E.—lα

24

Bbonchitis—Consumption. Though these affections are often confounded, they are really very distinct. Bronchitis, as I have just described it, is a chronic inflammation of the air-tubes and -cells, and may continue a long time without destroying the patient. Consumption, called Phthisis puhnonalis, is disease of the .whole substance of the lungs, produced by the retention of morbific matter in the cells, which accumulates and hardens into small bodies called tubercles. These, whether hereditary or the retained secretions, increase in size and number to such an extent as to press upon the tissues and stop the circulation, when chemical affinity, always resident in them under the control of the vital force, asserts its prerogative, destroys the tissues, softens the tubercles and mingles with them the debris of the tissues, producing what is called pus. This is coughed up, leaving a cavity through which the air passing rapidly causes a wheezing, scratching noise. This process continues till the lungs are so far destroyed that there is not enough left to vitalise the blood and support the system, when the patient dies. If the morbific matter is retained in only small parts of the lungs, this process is slow, and the healing of the cavities is, in some cases, so rapid that the patient recovers. If the matter is, at the same time, extensively deposited, and it commences all at once the destruction of the tissues, the whole work is done. (b.) At the rate of 120 words per minute. Takes 10 minutes. Dbak Sic, — lam obliged for yours with dividend warrant for 16s. Bd. on Pilsens duly received; also for wires of to-day, to which I replied advising sales of 10 and 20 Quebradas Mines at 3-J- and 20 at 3f. I now enclose contract, and retain to sell 20 at 3f, and 20 each J up. You do not say in your wire how many in all I am to sell. Americans looking dull and heavy, but the Yankees seem to have been buying pretty freely. I don't quite understand, the market. Yours faithfully, To John Eattray, Esq. E. Baeton.

Dbae Sib, — lam in receipt of your favour of yesterday. Please carry forward to. next account on best possible terms the following stocks, namely : — Bought, 40 shares Denvers. 20 „ Milwaukee. 20 „ Wabash Preference. As to the stocks sold you will please note as under : — I will deliver 125 shares Quebradas and £200 North British, and I will also deliver the other 25 shares Quebradas unless at least 3d. per share Contango can be obtained on them ; but if 3d. or more can be got, then these 25 shares will be carried forward to next account. Please note selling order in Northumberlands is not renewed for new time. I have had no wire prices from you for two or three days. I should be glad to have such once or twice a day. Lay any open stocks, a few Americans in general, and also Ohio and Mississippi, about which especially one of our friends is always inquiring. Yours very truly, To E. Barton, Esq. William Hutchinbon. Dear Siks,— 16 North Bridge Street, Edinburgh, 23rd February, 1888. We are in receipt of your letter of yesterday's date. We think a marriage settlement might be prepared in some such terms as these: That, on the one hand, Captain Field should pledge himself (whenever he is in a position to do so) to convey to trustees, to be named, a certain sum—it is not for us to suggest the amount—to bo held by the trustees for behoof of the captain himself while he survives in the first place, and thereafter for behoof of his promised spouse in liferent, should he predecease her, and the children of the marriage, if any, in fee ; and, failing children, then for behoof of , the captain's own heirs or assignees : and that, on the other hand, Miss Fry, with consent of her father for himself, should assign to the trustees the whole property to which she may ultimately succeed or become entitled to be held for her own behoof, in the first place in life-rent, and thereafter for behoof of her husband in life-rent, should she predecease him and the children of the marriage, in fee; and, failing children, then for behoof of her own heirs or assignees, subject to provisions in the event of her entering into a second marriage, &c. So far as we are aware, Miss Fry has not at present any fortune. But, as agents for the trustees of her mother's marriage settlement, we may state that they hold considerable funds, an equal share of which, along with her brothers and sisters (five or six in number), she will receive on the death of the longest liver of her father and mother. By our law an ante-nuptial contract has very important privileges which a post-nuptial settlement has not, and we have no doubt the law of England confers similar privileges. It is of importance, therefore, that if any settlement is to bo entered into it should be ante-nuptial, and, in view of the marriage taking place in the beginning of the year, that it should be prepared at once. We shall be glad to hear from you at your early convenience. And we remain, yours faithfully, To Messrs. Haynes and Sons, 17 Bedford Eow, London. Douglas and Nicol.