"The Effays which are deftined to compofe the next volume (many of which are already in great forwardness) are all on practical subjects of a popular nature, and of general utility; and on that account it was judged beft to keep them feparate from those contained in this volume, which partake more of the nature of abftrafe philosophical inveftigations. "Various unforeseen events have contributed to retard the publication of the promised Effays on Kitchen Fire-places-on Cottage Fireplaces-and on Clothing; but the author has well-founded hopes of being able to bring them forward in the course of a few months." ART. 30. Tables for accurately afcertaining, by Weight or Measure, the Strength of Spirituous Liquors, from 30° 10 85° of Temperature. With an Introduction, defcribing the Principles of the Tables, by a Variety of Examples. By John Wilson. 12mo. 5s. Creech, Edinburgh; Rivingtons, London. Thefe Tables are contained in 116 pages, and are preceded by an Introduction of 72 pages. In the Introduction, the author acknowledges that his calculations may be confidered, upon the whole, as an improvement of the Tables contained in the 82nd volume of the Philofophical Tranfactions; on which, as upon an accurate and steady foundation, he has created the ftructure of his work. He gives ample extracts from Sir Charles Blagden's reports, which accompany the above-mentioned Tables in the Soth and 82nd volumes of the Philofophical Transactions; after which, he defcribes, with fufficient minuteness and perfpicuity, not only the ufe of the tables, but likewife the nature and the use of the inftruments; as well as various other articles, that are concerned either in the investigation of the fubject, or in the practical method of afcertaining the ftrength of fpirits, or compounds of fpirit and water. He mentions, for inftance, the proper method of diftilling water and fpirit; defcribes the thermometer, the weighing bottle, the balance and weights, &c. He alfo gives the principal arithmetical rules that may be neceffary for the calculation of whatever belongs to the fubject; and illuftrates them by means of clear and fuitable examples. The tables, which follow the Introduction, are, ift. A table of one page, under the title of "Standard Spirit. Specific Gravity and Weight in Grains per Gallon." 2. A table of one page, entitled "Distilled Water. Specific Gravity and Weight in Grains per Gallon." 3dly. "A Spirit Table, requifite for difcovering the ftrength of any fpirit, from the temperature of 30° up to the 85th degree of Fahrenheit's thermometer, from diftilled water, whofe fpecific gravity is estimated as 1, or 1,00000 up to a pure fpirit in fpecific gravity 0,82500, both at ftandard heat, or 60°; alfo fhewing the proportion of spirit and of water by weight at the head of the columns; and at the bottom are given the fame proportions reduced to measure, contained in 100 parts of the compound and likewise the measure of water and of fpirit concentrated after the mixture, per cent, at 60o, or to be added by the compounder." This table extends from page 5 to page 114. Aaa 2 4th. 4th. "A Table of Troy and Avoirdupois Weights," which reduces all the fubdivifions of the pound to the general denomination of grains. 5th, and lastly, a fhort Table, "Comparing the quantity of fpirit of wine per cent. conformable to Clarke's Hydrometer, and the compound fandard fpirit, wherewith the inftrument nearly corresponded by experiment.' Notwithstanding a better arrangement of the materials of the Introduction, might be wifhed by the reader, we look upon this publication as a very comprehenfive and useful work. MEDICINE. ART. 31. A View of the Science of Life, on the Principles established in the Elements of Medicine, of the late celebrated John Brown, M. D. with an Attempt to correct fome important Errors of that Work. And Cafes in Illuftration, chiefly jelected from the Records of their Practice, at the General Hofpital at Calcutta. By William Yeates and Charles Maclean. To which is fubjoined, a Treatife on the Action of Mercury upon living Bodies, and its Application for the Cure of Difeafes of indirect Debility; and a Differtation on the Source of epidemic and peftilential Difeafes, in which is attempted to prove, by a numerous Induction of Facts, that they never arise from Contagion, but are always produced by certain States, or certain Viciffitudes of the Atmosphere. By Charles Maclean, of Calcutta. 8vo. 230 pp. 55. Philadel phia. 1797. In this little volume the Brunonian doctrine, as it is called, is explained and enforced, or we should rather fay, the nakedness of the fyftem is developed, and its deformity expofed; for if the practice recommended in this work, is founded on that system, it cannot be reproved in terms too fevere. In proof of this, we shall give an abridgment of the firft cafe we meet with in the volume. Francis Lote, aged 35, was admitted into the Hofpital at Calcutta, on the ift of May, 1796, his complaint, pains over the whole body, with fymptoms that indicated an exhaufted conftitution. On the 15th, his mouth is faid to be fore from the ufe of mercury, employed to excite or roufe the powers of life, he was alfo much purged and griped, doubtless from the fame caufe. Opium was now given,, we are told, and continued to the 3d of June, when his complaints are faid to have been much relieved. On the 21st of Auguft, he again fell under the care of this author, in a ftate of extreme debility, with exceffive purging, and bloody ftools. He had continued, during the whole time, in the hofpital, but under the care of other gentlemen. Eighty drops of the tincture of opium were directed to be given night and morning each day. Auguft 24th, five hundred and forty drops were given in draughts in the courfe of this day, and zoo drops in a clyfter; 25th, 200 drops in a clyfter every three hours, and 150 drops in a draught at night; 26th, the clyfters continued, the draughts three times in the day; at nine in the evening of this day, a clyfter with 400 drops of tincture of opium, and a fourth draught with 200 drops; 27th and 28th, the clyfters and draughts continued every two hours, and a draught at night with 400 drops; 29th, a draught with 200, and a clyfter with 500 drops of laudanum to be given every hour; and continued every hour or two until the 2nd of September, when 500 drops of laudanum were directed to be given in a draught, and to be repeated every hour; clyfters with the fame quantity of laudanum every hour or two. On the 4th of September he is faid to be mending. The draughts and clytters were directed to be continued occafionally. On the 30th, he is faid to have had only two ftools, but without pain, and to feel his appetite returning. We have not taken the trouble to calculate the quantity of opium, here fuppofed to be given, as it feems incredible that any human conftitution fhould be able to bear fuch enormous dofes. That they were taken feems alfo doubtful, as the writer fays, p. 59, "From the good fenfe and punctuality of the patient, I have a perfect reliance upon his having conformed to my orders, in every particular, as far as it is poffible for patients in an hofpital to do." It fhould be added, that the author fays, in the fame page, " during the whole of the time that he was under my cure, he had an allowance of wine, from one to two or three bottles in the twenty-four hours," which part of the prefcription, it is probable the patient correctly followed, whatever he might do with the laudanum. The quantity of opium contained in the tincture here ufed, is alfo left uncertain, It should be obferved," the author fays, p. 60," in order to prevent a rafh imitation, where the circumftances are not alike, that the tincture of opium employed upon this occafion, was much weaker than what is ufually made in Europe; that a very great degree of exhauftion had taken place, and that the dofes were gradually increafed, from eighty drops to five hundred." In an another part of the volume, Mr. Maclean defcribes the tincture as containing one-third lefs than that directed by the college. But this ftill leaves the dofes enormously large. It may be worth the while of the inventors and favourers of new doctrines in medicine, to confider, that while they perhaps only mean to advertise them into a degree of celebrity, and have prudence enough to use their medicines cautiously, or in conjunction with others of known efficacy; their pupils or converts, young or inexperienced, taking to the very letter the accounts of extraordinary cures boasted in their publications, may be induced to place greater dependence on them, or to use thein in a more bold and hardy manner, and thence occafion dreadful mifchief to those who put themselves under their management, It certainly would be right in medicine, as well as in politics, not to forfake, and totally abolish the old fyftem, by which much good, if not all that is poffible is done, until we have had opportunity of fully afcertaining the value of that we mean to substitute in its place, which muft require m ch time for inveftigation and experiment. Partial changes may in the mean time be made, provided they be introduced cautiously and leifurely, and then left to mix and incorporate with the existing fyftem, before any further alteration be attempted. But this flow and gradual mode of advancing, does not feem to fuit the temper of the reformers of the prefent age. ART. 1 ART. 32. A Lecture on the Situation of the large Blood Veffels of the Extremities; and the Methods of making effectual preffure on the Arteries, in Cafes of dangerous Effufions of Blood from Wounds, delivered to the Scholars of the late Maritime School at Chelsea, and first printed for their Ufe. Third Edition. To which is now added, a brief Explana tion of the Nature of Wounds, more particularly thofe received from Fire-Arms. By William Blizard, F. R. S. 12mo. 84 pp. 35. Dilly. 1798. In the lecture, the author, in a clear and perfpicuous manner, fhows the method of stopping a hæmorrhage, or violent effufion of blood, in confequence of an artery being wounded in either the upper or lower extremities. This confifts in the right application of the tourniquet, or of ligature round the arm or thigh, when a tourniquet cannot be immediately procured. To do this effectually, it is neceffary to be acquainted with the courfe of the large blood veffels, over which the comprefs, or pad of the tourniquet is to be placed. But as this could not be made perfectly intelligible, by a fimple description, the author has added an engraved figure, on which the courfe of these veffels is delineated. Then follows an ingenious expofition of the nature and treament of wounds, particularly gun-fhot wounds. This is done rather in the way of fhort notices, or obfervations, than as a regular treatise, and will not admit of abridgment; we fhall therefore content ourselves with recommending it to the notice of furgeons, particularly those of and army navy, to whofe ufe it is in a peculiar manner dedicated. the ART. 33. A few General Rules and Inftructions, very necessary to be attended to by thofe of both Sexes, who are afflicted with Ruptures. By William Turnbull, A. M. Surgeon to the Eaftern Difpenfary, and the Society for the Relief of the ruptured Poor. 12mo. 46 pp. 1s. 6d Johnfon. 1798. Arnaud in his differtation on ruptures, has faid, it seems, that one perfon of every ten, is afflicted with rupture, of one fpecies or other. The prefent author thinks this proportion too large, and fuppofes that only one in fifteen is fo affected. On what data either of thefe gentlemen formed their calculations, we cannot conjecture, but should fuppofe that one in thirty, or perhaps forty, would be nearer the truth. The author gives a fhort defcription of the most common fpecies of ruptures, and then adds, rules and cautions to be obferved by perfons afflicted with them, Thefe, although in general too complicated to be understood, or attended to by the patients, may be useful to young practitioners in furgery, living in the country, who may not have opportunities of feeing much practice in the complaint. DIVINITY. DIVINITY. A ART. 34. 4 Charge delivered to the Clergy of Llandaff, in June 1798. By R. Watfon, D.D. F.R.S. Bishop of Llandaff. 8vo. 34 PP. IS. Faulder. 1798.. With refpect to this Charge, we fhall at present take a very unusual ftep. Accident has diverted our attention from it till too late in this month to give it a place among our more important articles; yer on reading it we find the matter of it much too excellent, and the expreffions much too forcible and judicious to allow us to confine our notice of it to this part of our publication. Defirous, therefore, not to feem any longer inattentive to it, we now mention it here, but only to announce, that in the next month we fhall give a full and careful account of it in an early part of our Review. It may be confidered, as the learned and able author fays, as a Supplement to his late" Addrefs to the People of Great Britain." We think it a moft useful and excellent Supplement, and in that light, fhall hold it as a point of indifpenfable duty to give it all the celebrity it is poffible for our labours to confer. (To be reviewed at large in our next.) ART. 35. The Tocfin; or, An Appeal to good Senfe. By the Rev. L. Dutens, Hiftoriographer to his Majefty, Rector of Eldon in Northum berland, and F. R. S. Tranflated from the French by the Rev. Tho mas Falconer. 8vo. 59 pp. Is. 6d. Cadell and Davies. 1798. The original of this work, we are told in the Advertisement, was published at Rome in the year 1769, in French. It appears to have been defigned as a proteft against the blafphemies of Voltaire and his followers, and is very properly tranflated and re-published at this period, when the confequences of their pernicious writings are fo fenfibly felt throughout Europe. The author firft ftates the infinite importance of religion to the welfare of mankind. He then briefly characterizes the modern pretenders to philofophy, who have endeavoured to difcredit and destroy christianity; particularly Rouffeau and Voltaire. On the latter of these he is very juftly fevere, and relates an anecdote that ftrongly marks his abandoned profligacy, and the meannefs of his malice. "I was informed," fays the author, "by one of his friends, that one day after dinner he called in his fervants, and enquired of them all in fucceffion whether they were Chriftians, and prefenting a glass of wine to thofe who replied in the negative, he threatened to di mifs one who helitated to fecond his malicious zeal." To the autho rity of this vain and fuperficial, though witty, philofopher, he oppofes a catalogue of fome of the wifeft and not diftinguished men in modern times, who have gloried in profefling or defending christianity. He also gives fome ufeful hints for the behaviour of those chriftians who may fall into the fociety of infidels, and he briefly but fenfibly fuggefts the proper arguments against the different fpecies of them, viz. Atheists, Theifts, |