The "Micee" of Hindostan. MR. EDITOR,-As a sound set of teeth is amongst the requisites most to be desired, either in the field or on a long voyage, by a man who would crack his biscuit comfortably, the following hint, if you can find room for it, may possibly interest some one who can make it available. Mr. Johnstone, in his “Indian Field Sports," tells us that the females of Hindostan, "After they attain a certain age, or get married, use an application to stain their teeth black; this I also believe was and is used to destroy the tartar, and preserve the teeth and gums, which it certainly does. The time of life at which they first begin to use it, is when tartar collects most; and were it used solely for ornament, the young would all have their teeth black, which none of them ever have. This application is called micee; and what it is composed of I cannot say. Whatever it is, it destroys the tartar, hardens the gums, and makes the teeth of a jet black, without destroying the enamel." Now, Sir, was this same "micee" submitted to the test of chemical analysis, if a mineral preparation, its component parts could be easily ascertained; if a vegetable one, some of your readers resident in India, may, perhaps, be enabled to obtain possession of the secret, thereby benefiting many of our brethren of "both arms," whose teeth may happen to hang rather loosely in their sockets; and I think it is very probable that its beneficial qualities may be found to exist entirely independent of the colouring matter, (for I fear few of my brother officers will be found willing to exchange even rotten teeth for the most sound and beautifully polished black ones ever exhibited,) and, if it is so, as I suspect, society in England may be materially benefited by the "micee" of Hindostan. Plymouth, July 16th, 1831. Military Punishments. Yours truly, MR. EDITOR,-It has frequently been observed by myself and other military men, that the system of flogging in the army appears to have drawn upon itself the violent disapprobation and detestation of that most useful class of society, viz. newspaper editors. Through the means of your valuable publication, I take the liberty of informing these bulwarks of public freedom, that their ignorance on the above mentioned subject is great in the extreme; and that their humane conjectures on the barbarity, causes, and effects, are totally groundless, and tend to show that however well versed they may be on other subjects, their inclinations have never led them to make any investigation from good authority into military affairs. Possibly they may be prompted by humanity; but it appears to me, that by this violent rating and animadversion of an evilwhich punishment is in any shape, although a necessary one--an attempt is made to obtain favour in the eyes of cockneys and languishing damsels ; however this may be, they would find it of infinite service to themselves and papers, were they to consider things in their proper light, and not thus expose their impotency by pelting sand at the figure of military justice. June 12th, 1831. MILES. they are ** It is not by the responsible editors of newspapers that these tales respecting military punishments are trumped up, though there bound to be more vigilant in excluding such trumpery from their the fabrication of the "gentlemen" of the Penny-a-line their wits, and sell poison without labels to the pul manifestly indictable. It is unnecessary to add that upon this stock topic, cooked up from time to ti authors, are utterly at variance with the facts.-ED. EDITOR'S PORTFOLIO; OR NAVAL AND MILITARY REGISTER. AFFAIRS AT HOME AND ABROAD. -The Second Reading of the Reform Bill has been carried, as expected, in the House of Commons, by a considerable majority. The Bill has since gone into Committee, where its progress, having been precipitated so far, from the inconsistency of its details, and the close scrutiny of its opponents, is but snail-paced. Were it not for the check its introduction has caused to the public and private transactions and trade of the country, we are persuaded that the first impatience and overcharged expectations regarding the success and benefits of this measure, would have subsided in comparative indifference and disappointment amongst those classes by whom its principle has been honestly advocated. To a certain extent, such has been the result of delay; but the stagnation of business, and the unhealthy excitement of personal and public feeling consequent on its agitation, render it desirable that a question so fraught with present evil, and so doubtful as to future good, should be disposed of. In FRANCE, the usual popular disturbances have taken place during the past month. The King has opened the newly-elected Parliament with a "strong" Speech-the most remarkable features of which are the announcement that the Belgian Fortresses constructed to menace France were to be dismantled, that the Tri-colour Flag waved in England. The Duke of Wellington, under whose direction the frontier Fortresses in question had been put into a state of defence, to provide against the probable aggressions of France, at an expense of 2,000,000l. sterling to this country, spoke warmly, in the House of Lords, on the impolicy and injustice of dismantling those safeguards, not only of Belgium, but of Northern Europe, against the restless ambition of France. His Grace also commented indignantly upon our abandonment of Portugal to the attacks of the same over-bearing power-attacks made upon grounds so frivolous and far-strained. A couple of Frenchmen, resident in Lisbon, having offended against the laws of Portugal, were tried and sentenced by those laws;upon which a French squadron is dispatched to the Tagus, which, after committing various acts of petty piracy upon the Portuguese shipping in the offing-enters the Tagus with a flourish of the Tricoloured Flag, and kidnaps the halfdozen ill-equipped craft-called the Portuguese Fleet, receiving, thereupon, the submission of our prostrate Ally. Prince Leopold of Saxe-Cobourg has been formally inaugurated at Brussels as King of BELGIUM-by the title of Leopold I. His accession has been greeted with present acclamation. The demonstrations, however, on the part of Holland evince dissatisfaction, and threaten war. POLAND.-Since the death of Count Diebitsch, and the assump 20 The "Micee" of Hindostan. MR. EDITOR,-As a sound set of teeth is amongst the requisites most to be desired, either in the field or on a long voyage, by a man who would crack his biscuit comfortably, the following hint, if you can find room for it, may possibly interest some one who can make it available. Mr. Johnstone, in his “Indian Field Sports," tells us that the females of Hindostan, "After they attain a certain age, or get married, use an application to stain their teeth black; this I also believe was and is used to destroy the tartar, and preserve the teeth and gums, which it certainly does. The time of life at which they first begin to use it, is when tartar collects most; and were it used solely for ornament, the young would all have their teeth black, which none of them ever have. This application is called micee; and what it is composed of I cannot say. Whatever it is, it destroys the tartar, hardens the gums, and makes the teeth of a jet black, without destroying the enamel." Now, Sir, was this same "micee" submitted to the test of chemical analysis, if a mineral preparation, its component parts could be easily ascertained; if a vegetable one, some of your readers resident in India, may, perhaps, be enabled to obtain possession of the secret, thereby benefiting many of our brethren of "both arms," whose teeth may happen to hang rather loosely in their sockets; and I think it is very probable that its beneficial qualities may be found to exist entirely independent of the colouring matter, (for I fear few of my brother officers will be found willing to exchange even rotten teeth for the most sound and beautifully polished black ones ever exhibited,) and, if it is so, as I suspect, society in England may be materially benefited by the "micee" of Hindostan. Plymouth, July 16th, 1831. Military Punishments. Yours truly, MR. EDITOR,-It has frequently been observed by myself and other military men, that the system of flogging in the army appears to have drawn upon itself the violent disapprobation and detestation of that most useful class of society, viz. newspaper editors. Through the means of your valuable publication, I take the liberty of informing these bulwarks of public freedom, that their ignorance on the above mentioned subject is great in the extreme; and that their humane conjectures on the barbarity, causes, and effects, are totally groundless, and tend to show that however well versed they may be on other subjects, their inclinations have never led them to make any investigation from good authority into military affairs. Possibly they may be prompted by humanity; but it appears to me, that by this violent rating and animadversion of an evilwhich punishment is in any shape, although a necessary one--an attempt is made to obtain favour in the eyes of cockneys and languishing damsels ; however this may be, they would find it of infinite service to themselves and papers, were they to consider things in their proper light, and not thus expose their impotency by pelting sand at the figure of military justice. June 12th, 1831. * MILES. ** It is not by the responsible editors of newspapers that these tales respecting military punishments are trumped up, though they are bound to be more vigilant in excluding such trumpery from their columns: they are the fabrication of the "gentlemen" of the Penny-a-line Press, who live upon their wits, and sell poison without labels to the public, for which they are manifestly indictable. It is unnecessary to add that the piquant paragraphs upon this stock topic, cooked up from time to time by these ingenious authors, are utterly at variance with the facts.-ED. medical officer, and with vast submission to our compiler, it must be recollected, that the person who now fills that situation was appointed a “StaffSurgeon" in the year 1795, was promoted to the rank of " Assistant-Inspector" in 1803, and no doubt would have remained at said rank ever since, had it not been that our deceased gracious Sovereign George the Third did by his Royal Warrant, dated at St. James's the 22nd of May 1804, enjoin and order that the rank of " Assistant-Inspector" should cease, and that all officers of that rank should thenceforward be called and approved "Deputy-Inspectors of Hospitals." And at this latter rank he remained, until our present beloved King, William the Fourth, by his Royal Warrant of July 1830, made all the Deputy-Inspectors to have the additional title of "GENERAL.' The Staff medical duty at Dublin is peculiar to itself, and can only be known to those employed on the station. And our compiler's remarks about "Sick Certificates" and " Medical Boards," contain more venom in the way of the "loaves and fishes," than almost at any other part of his lucubrations breaks forth! In answer to our compiler's remarks, as to the Physician-General and Surgeon-General in Ireland, it is simply necessary to observe, that on the reduction of the Army Medical Board in Dublin, in the year 1816, which consisted of the Physician-General, Surgeon-General, and Director-General of Hospitals, the Physician-General and Surgeon-General were reduced as members of said Board, and the entire of the duties, both medical and financial, were placed under the sole and absolute control of the DirectorGeneral of Hospitals. And the duties of the Physician-General and Surgeon-General retrograded, or went back to the medical and surgical services they had to perform before the Establishment of the Medical Board in 1795; namely their professional attendance on the General Military Hospitals in Dublin, oftentimes, and for years together, two and even three in number, besides the present General Military Hospital in the Phoenix Park. In a word, to prove the assertion beyond yea or nay, it may be as well to name them-they are not so many years broken up, but that two of these additional Hospitals must be in instant recollection. 1st. The upper wards of "Steevens's Hospital" were hired for the accommodation of sick soldiers, holding generally 200 patients. 2nd. The "Convalescent General Military Hospital," on Arbor Hill, containing seldom under seventy-five patients. The Medical General at Cork has the same good fortune to thank for his promotion as our, Dublin General had, and no doubt our worthy compiler looks upon him with equal love and kindness for his removal to a better staff! But enough has been said to prove, that if reform is wanting in the Army Medical Department of his Majesty's service, it is not at the individuals employed the PECKING should be first made-but at measures. The officer in command of a regiment is now bona fide the Surgeon! and too often interposes his opinions on remedial measures, as well as in other matters it were quite as well to be silent about. But so it is well known! And now a few words upon our friendly compiler's hints at economy, and Mr. Editor I shall bid you good night. Suppose, as Ireland seems in his opinion the genuine land of jobbing, the economy system commenced here, and the present incumbents were sent to the left about and put upon half-pay, or rather, it would be whole pay from their length of service. Surely the fresh feeders on the public purse must be paid. The men in office are old, but they are yet able to work; and if this single point be once admitted, and surely to every unbiassed character it must, where can the saving be of putting by the old before worn out, and using the new? A due consideration of the DEAD WEIGHT" will answer all farther questions. |