school; but there were such difficulties thrown in their way, by legislative enactments,—particularly in the revised statutes of the state,that the Faculty gave up their school with a large number of students. Dr. Francis partook largely both in the labor and losses of this undertaking, and the latter was of no small amount.

In this institution, Dr. Francis was Professor of Obstetrics and Legal Medicine; and his success was very flattering. In amount of pupils, his classes were second only to those of Anatomy, which always commands the greatest number of pupils in every well-arranged Medical School. The close relationship, which exists between many parts of the physiological portion of a course of instruction on midwifery, with numerous topics discussed in forensic medicine, enabled the professor to enlarge, with practical advantage to his auditors. The professor had a rich museum, to illustrate his various and learned disquisitions. In Dr. Francis's edition of Denman's Midwifery, a large amount of facts and opinions on the obstetric art and medical jurisprudence, may be found. His history of the art, from the time of the ancients to that of the latest writers on the subject, has received the approbation of the most erudite and practical. He had devoted from four to six hours a day to private and public instruction, for many years, and at the same time had been engaged in the labors of practice. The number of students under his care, while he was connected with the institutions above named, was, probably, greater than that of any other profession in New-York. He now made up his mind to confine himself to practice alone, refusing to engage in private or public instruction.

Even an extensive practice and the duties of instruction did not absorb all the time he devoted to labor; for his pen had a share of his attention. Before he received his medical doctorate, while a student, he united with his preceptor, Dr. Hosack, and issued a prospectus for a new medical journal; it was called the "American Medical and Philosophical Register." The work was continued to four volumes. It was filled almost entirely with original materials, and contains a large amount of information on medical subjects. After the completion of the fourth volume, the editors assumed the responsibility of the work, and announced their names. This journal has been held in high consideration, and is often had recourse to, for matters of deep interest or curious inquiry.

Dr. Francis, in conjunction with the late Dr. Dykman and Dr. Beck, was for some time editor of the New-York Medical and Philosophical Journal, which they projected; he continued with them until the termination of the third volume. This work contains a number of his medical observations and records; it has ceased to exist.

Dr. Francis has written papers in many different medical and scientific journals, in the United States, on subjects connected with his profession; among the most prominent of these, and of a practical nature, are his observations on the Use of Vitriolic Emetics in Cramp, with details of cases, in which this novel remedy was effective, after the formation of the adventitious membrane lining the trachea; also, remarks on the Goitre, as it prevails in the western part of New-York, and elsewhere, drawn from his tour of observation in 1823; on Sanguinarea Canadensis; Cases of Morbid Anatomy; on Phlegmatid

dolens; on Elaterium, and the Croton oil; to which potent agents he was the first, in this country, who invited the attention of practitioners. He gained great credit for a paper on the successful treatment of cases in Ichthyosis. The last tractate which we have seen, from his pen, is one on the Mineral Waters of Avon, which he recommends as possessing valuable medical properties for several physical infirmities. His Letter on Febrile Contagion, dated in London, June, 1816, addressed to Dr. Hosack, contains the exposition of the views of certain British writers on the insusceptibility of the constitution to a second attack of yellow fever. This curious fact concerning the disease, which was pretty fairly demonstrated by various writers of Great-Britain and the West-Indies, received additional confirmation from the investigation, which this letter brought to light, by American physicians, who had observed the pestilence in different parts of the United States.

Dr. Francis was not only distinguished in the chair of Medical Jurisprudence, for collecting a mass of facts and arranging them in a clear and satisfactory manner, and for explaining them to the comprehension of his humblest pupils; but for the promptness of his expositions when called upon in courts of criminal jurisdiction. During his whole professorship, and almost ever since, in every case, which involved a principle of medical jurisprudence, he was present; seldom were his opinions controverted, and never overthrown. He was in attendance for the municipal authorities, in these courts; but his integrity was above all bias, and it was seldom that the advocate of the accused summoned any other medical man.

In the opinion of the writer of this article, no branch of science, taught in our schools, requires more careful investigation, or greater acuteness and strength of mind, than that of medical jurisprudence. Comparative views and analogical reasonings, so often important in decisions of less responsibility, are of little service in juridical medicine. To obviate difficulties of this nature, Dr. Francis invariably availed himself of the information, which the morbid anatomy and pathological investigation of the case afforded.

There is not a middle-aged lawyer in the country, whose memory does not furnish him with cases of gross injustice done in criminal trials, by reason of defective medical jurisprudence. A sagacious advocate, thinking that he is justified, in favor of human life, to entangle the physician, if he can, bends all his strength to the object, and not unfrequently succeeds in throwing him into a state of confusion. In cases of supposed death by poison, the most contradictory opinions have been given by medical men on the stand. The doings of death are, indeed, singular, and it is difficult for the wisest physician, at all times, to decide upon the causes of a sudden and unexpected instance of the extinction of human life; and how can a common observer among the Faculty, tell whether it was accident, violence, or the natural winding up of the machine so fearfully and wonderfully made, or from suicidal frenzy, that "the silver cord of life was loosed, or the golden bowl broken, or the pitcher broken at the fountain, or the wheel at the cistern."

Long and deep reflection, with all the helps of science, can only reach an approximation to the exact truth, so many are the avenues to the courts of death. It is with pride, the friends of Dr. Francis re

view his testimony given in difficult cases. His opinion was always clear and decided; for he always gave the subject a thorough examination.

His fondness for science has not led him to neglect polite literature. His biographical writings are quite extensive; not confined to those of his own profession,-but in that department they are more numerous than have come from the pen of any other physician in the country, if we except that of Dr. Thacher, of Massachusetts. These biographical notices are drawn with a free and manly hand, with great faithfulness and discrimination, and will hold a permanent place in the standard biographical works in our country. His sketch of the distinguished philosopher, Dr. Samuel L. Mitchell, with whom he was long associated in collegiate labors, is an honorable testimony to the memory of that remarkable man, whose genius and character will grow more luminous the longer his merits are contemplated.

The occasional addresses of Dr. Francis are written with taste and spirit, and evince, like his other writings, great research. His address to the New-York Horticultural Society is a specimen of his style and manner-flowing, sweet, and unaffected. The oration before the Literary Societies of Columbia College, in May, 1831, presents an intrepid and masterly outline of the life and services of that distinguished patriot, the late Chancellor Livingston. The venerable President Madison could not withhold a letter of approbation to the author, for the service he had done biography, by his interesting account of the revolutionary patriot.

Dr. Francis is a member of many societies, and a liberal friend to all; his intellect and purse are devoted to their prosperity, and some of them owe their continuance to his great exertions.

A liberal physician is taxed severely for the poor; his property is assessed for them the same as that of other men, and, in addition, his time and professional skill are at their service. In the latter visitations of the yellow fever, Dr. Francis was at his post, and in constant attendance on the sick. In 1832, while the cholera was raging in the city of New-York, and the citizens were flying into the country, and many physicians and divines with them; when one, at noon-day, might see a mile of Broadway without a person in it; or, if any vehicle was seen, it was a curtained bier, hiding the deathstruck visage of some patient for the hospital;-if you, at such a time, crossed into narrow streets, you might see the subject of this sketch, and a few other humane physicians, with a moral bravery that far surpasses animal courage, entering into the abodes of cholera, to extend the power of the healing art, and to combat Death in the most furious form in which he ever strode the earth. And, for the honor of human nature, it should be known that, in their wake, and directed to the same abodes of anguish, holy men were seen, carying the consolations of religion to the dying;-a Schroeder, a Wainwright, a Powers, and a few other kindred spirits, when half their brethren had fled from the contagion, were as constantly exposed as the physicians themselves. During the period of ten weeks, Dr. Francis had hardly an hour's respite, day or night, so incessant were the calls for his professional services. The history of that period should be written, and credit given to those who deserve it. Nearly four thousand fell vic28

VOL. VII.

tims to the pestilence. In the midst of these labors, Dr. Francis took notes of the most prominent cases of the cholera, and gave his observations to the press, which have spread far and wide, and formed a guide for that part of the Faculty who had not been conversant with the disease. The authorities at Havana, when the cholera was there, had the work translated into the Spanish language, and widely distributed throughout the island of Cuba.

Dr. Francis is an honorable practitioner; he has no petty disputes with his professional brethren. He gives his views of a case with openness and candor, but avoids all collision, by leaving the field to those who are pertinacious in a difference of opinion. He indulges in no envious feelings at the success of others, and takes no airs at his own. Free to advise, he is surrounded by the junior members of the Faculty, who consult him when any difficulty is found in the course of their practice. He unites courtesy to independence, and flexibility to determination. Mature in judgement, firm in health, and accustomed to incessant labor, he finds a field sufficiently large for vigorous action and liberal inquiry ;—that he may long live to cultivate it, is the earnest wish of all who know him. S. L. K.

VENICE.

WHEN Attila advanced upon the Roman cities, he verified his fearful threat, "that where his horse once trod, the grass never grew." To resist was destruction, and to submit was little better. The only safety was in flight. The inhabitants of Padua and other cities, as the "Sword of God" advanced, abandoned their hearths and retired to spots difficult of access and without allurement to rapine. The numerous rivers, that discharge themselves from the northwestern coast of the gulf, have deposited sand that forms numerous but small islands, embanked against the open sea, by long and narrow slips, which are so many natural breakwaters. Towards the land there are other protections; for, except in channels made by rivers, or in artificial canals, the Lagune is not navigable but for the lightest skiffs. The entrances of the outward barrier are few; and within, the navigation is most intricate and difficult.

Rialto, the chief of the islands, had long served as the port to Padua, and it had a few buildings; the disadvantages of its situation was its greatest recommendation to the exiles. Rivo alto, (deep stream,) had been abbreviated into Rialto. Here was commenced a city, which the settlers called the "Port of the deserted city," and which was afterwards named Venice.

There is a tradition, that the earliest buildings were reared on the spot now occupied by the church of St. Mark; and they were commenced, says an old writer, on the twenty-fifth of March, the day on which, as the historian discovered, Adam was created. Justiniani has an astrological scheme of their foundations, calculated to the hour of noon, on the 25th of March, A. D. 421, and he affirms that the horoscope was most auspicious.

The only employment of the inhabitants was fishing and making salt; but their commonwealth gained in strength and numbers, so that the magistracy, which was at first exercised by Tribunes, was committed to a single hand, called Doge, or duke, whose dignity was for life.

In the year 827, Venice became possessed of the relics of that saint, which is the patron of the city. They were obtained by a pious stratagem, in Alexandria, or by adroitly substituting the remains of a female saint, Claudia. The treasure was smuggled on board in a basket, covered with pork, an abomination to all Osmanlis. During the voyage the ship would have been lost but for the saint, who had nautical skill enough to direct the management of the sails. Venice received the relics with exultation; and, in after times, her shout, whether of joy, sedition, or battle, was Viva San Marco. The relics of the saint were intrusted to officers specially appointed, and the receptacle which they provided for them in the church was known only to themselves and the doge. It was an undivulged secret.-So early was a mystery esteemed by the rulers of Venice. Mark is on her coin and her flag, together with a winged lion, having an open book under his paws, in which is inscribed Pax tibi Marco, Evangelista meus.

When the Crusades came, to demand half of Europe, the Venitians engaged in them rather with commercial than religious views. The