"Yes, sir; I have." "Well, that is the way I wish you to give opium to these patients,--'to within an inch of their lives.'" Dr. Smith determined to follow implicitly his instructions, and gave to one as high as twelve grains of opium an hour. "At this extreme point the remedy was maintained for several days. "The patient recovered, and remained in the hospital, attached to kitchen service, for several months." Certainly, the poor Irish, even, have their uses in New York city. MINERAL SPRINGS. The writer, having spent much time at the various mineral springs throughout the United States, and partaken of the water of some for weeks in succession, is competent to give an opinion as to their merits. Collectively, they are commendable, especially those located in country places, away from scenes of dissipation and profligacy. The only reliable way to expect benefit from spring waters is to select one by the advice of your physician, and go direct to the spring. Much of the bottled waters sold are "doctored," either by the retailer, the wholesaler, or often at the springs from where they are exported. Who is to know whether Vichy, Kissengen, Saratoga, or even Vermont mineral water, as sold by the package, ever saw the respective springs from which they are named? The various mineral waters are easily made, by adding to carbonized water such peculiar minerals, or salts, as analysis has shown exists in the natural springs. I knew a man who affirmed that he ruined a suit of clothes, while employed at a certain spring, by the acids with which he "doctored" the water, before it was shipped. Sulphuret of potassium covers the properties of many springs; iron others. It has been intimated that the waters of a celebrated spring which I visited is indebted for its peculiar flavor to an old tannery, which, within the memory of that mythical being, "the oldest inhabitant," occupied the site where this favorite spring "gushes forth." Having no desire to be tanned inside,--after my boyhood's experience in that delightful external process,--I respectfully declined drinking from this spring. By the immense quantities of "spring water" gulped down hourly and daily by visitors, one is led to suppose the cure lies in a thorough washing out. There is an excellent spring near Nashville, Tenn., from which I drank for a week; also another at Sheldon, Vt. There are three different springs at this latter place, but I prefer the "Sheldon" to either of the other two. I discovered a good spring at Newport, Vt., and there are others in that vicinity. COLD DRINKS VS. WARM DRINKS. "Drink freely of cold water," says an author of no small repute, to persons of a weak stomach, viz., dyspeptics.