"The Effays which are deftined to compofe the next volume (many of which are already in great forward nefs) are all on practical fubjects of a popular nature, and of general utility; and on that account it was judged beft to keep them feparate from thofe contained in this volume, which partake more of the nature of abftrufe philofophical 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 courfe of a few months." ART. 30. Tables for accurately ascertaining, by Weight or Measure, the Strength of Spirituous Liquors, from 30° to 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. 1798. 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 Tranfactions; after which, he defcribes, with fufficient minutenefs and perfpicuity, not only the ufe of the tables, but likewife the nature and the ufe of the inftruments; as well as various other articies, 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 allo gives the principal arithmetical rules that may be neceffary for the calculation of whatever belongs to the fubject; and illustrates 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 standard 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 meafure, contained in 100 parts of the compound and likewife 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. Aaaz 4th, 4th." A Table of Troy and Avoirdupois Weights," which reCcs all the fubdivifions of the pound to the general denomination of grains. , and laftly, a fhort Table, Comparing the quantity of fpirit of wine per cent, conformable to Clarke's Hydromster, and the coinpound lard fpirit, wherewith the inftrument nearly correfponded by experiment." Notwithstanding a better arrangement of the materials of the Introduction, might be withed by the reader, we look upon this publication as a very comprehensive 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 celibrated Jihu Bronon, M. D. with an Artempt to correct fome important Errors of that Work. Ard Cafes in Illuftration, chiefly jeleted from the Records of their Practice, at the General Hospital at Calcutta. By William Yeates and Charles Maclean. To which is jubjoined, a Treatife on the Action of Mercury upon living Bodies, and its Application for the Cure of Diseases of indirect Debility; and a Differtation on the Source of epidemic and peffi lental Difeafes, in which is attempted to prove, by a numerous Indiction of Facts, that they never arije from Contagion, but are always produced by certain States, or certain Viciffitudes of the Atmosphere. By Charles Machan, of Calcutta, 8vo. 230 pp. 58. Philadelphia. 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 iytem is developed, and its deformity expofed; for if the practice recommended in this work, is founded on that fyftem, it cannot be reproved in terms too fevere. In proof of this, we shall give an abridg. inent of the first cafe we meet with in the volume. Francis Lote, aged 35, was admitted into the Hofpital at Calcutta, on the aft of May, 1796, his complaint, pains over the whole body, with fymptoms thar indicated an exhaufted constitution. 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, doubtiefs from the fame caufe. Opium was now given, we are told, and continued to the ad of June, when his complaints are faid to have been much relieved. On the 21th of Auguft, he again fell under. the care of this au hor, in a fate of extreme debility, with exceffive rurging, and bloody ftools. He had continued, during the whole time, in the hofpital, but under the care of other gentlewen. Eighty drops of the tincture of opium were directed to be given night and roming each day. Augutt 24th, five hundred and forty drops were given in draughts in the course of this day, and 200 drops in a clyfter; 25th, 200 crops in a cliter every three hours, and 150 drops in a draught at night; 26th, the clyfters continued, the draughts three times in the day; at mine in the evening of this day, a clyter with 400 drops of tincture of opium, and a fourth draught with zoo 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 5co drops of laudanum to be given every hour; and continu d every hour or two until the 2nd of September, when 500 drops of laudanu ʼn were directed to be given in a draught, and to he 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 clyfters were directed to be continued occafionally. On the 30th, he is faid to have had only two stools, but without pain, and to feel his appetite returning. W. have not taken the trouble to calculate the quantity of op'um, here fuppofed to be given, as it feems incredible that any human confti, tution fhould be able to bear fuch enormous dofes. That they were taken seems also doubtful, as the writer fays, p. 59, "From the good fenfe and punctuary of the patient, I have a perfect reliance upon bis having conformed to my orders, in every particular, as far as it is poffible for patients in an hofpital to do." It should be added, that The author jays, in the fane 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 landanum. The quantity of opium contained in the tincture here used, is also left uncertain. "It fhould be opforved," the author fays, p. 60, “ in order to prevent a rash imitation, where the circumftances are not alike, that the tincture of opium cuploved upon this occafion, was much weaker than what is ufually made io Europe; that a very great degree of exhauttion had taken place, and that the dofes were gradually increafed, from eighty drops to five hundred." In an another part of the volu ne, Mr. Maclean defcribes the tincture as containing one-third lefs than that directed by the college. But this still leaves the dofes enormouil, large. It may be worth the while of the inventors and favourers of new doctrines in medicine, to confider, that while they perhass only mean to advertise them into a degree of celebrity, and have prudence enough to use their medicines cau ioufly, 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 boated in their publications, may be induced to place grearer dependence on them, or to ufe them in a more hold and hardy manner, and thence occafion dreadful mifchief to thofe who put themselves under their management. It certainly would be right in medicine, as well as in politics, not to forfake, and totally abolith me old fytten, by which uch good, if not all that is potlible is done, until we have had opportunity of fully afcertaining the value of that we mean to fubftitnte in its place, which must require m ch time for inveftigation and experiment. Partial changes may in the mean time be made, provided they be introduced cautioufly and leisurely, and then left to anix and incorporate with the exifting fyftem, before any fur her 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. ART. 32. A Lecture on the Situation of the large Blood Veffels of the Extremities; and the Methods of making effectual pressure on the Arteries, in Cafes of dangerous Effufions of Blood from Wounds, delivered to the Scholars of the late Maritime School at Chelsea, and firft printed for their Ufe. Third Edition. To which is now added, a brief Explanation 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, shows the method of ftopping a hemorrhage, 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 neccflary 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 defcription, the author has added an engraved figure, on which the courfe of thefe veffels is delineated. Then follows an ingenious expofition of the nature and treatment 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 shall therefore content ourfelves with recommending it to the notice of furgeons, particularly thofe of the army and navy, to whose ufe it is in a peculiar manner dedicated. ART. 33. A few General Rules and Inftructions, very necessary to be attended to by those of both Sexes, who are offlicted 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 feems, that one perfon of every ten, is afflicted with rupture, of one species 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 observed 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. 8vo. ART. 34. A Charge delivered to the Clergy of Llandaff, in June 1798. by R. Watjon, D,D. F.R.S. Bishop of Llandaff. 34 PP. 15. Faulder. 1798. With refpect to this Charge, we shall 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; yet on reading it we find the matter of it much too excellent, and the expreffions much too foreible 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 molt ufeful and excellent Supplement, and in that light, fhall hold it as a point of indifpenfable duty to give it all the celebrity it is pof fible for our labours to confer. 39 (To be reviewed at large in our next.} ART. 35. The Tochn; or, Ax Appeal to good Senfe. By the Rev. L. Dutens, Hiftoriographer to his Majefty, Rector of Elfiton in Northamberland, and F. R. S. Tranflated from the French by the Rev. Thomas Falconer. 8vo. 59 pp. 15. 6d. Cadell and Davies. 1798. The original of this work, we are told in the Advertisement, was publifhed at Rome in the year 1769, in French. It appears to have been defigned as a proteft against the blafphemies of Voltaire and his foilowers, and is very properly tranflated and re-publifhed at this period, when the confequences of their pernicious writings are fo fenfibly felt throughout Europe. The author first 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 deftroy Christianity; particularly Routeau and Voltaire. On the latter of thefe he is very juttly fevere, and relates an anecdote that ftrongly marks his abandoned profligacy, and the meanness 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 glafs of wine to thofe who replied in the negative, he threatened to dif mifs one who hesitated to fecond his malicious zeal." To the authority of this vain and fuperficial, though witty, philofopher, he oppofes a catalogue of fome of the wifeft and moft diftinguished men in modern times, who have gloried in profeffing or defending Chriftianity. He alfo gives fome ufeful hints for the behaviour of thofe chriftians who may fall into the fociety of infidels, and he briefly but fenfibly fuggefts the proper arguments against the different species of them, namely, Arbrifis, 66 Thrifts |