Half-yearly Retrospect of British Literature. plan. It will not be thought impertinent, however, to ftate the manner in which the effufion of cold water ought to be used in fever: one exacerbation, and one remiffion of fever, are ufually obfervable in the space of twenty-four hours; the moft advantageous time for affufion is, when the exacerbation is at its height, or immediately after its declination is begun; this is ufually in the evening; but the affufion may be used at any time of the day, when there is no fenfe of chillings prefent; when the heat of the furface is fleadily above what is natural; and when there is no general or profufe perfpiration. An afperfion of cold water during the cold ftage of the paroxyfm of fever may be fatal: its immediate effects are a fufpended refpiration, together with a pulle, fluttering, feeble, and incalculably quick it fhould never be reforted to, therefore, even though the thermometer, when applied to the body, fhould indicate unusual heat, if the patient feels a chillinefs pervade him; nor can it be used with fafety, though the patient feels no chillinefs, if the heat of the body, measured by a thermometer, only equals the natural heat: and, laftly, the ufe of it is dangerous when the body is under profufe perfpiration, even though its heat, at the moment of application, be greater than the natural heat; for perfpiration is of itfelf a cooling procefs. Under thefe reftrictions the affufion of cold water may be ufed at any period of fever, and is remedial in a great variety of febrile difor ders; in all cafes, however, its effects will be more falutary as it is ufed more early. The fame general rules may be adopted for the use of cold water in fever, as a drink, with thofe for external application. This interefting work of Dr. C. is written with great perfpicuity, elegance, and fimplicity. In terms of commendation we would alfo notice Dr. BREE'S "Practical Inquiry on difordered Refpiration." In this inquiry is exhibited a comprehenfive view of the numerous incidental circumftances which may injurioully affect refpiration; and cafes of afthma are included under a general propofition of extenfive application to difeafes of the lungs: "that certain inordinate contractions of the refpiratory mufcles indicate the prefence of a matter offending the pulmonary organs, either by its oppreffive bulk, or acrid quality, or both." The author propofes this as the most important object of inquiry; and a great part of his elaborate work is dedicated to the fupport of this pofition. One principal fubject of the 501 A work is, that curious diforder of refpiratien called convulfive afthma, in which "the mufcles are contracted with more energy and violence than in any other; but the contractions do not obey any law, nor affume any form which is not common to the extraordinary action of the fame mufcles in milder inftances of dyfpnoea." The cure of afthma, according to Dr. BRE, is to be attempted in the intermiffions; he does not undertake to conquer the paroxyfm at its acceffion, unless it belong to the fpecies which depends on habit. As a means of relief, he recommends, generally, nauseating dofes of Ipecacuanha, faline, and bitter medicines; vinegar and chalk, and expectorants, not oily; antifpafmodics are found ufelefs, except when the contrac tions depend on habit, which furnishes additional weight to the argument against fpafmodic conftriction of the bronchia. The information to be derived from this work is very confiderable. If in all refpects it is not fatisfactory, we must acknowledge the novelty of the arrangement, and the difficulty of the fubject which has never before had due attention paid to its importance. tranflation has appeared from the German of Dr. HUFELAND on "The Art of preferving Life." Dr. H. makes the following judicious diftintion in his preface: " the object of the medical art, is health; that of the macrobiotic, long life. The means employed in the medical are regulated according to the present state of the body and its variations; thofe of the macrobiotic by general principles." This ingenious work is evidently intended rather for the public at large, than for the profeffion in particular: the author confiders the nature of life in an organized being; what is its effence, and what are its wants; he endeavours to discover under what circumstances the process can be haftened and fhortened, or retarded and prolonged. Dr. H. fuppoles that the duration of life, will, cæteris paribus, be proportionate, 1. to the innate quantity of vital power; 2. to the greater or lefs firmness of its organs; 3. to the speedier or flower confumption; and, 4. to the perfect or imperfect restoration, On each of thefe grounds feveral important conclufions are deduced, and rules laid down for the attainment of a healthful longevity. This work, though not containing much novelty of remark, is well worth perufal. The fame obfervation is applicable to Dr. BEDDOES' " Lectures, intraductory to a Courfe of popular Inftruction on the Conftitution and Management of the Hu man 502 Half-yearly Retrofpect of Domestic Literature. man Body." The object here, as in the former work, is to diminish the neceffity of medical affiitance, by ftripping the fcience of its robes of quakery, and by giving mankind fome plain and practical information on the nature of their own conftitution, and the means of preventing its premature decay. Dr. GARNETT's "Lectures on the Prefervation of health," is written with the fame benevolent defign, and contains much excellent advice. Not much is to be found in the "Practical Synopfis of the Materia Alimentaria and Materia Medica," which is not contained in other treatifes on the fame fubject: an ample and useful catalogue, however, is given of alimentary fubftances, with a defcription of their peculiar qualities, and the different modes of preparing them for food. A work of ingenuity is Dr. WILLAN'S "Defcription and Treatment of cutaneous Difeafes." After having commented on the uncertainty and confufion which the ancients appeared to have laboured under in refpect to cuticular difeafes, by their frequent ufe of the fame term to reprefent different affections, Dr. W. proceeds to state the defiderata, which he conceives ought to be attended to; these are, I, "to fix the fenfe of the terms employed by proper definitions; 2, to conftitute general divifions or orders of the diseases from leading and peculiar circumstances in their appearance; to range them into diftinct genera; and to defcribe at large their specific forms or varieties; 3, to claffify and give names to fuch as have not hitherto been fufficiently diftinguished; and, 4, to specify the mode of treatment for each difeafe." The whole of thefe difeafes, Dr. W. thinks, are comprehended in fix primary orders, namely, pimples, fcales, rafhes, veficles, tubercles, and fpots:' the orders branch into genera, fpecies, and varieties. Whether any objections lie against fo formal and fyftematic an arrangement, we are incompetent to offer an opinion. In order to convey diftin& ideas on the subject, it is the intention of Dr. W. to elucidate every genus by coloured engravings, reprefenting fome of its most striking varieties. The prefent interefting volume contains the first order, namely, "papulous eruptions on the fkin," with feven coloured plates. In Mr. WARE'S" Remarks on the Fiftula Lachymalis," he defcribes an operation which he has frequently performed with much eafe and fuccefs, and which is confiderably different from that in common. afe. Without the affiftance of a plate, the defcription would not be very intelligible: in this fmall pamphlet Mr. W. has of- mena Half-yearly Retrofpect of Domestic Literature. mena of organic action are produced, and the final caufe of animated exiftence attained throughout the univerfe." Upon thefe curious fubjects the author has befrowed a confiderable degree of attention. Mr. HUMPAGE, in his "Phyfiological Refearches," attempts to difprove the modern theory of abforption, by a diftinct fyftem of vessels, and substitutes the Boerhaavian doctrine of a fubordinate feries, too fmall to admit the red globules. Mr. H. confiders the brain to be one large lymphatic gland, fupplying nutrition to the fyftem, and the cerebellum to be the real origin of the nerves. Mr. H. if he has not fucceeded in flaying the dragon, has, at leaft, fhewn confiderable fkill in the combat. Dr. HOOPER has tranflated from the Latin of Mr. J. J. PLENCK, of Vienna, "The Hygrology, or Chemico-phyfiological Doctrine of the Fluids of the human Body!" Readers, this means, in plain words, a chemical analyfs of the fluids and humours of the human fyftem. Some farther explanation of the fubject is announced: the annunciation is not unneceffary; for the ufes to which this analyfis may be applied are not very obvious. Dr. HOOPER's tranflation of this work is by no means faultless: it is fometimes abfolutely unintelligible; which, however, may, in fome inftances, perhaps, be the cafe with its original. Mr. JOHN BELL has published the fecond vovolume of his Anatomy of the human Body." In this volume are given, with the fame clearnefs and precifion which diftinguifhed his former, the anatomy and phyfiology of the heart and arteries: much ufeful mater is introduced on the nature of refpiration, not merely as it is performed by man, but by other animals, fuch as birds, amphibia, fithes, and infects. The anatomy of the foetus is unfolded in a very interefting manner, together with the office of the placenta in the oxydation of foetal blood. It gives us great pleasure to obferve, that, like Dr. CURRIE, Mr. BELL is an enemy to the fcholaftic and unmeaning jargon which has to long been the pride of anatomifts, and the difgrace of their fcience: "it is high time, lays he, " to banish it from our fchools, and write in plain and fimple language, intelligible as well to the public at large, as the profeffion in particular." That man would perform an act of important fervice to the world who hould clear away the rubbish with which the fciences of chemistry, botahy, entomology, and natural history in general, are furrounded *. Mr. TURNEULL has Dr. PARRY, of Bath, has anticipated 503 tranflated from the French of Meffrs. Chopart and Default, "A Treatise on Chirurgical Difeafes, and on the Operations required in their Treatment." So far as it goes, this work is useful. Mr. JESSE FOOT's" Cafes of the fuccefsful Practice of Vefica Lotura in the Cure of difeafed Bladders," are certainly flattering to his mode of treatment; in thefe cafes, where there appears to have been a morbid irritability and contraction of the bladder, the plan of injecting it with a decoction of marth-mallows, was attended with fuccefs. Mr. SHELDRAKE'S "Practical Effay on the ClubFoot, and other Distortions in the Legs and Feet of Children," is a valuable work †. Mr. S. very properly advifes, that the cure of the former fhould be attempted as foon after birth as poffible; the muscles will otherwife improve in strength, and the diftorted bones in their offification; the cure will confequently be more painful and uncertain. Mr. SHELDRAKE'S fuccefsful treatment in thirty-one cafes, is attefted by perfons of fo much repectability, as to render the fact unquestionable. We flatter ourselves, that few readers will confider the space unreasonable, which we have allotted to the retrospect of publications in the department of that science, which has for its object fo grand an effential to the happiness of the human race, as the health of the human fyftem. proceed to the fubjects of THEOLOGY AND MORALS. We Dr. GEDDES has published the fecond volume of his new tranflation of the Holy Bible: the fame liberal independent ipirit which adorned the firf, is obfervable in the prefent; the Doctor's deviations are to abundant from the accepted verfion, and his fentiments, whether coincident or in oppofition to eftablished creeds, are delivered in fo manly, open, and unabashed a manner, that he mutt expect very copious torrents of calumny and abute, from many a ftupid and malignant bigot; the Dr.'s opinions on the fubject of inipiration, will expofe him to peculiar intult. Mr. BENJOIN has defended "The Integrity and Excellen e any remarks which we might poffibly have made, on the dogmatical and abufive laguage which occafionally debafes this ufetul work. In juftice to Dr. P. we folicit our readers to refer to page 348 of the pieleat volume of our Maga ine. For an account of Mr. SHELDRAKE'S truffes, and four plates illuftrative of their application, fee our Magazine, vol. iv. p. 215. of 504 Half-yearly Retrospect of Domeflic Literature. of Scripture," by a novel interpretation of Chrift, her doctrines are to be looked upon as infallible, and her ordinances to be held inviolate; according to Mr. DAUBENY, that man is a bad fubject and a bad chriftian, who bows not before the divinity of his church: fchifm is a damnable fin, and toleration a dangerous indulgence! Ergo-may all the cuifes of Ernulphus be poured upon the head of every ichifmatic and diffenter!" For my part," quoth my uncle Toby, "I could not have a heart to curfe my dog fo." Mr. DAUBENY, however, claims a much clofer affinity to Dr. Slop, than uncle Toby; peace and ecclefiaftical impotence reft with him! Near akin to this chriftian mutti, appears to be Mr. JONATHAN BOUCHER, who has given us "A View of the Caufes and Confequences of the American Revolution, in thirteen Difcourfes, preached in North America, between the years 1763 and 1775." The fame ranting nonfenfe which tyrants have always preached, and flaves have always listened to, about abfolute and unqualified fubmiffion to any established government whatever, is copioutly interlarded in thefe pompous pages: a long and tirefome preface introduces thefe difcourfes, wherein every one must be difgufted at the cavalier and contumelious manner, in which Mr. JONATHAN BOUCHER has conlefcended to. notice the works of thofe "party writers, deftitute of a fpirit of philofophical investigation," who have prefumed · to become hiftorians of the American revolt. How different in its temper and fpirit from the two preceding works, is Dr. GILBERT GERARD's fermon "On Indifference with refpect to religious Truth," preached before, and, very much to their credit, published by defire of, the Synod of Aberdeen. In this moft excellent fermon, not merely the right of private judgment, but the duty of free unfettered inquiry is peremptorily infifted on: "I would lay it down as a principle," fays Dr. G." that no man, or no body of men, has a right to impofe upon others, doctrines whofe truth they do not perceive. It is impoffible that all fhould be of the fame fentiments, and never seems to have been the design of our Maker. He loves variety in all his works." From Mr. PRATT'S" Profpe&tus of a new Polyglot Bible," it appears that he has undertaken a work of infinite magnitude and difficulty: to puriue the plan which is chalked out, demands the moft profound and various knowledge, the most unwearied diligence, and the most inflexible fidelity; it is intended to unite the it. : Half-yearly Retrospect of British Literature. 505 liberality which Dr. BLANEY opposes to the intemperance and acrimony of his antagonists, do him the greatest honour. "Three Sermons on a Future State," by Dr. SHEPHERD, archdeacon of Bedford, are written in a ferious and impreffive manner: in the first discourse, the various arguments are collected in favour of a future itate: in the fecond, is considered, with becoming diffidence, the probable nature of our happiness: and in the third, Dr. SHEPHERD has argued in favour of the opinion, that death is a change of exiftence, and not an annihilation of it. Mr. EYRE'S "Reply to the Rev. R. CHURTON," is conducted with great ability: Mr. CHURTON had attacked the catholic church, and endeavoured to establish the pretenfions of the church of England to an uninterrupted fucceffion of divinely appointed teachers and priests, from the apostles. A pretenfion fo arrogant, and to obviously untenable, is oppofed by Mr. EYRE, who has shown him felf to be a very powerful polemic. Mr. SIMPSON'S " Thoughts on the Novelty Excellence, and Evidence of the Chriftian Religion," is an elegant performance. the Hebrew text of the Old Teftament with the common English translation, the Greek feptuagint vertion, the Latin vulgate, and the Chaldee paraphrafes, in five parallel columns: below thefe, across the page, is to be given the Samaritan pentateuch in Hebrew characters; the plan for the New Testament is equally extenfive. Dr. HUNTINGFORD has published a fecond volume of " Difcourfes on different Subjects; the greater number of thefe difcouries, it is to be obferved, have a reference to the political tenets of the prefent day as may be expected, they are written in a style of claffical and dignified eloquence. An anonymous writer, of confiderable ability, has published "Remarks on Revelation and Infidelity:" a debating fociety is imagined at Edinburgh, in which a young infidel, Mr. Goodwill, attacks the commonly-received opinions, but after a fevere conteft, is converted by a man of learning and experience, Mr. Chriftian. Mr. BRYANSON BROMWICH, in his "Examination of the Doctrines of the Church of Rome," has difplayed grofs ignorance of the fubject on which he treats, and the most deteftable illiberality in his manner of treating Dr. GASKIN has edited two volumes of "Sermons, preached to Parochial Congregations, by the late Rev. Richard Southgate" to which is added a biographical preface, by the editor. Dr. PRICE preached his very excellent fermon at the Old Jewry, on the centenary of the Revolution of 1688; the whole church was indignant at the impiety of mingling politics with religion, and preaching the principles of liberty from the pulpit; fince his time, however, we have had innumerable opportunities of obferving, that the Dr.'s example, if not of preaching the principles of liberty from the pulpit, at leaft of mingling politics with religion, has been followed by thofe who moft loudly oppofed it. Mr. Southgate's fermons abound with political allufions: in one inftance (vol. ii. p. 334.) the acquittal of Meffrs. HARDY, THELWALL, &c. is adverted to with regret, and the criminal acclamations of the populace with feverity. Mr. Southgate's fermons contain much good fenfe, and his notions of toleration occafionally exhibit him in an amiable point of view. The learned Dr. BLANEY's new tranflation of "Zachariah," is accompanied with notes, critical, philological, and explanatory: an appendix is added, in reply to Dr. EVELEIGH, and a differtation on Daniel ix, 20, to the end. The candour and An enumeration of all the fingle fermons which have been published in the courfe of the laft fix months, would occupy a great deal more room than most of our readers would think neceffary to devote to the fubject: to felect a few of the beft, and a few of the worft, will be amply fufficient. We fcarcely ever perufed a fermon with more pleafure, than Mr. ARCHARD'S "Philofophical Difcourfe on Providente: addreed to the Modern Philofophers of Great Britain;" the diffi culties of difcuffing the question of a moral providence upon philofophical principles, are stated with unusual energy and acuteness; and the impotence of folitary unaffifted reafon to difcover the moral government and providence of God, is illuftrated in a ftrain of impreffive eloquence. Among the many fermons, preached on the general thanksgiving day (Dec. 19, 1797), that delivered before his majety at St. Paul's, by the learned Bishop of LINCOLN, muft not be forgotten. The reverend prelate feems proud of the humility of his fellow-countrymen : "while our enemies," fays he, have infulted the majesty of heaven, we have humbled ourfelves before our God, and acknowledged our tranfgreffions." The humility of a royal proceffion to St. Paul's, where ten thoufand diamonds fparkled in the fun, and each fair damfel vied with her rival neighbour in the coftliness, the profufio |