as for the victories which some of them had already gained. Pindar speaks of no less than forty chariots engaged at one and the same time. If we recollect that they had to run twelve times the length of the Hippodrome, in going and returning, and to steer round a pillar or goal, erected at each extremity, we may imagine what confusion must have ensued when, upon the signal-trumpet being sounded, they started amid a cloud of dust, crossing and jostling each other, and rushing forward with such rapidity that the eye could scarcely follow them. At one of the boundaries a narrow pass was only left for the chariots, which often baffled the skill of the expertest driver; and there were upwards of twenty turnings to make round the two pillars, so that at almost every moment some accident happened, calculated to excite the pity or insulting laughter of the assembly. In such a number of chariots, at full speed, pushing for precedence in turning round the columns, on which victory often depended, some were sure to be dashed to pieces, covering the course with their fragments, and adding to the dangers of the As it was, moreover, exceedingly difficult for the charioteer, in his unsteady two-wheeled car, to retain his standing attitude, many were thrown out, when the masterless horses plunged wildly about the Hippodrome, overturning others who had perhaps previously escaped every danger, and thought themselves sure of winning. To increase the confusion, and thereby afford better opportunities for the display of skill and courage, there is reason to believe that some artifice was employed for the express purpose of frightening the horses when they reached the statue of Taraxippus. So great sometimes was their consternation, that no longer regarding the rein, the whip, or the voice of their master, they broke loose, or overturned the chariot and wounded the driver. Perhaps it would be impossible to give a more accurate description of a chariot race, in all its forms, than is furnished by the following passage from the Electra of Sophocles, as translated by West. After enumerating the ten different competitors for the prize, the author proceeds:

race.

These, when the judges of the games by lot
Had fix'd their order and arranged the cars,
All at the trumpet's signal, all at once,
Burst from the barrier, all together cheer'd
Their fiery steeds, and shook the floating reins.
Soon with the din of rattling cars was fill'd
The sounding Hippodrome, and clouds of dust,
Ascending, tainted the fresh breath of morn.
Now mix'd and press'd together, on they drove,
Nor spared the smarting lash, impatient each
To clear his chariot, and outstrip the throng
Of clashing axles, and short-blowing steeds,
That panted on each others necks, and threw
On each contiguous yoke the milky foam.
But to the pillar as he nearer drew,
Orestes, reining in the nearmost steed,
While, in a larger scope, with loosen'd reins,
And lash'd up to their speed the others flew,
Turn'd swift around the goal his grazing wheel.
As yet erect upon the whirling orbs

Roll'd every chariot, till the hard-mouthed steeds:
That drew the Thracian car, unmaster'd, broke
With violence away, and turning short,

(When o'er the Hippodrome, with winged speed,
They had completed now the seventh career,)
Dash'd their wild foreheads 'gainst the Libyan car.
From this one luckless chance, a train of ills
Succeeding, rudely on each other fell
Horses and charioteers, and soon was fill'd
With wrecks of shatter'd cars the Phocian plain.
Erect Orestes, and erect his car,

Thro' all the number'd courses now had stood;
But, luckless in the last, as round the goal
The wheeling courser turn'd, the hither rein
Imprudent he relax'd, and on the stone
The shatter'd axle dashing, from the wheel
Fell headlong, hamper'd in the tangling reins.
The frighted mares flew diverse o'er the course.
The throng'd assembly when they saw their chief
Hurl'd from his chariot, with compassion moved,
His youth deplored, deplored him glorious late,
For mighty deeds, now doom'd to mighty woes;
Now dragg'd along the dust, his feet in air;
Till, hasting to his aid, and scarce at length
The frantic mares restraining, from the reins
The charioteers releas'd him, and convey'd,
With wounds and gore disfigur'd, to his friends.

VENTILATION.

It is much to be regretted, that in connexion with the various improve- · ments, which the style of building, and the internal arrangement of our houses, have undergone within the last ten years, more attention has not been paid to the means for insuring a free ventilation throughout every apartment. In the large and sumptuous dwellings of the rich, the wide halls, lofty ceilings, and free communication existing between the principal apartments, prevent, it is true, most of the causes of complaint in this respect: but in the more numerous and humble dwellings, occupied by the labourer, as well as by the industrious mechanic and artizan, and in the buildings, appropriated for workshops, stores, and warehouses, the means of ventilation, have in too many cases been sadly neglected. As a necessary consequence, cleanliness is prevented, and the health and comfort of the inhabitants and inmates prejudiced to a greater or less extent. A free circulation of air, in and about a building, is of too much importance, to allow of its being sacrificed from motives of economy, avarice or mere convenience. Air, when it is confined for any time within a room, or rendered stagnant by any other means, soon becomes, not only unfitted for respiration, but absolutely destructive to life. Under such circumstances, its composition is quickly changed from various causes; while at the same time, it is loaded with dust and deleterious exhalations given out by the human body,, even in health, or produced from

the decomposition of animal or vegetable substances. Every one who has entered a room, that has been completely shut up for even a few days, whether inhabited or not, must have been struck with the peculiar smell of the air in it, and experienced the disagreeable sensation, caused by its admission into the lungs. The walls and furniture are soon covered with a damp mold, every thing within the apartment of a perishable nature, fälls quickly into decay, and affords materials for the still further vitiation of the atmosphere. Many complain of the unpleasant smell and dampness of their houses, without suspecting for a moment that this is merely the result of defective ventilation.

It is all important, therefore, that the air from without should be allowed to enter freely into every part of a building, if not in a continued current, at least at frequent intervals, so as fully to expel that previously existing in the several apartments. The causes of deficient ventilation are either, the location of the building in narrow crowded courts or alleys-the want of a free communication between the different rooms, in each story--the improper position of the doors and windows, or, the want of an open space of sufficient extent in the rear of the house, in consequence of which the free circulation of the air, is entirely prevented. The healthiness of a dwelling is increased very considerably by allowing to it a capacious yard, which may either be well paved, laid down in grass, or cultivated as a flower garden. In the largest and best constructed houses, ventilation should be promoted, by leaving the doors and windows open several hours, during the day, in fair weather and when the air is driest, and closing them carefully before nightfall. Even in winter, a proper opportunity should be taken, during the day, to admit freely the external air in every apartment of the house, especially the bed rooms; the ventilation of workshops and manufactories, can be maintained by proper furnaces, which, while they supply a current of heated air, for warming the apartment, cause its atmosphere to be constantly renewed.

TO READERS.

THE second volume of the Journal of Health is now completed. In renewing, for another year, their engagement with the public, the Editors of this work cannot refrain from expressing their heartfelt pleasure, at the flattering manner in which their endeavours to instruct and amuse; to make the body's health subservient to the mind's ease, have been received. Respecting their future course, they would wish to proffer a few remarks.

It has hitherto been a leading object with them, to present the greatest variety of facts, which were susceptible of being directly applied to the preservation of health, and preventing the inroads of disease; and while doing this, to remove prejudices, and to show the fallacy of many received opinions, which interfered with private or personal hygiene.

In future, the Editors of this Journal propose to take a wider range, by investigating all the general causes of disease, and the means of prevention and mitigation-epidemic and contagious fevers-the seasons and localities,

under which they are most rife, and all other physical, not less than the moral causes, modifying their progress and intensity, will be fully considered. Information on these topics ought to be widely circulated, so that popular opinion may not, in the time of actual danger, thwart and paralize professional advice and skill. In no other way can the Medical Police of a country be rendered efficient, and exercise a salutary guardianship over the public health. Quarantine regulations and sanitary laws, will come in for a full share of the notice of the Editors in their inquiries.

The bearing of social regulations, as connected with the labour required of mechanics, artisans, and the industrious classes generally, will be considered, and some of the prominent evils pointed out.

The necessity of PUBLIC GYMNASIA-places for healthful and innocent recreation, and of PUBLIC BATHS, for cleanliness and refreshment, will be recommended, as heretofore, and still more pointedly insisted on.

The practices adverse to health and morals, in schools and universities, will be also passed in review, and means of prevention indicated.

Temperance, in its largest signification, will continue to be recommended by all the force of argument and variety of illustration, which so important a subject requires.

Abuses in the erection and management of hospitals, infirmaries, and alms houses, shall receive a due share of attention.

Medical Jurisprudence, so far as it is adapted to popular comprehension and usefulness, will be discussed; and all the leading evidence, to guide in a correct opinion of the questions of homicide, by poisoning, or external injury; and of insanity, as removing personal responsibility, and requiring coercion and confinement, will be taught, and illustrations given by interesting cases. Private Hygiene, will still be set forth in the customary variety, which has proved hitherto so popular. Each organ of the body, its functions and derangement, and hygienic means of cure, will be discussed in succession, and, if necessary, its structure illustrated by drawings-due pains being always taken to prevent unpleasant allusions or expressions which could aught offend the most modest and fastidious.

Various and extensive as is the course just sketched, it is not beyond the resources at the disposal of the conductors of the Journal. The stores of information, from the continent of Europe, especially France and Germany, would, of themselves, furnish an ample supply-stores which, to the country at large, would utterly be lost, without a dispenser, such as the Journal of Health.

Just published, at the Literary Rooms, 121 Chesnut street, The Effects of the Principal Arts, Trades, and Professions, and of Civic States and Habits of Living, on Health and Longevity: with a particular reference to the trades and manufactures of Leeds; and suggestions for the removal of many of the agents, which produce disease, and shorten the duration of life. By C. TURNER THACKRAH, from the London edition, with improvements.

The first number of the third volume of the Journal of Health will be issued from the Publication Office, Literary Rooms, 121 Chesnut street, on the second Wednesday of September and continue at the same intervals as before. Terms the same, $1 25 in advance. The publisher and proprietor of the Journal of Health regrets the necessity of reminding some of his subscribers that they are in arrears, for both the first and second volumes of the Journal. These persons will please to send in their dues without delay.