTY OF THE PRESS and of the subject!!

expressed his conviction that this organ was seriously affected-" gravement affecté. He therefore recommended mercurials.

M. Hereau passes a severe sentence on the reports of Mr. Stokoe, during the few days which he attended on the Ex-emperor, and also on the naval surgeons of Great Britain, whom he supposes as-" restés forcément et bien malheureusement, par la nature de leurs fonctions, peu au courant des progrés de l'anatomie pathologique qui, depuis vingt ans, a fait faire de si grands pas a la medecine en France."

We shall not imitate the illiberality of M. Hereau, on this occasion. We have always given credit to his countrymen for the efforts they have made towards the advancement of medical science; but we believe that, in this country, where the state of the case must be best known, no one would be hardy enough to accuse the naval medical officers of being behind their brethren, whether in the army or of private life, as far as regards medical science. It is well known that the medical officers of our fleets and armies have contributed very materially during the last thirty years, to the advancement of pathological as well as therapeutical science. The sweeping censure of M. Hereau is as unjust as it is illiberal.

Messrs. Vignali and Antommarchi did not arrive at St. Helena till the 18th September, 1819. They appear to have taken great pains to consult all the LIVER DOCTORS in London, and a curious consultation is given by M. Hereau, for the guidance of the Italian physicians; but as there is no actual signature, we shall not criticise it. It is highly ridiculous and melancholy to observe the tax which is paid by the great men of the world, when their lives are in danger. They have not half the chance of rational treatment which the veriest pauper enjoys in a dispensary or hospital! So many formalities to be gone through- -so many conflicting opinions of relatives to be reconciled-s - so many prejudices, as to this and that physician, to be overcome-and, after all, when a whole conclave of MEDICOS are gathered together, it is often the most superficial and opinionated individual who gives the tone to the consultation, and all chance of steady systematic measures is annihilated by the glorious prerogatives of rank and wealth! Be it so! It is probably a wise dispensation of Providence that riches and titles-especially the latter, should pay a tribute that brings them pretty much on a par with their more humble neighbours.

On the 23d September Antommarchi was admitted to the presence of the fallen Emperor. He was lying on a camp-bed-his face pallid and of an earthy hue-eyes sunken-conjunctiva of a reddish yellow colour-body extremely fat-tongue slightly furred-dry cough with viscid expectoration-abdomen rather hard-pulse small, but regular, and 60 in the minute. On a more particular examination, M. Antommarchi discovered that the left lobe of the liver was indurated and extremely tender on pressure-gallbladder turgid with bile, and salient near the cartilage of the third rib. The patient complained of vague pains and uneasiness in the right side and loins, as well as in the right shoulder. Pressure at the scrobiculus cordis occasioned difficulty of breathing Napoleon complained of pain, varying in intensity, in the right hypochondrium, which he described as seated about two inches from the surface-the appetite was gone--nausea and even vomiting obtained. The urine was natural-there were copious daily perspirations.

This report of Antommarchi undergoes a severe, but not a very fair criticism by the author of the work. There are some portions of the description, especially that passage which we have marked in Italics, that are open VOL. X. No. 20. .57

to animadversion; but, upon the whole, we do not much wonder that the disease was considered as one of the LIVER, Considering how much the mind of the observer had been pre-occupied, we might say prejudiced, by this idea. It is much more easy for a man, after dissection, to criticise the diagnosis formed by others during life, than to form a correct one himself, if placed under similar circumstances. It appears that Napoleon was not very particular as to his diet, and that he generally drank half a bottle of claret daily. This regimen is, of course, blamed tremendously by M. Hereau, who appears to be an ultra-disciple of Broussais, and who looks upon the disease, from beginning to end, as neither more nor less than the veritable GASTROENTERITE of the Broussaian school.

Antommarchi directed a stimulant and anodyne liniment to the epigastric and hypochondriac regions. He also suggested mercury, both internally and externally--" but, fortunately, the Emperor refused to comply." Heat and fever became augmented. At this time, Bonaparte was in the habit of walking to a spring in the neighbouhood of Longwood, where he delighted to quench his thirst. At this spring he desired to be buried, and his request was complied with. The following passage will shew the feelings of the Bonapartists, even to this hour.

"The body has, in fact, been deposited there, and is guarded with as much care as when it was a living body-not to prevent profanation of the tomb; for every kind of insult was offered to the Emperor while in captivity :-No! it is the fate of the assassins of Cæsar which Napoleon's enemies dread! They well remember that, at the sight of the bleeding corpse of Cæsar, a whole people rose in arms to avenge his death!"

However fair the comparison between Cæsar and Napoleon may be, as far as the millions which they destroyed by their ambition may be concerned, we do protest against the analogy between the assassination of Cæsar and the death of Napoleon. What medical man, unbiassed by political feeling, could take upon him to say, that the death of Napoleon was positively caused by the climate of St. Helena, or the irritating conduct of Sir Hudson Lowe ? Do we see no people die, in the course of four or five years, unless they have been exiled to an island in the Atlantic, or under the surveillance of a British General:-Yet the sentiments of M. Hereau are received with acclamation by the whole of the French medical press! We raise our voice against these conclusions, not entirely for the sake of our national honour, but in the cause of truth and true philosophy --and our voice will, fortunately, be heard in every region which" the rising or the setting sun surveys."

But to return. On the 17th December, 1819, M. Antommarchi states, that "the pain in the liver was insupportable"-and that there were symptoms of enteritis. A hiatus of seven months then occurs in the medical journal, during which, no mention is made of the state of Napoleon's health! On the 18th July, 1820, the Doctor writes to his friend, the Chevalier Colonna, at Rome, as follows:

"I have now been ten months in attendance on Napoleon. I found him affected with chronic hepatitis, of the most severe kind. My remedial measures appeared to have been crowned with success. The Emperor was fast recovering-took exercise-and was projecting the formation of a garden around his habitation-but my hopes are blasted, for the influence of climate, the proximate cause (cause prochaine) of chronic hepatitis is too powerful for the constitution of our illustrious patient, and baffles all remedies."