troduced two preparations of the medicine into the last edition of their pharmacopoeia, and we doubt not that they will prove efficacious in many cases Mr. Freake has adduced some additional instances of the success of the remedy, one of which we quote as a specimen.

April 13, 1806. This day I was sent for to a gentleman 46 years of age, much troubled with Gout. I found him on a sofa complaining of violent pain in his left ancle, which was swelled but did not appear inflamed, tongue white, pulse 96, skin hot and dry, his nights were restless, and his spirits very low. He had a violent shock the preceding day from being thrown out of a chaise, by which accident he had a slight contusion in his right knee, yet he was able to use considerable exertion in the evening, and did not feel pain or uneasiness in the left ancle until this morning. He had not long recovered from a fit of Gout, which had confined him for some time, as it usually had done two or three times

in each preceding year. I directed for him some aperient medicine, and then gave him the Humulus with saline draughts; these had the usual effect of throwing off more Gout, promoting perspiration, procuring rest, and keeping the bowels gently open, at the same time lessening the frequency of the pulse. The symptoms varied occasionally, Gout attacked different limbs, and afterwards subsided kindly; the patient now took the medicines regularly, without the saline, and amended so ra pidly, that on the

19th, I was able to declare him in a convalescent state; the bowels were not now sufficiently active, therefore I ordered an aperient draught, which procured three motions, and on the

20th, When I called, my patient informed me he was better in every respect, that he was happy to say, I had done him a great deal of good. He had slept well, his tongue was clear, pulse 76, his appetite had increased, and his spirits wère very much improved, the swelling and inflammation had subsided, and he had got on his small gout shoes, and was able to use considerable exertion: the medicines were continued.

27th, Last night he was in such health and spirits, that he exerted himself with increased agility, and unfortunately strained the instep of his left leg, which occasioned considerable uneasiness and pain, and brought on fever, which, by the addition of saturated lemon juice to his Humulus medicine, he was relieved from on the following day.

28th, He is now considerably better, and has gone through a very fatiguing evening. The medicines were repeated.

30th, Ordered the draught and pills to be taken only at bed time. May 3. This day, I received the thanks of my patient and his wife, on his being restored to better health than he had experienced for many months past.

7th, I called to see my patient, who remained well, but had not fortitude sufficient to persevere with the medicine when out of pain. He, however, was free from Gout for nearly eighteen months.

By persevering for some time in the use of the remedy, after the complaint is removed, its future accessions have been rendered less violent, till at length, the patient has become

altogether

altogether free from the disorder. Mr. Freake gives the following directions for administering the medicine.

DIRECTIONS.

In acute Gout, after the bowels have been cleared, the patient cannot too soon begin the use of the Humulus. Ten grains of extract should be formed into pills, with rhubarb and ginger for a dose; a drachm of the tincture should be added to a saline draught to be taken after the pills, or the pills may be dissolved in the draught; this draught with the pills should be repeated every four hours, and double the quantity of extract and tincture may be put into the night draught if the symptoms are urgent.

The medicine thus administered, has in general given relief in one, two, or three nights. This plan must be continued every four or six hours, while fever is present; after which the saline may be lessened, as well as the number of doses of the Humulus for a few days. A decoction of the Peruvian or Cascarilla bark may then be substituted for the saline draught, and continued two or three times a day, until 'strength is regained, or for about a fortnight after the symptoms of Gout have subsided. In some cases, when I could not prevail on my patient to take the number of doses, I have made the medicines proportionably stronger, and given them less frequently, allowing a drachm of the extract, and six drachms of the tincture in each twenty-four hours, as the extent of quantity.

The regimen in acute Gout should be similar to that recommended in inflammatory fever.

Attention must be paid to keep the bowels gently open, if the medicine is not sufficient for that purpose.

The above plan has succeeded in acute Rheumatism, assisted by the lancet when needful, and occasionally repeating the aperient medicine. In chronic Gout the medicines must be given in a very different manner, and for a much longer time, for two or three months at least, so that whatever Gout is in the system may be thrown off.

Some geatle aperient medicine must also be taken previous to the administration f the Humulus in chronic Gout, and when that has ope rated, two drach.ns of the tincture and twenty grains of the extract must be taken at two doses, viz. at night and at noon, (in pills, with draughts or mixtures) daily for the first month, three drachms and thirty grains for the second month, and two drachms and twenty grains for the third month, which quantity in general will be amply sufficient to strengthen the system, and expel all the present Gout. At any future time, when more Gout is generated, and accumulates sufficiently to produce a paroxysm, attended with fever, pain, and inflammation in the affected part, it must be treated as acute Gout, bat it will seldom last many days if attended to directly.

Whatever sufferings patients may have endured, when restored to health, they are too apt to be negligent with respect to keeping the bowels clear from crudities, that may gradually collect; therefore, I strongly recommend persons who are subject to Gouty affections, never to fail, however healthy they may appear, taking an aperient draught or

Z 2

pills

pills every month or six weeks, as from experience I am convinced, that a paroxysm of Gout has often been prevented by such attention.

The regimen to be observed by persons suffering from chronic Gout will of course vary, according to the symptoms and constitution, as well as habits of the patient, which being known, can best be regulated by the attending medical gentleman. All however should attentively observe moderation, and cautiously avoid excess of every kind.

Those patients who have suffered from chronic rheumatism, have generally been relieved by the plan above directed.

Memoirs of the Life of THOMAS BEDDOES, M. D. with an analytical Account of his Writings. By JOHN EDMONDS. STOCK, M. D. &c. &c. 4to. pp. 413. Murray. 1811. ·

WITHOUT preface or comment, we shall present our Readers with the most interesting particulars of this valuable work; not doubting but they will be gratified with the memoirs of a man, whose serious hours were intensely devoted to the attainment and propagation of medical science; whilst his lighter moments were happily directed to the cultivation of polite literature.

Thomas Beddoes was born of respectable parents, at Shiffnall, on the 13th day of April, 1760. He received the first rudiments of his education at a school in his native town, and from thence was removed to a seminary at Brood, in Staffordshire. He read perfectly well when five years old. An insatiable thirst for books, and a disinclination to partake of the usual amusements of children of his own age, characterized his infant years. At the age of nine, he was placed at the free grammar-school in Bridgnorth, where he remained nearly four years; and made considerable progress in classical learning. He did not participate in the amusements of his young associates; but in the season allotted to recreation, was accustomed to walk round the play-ground with an air of thought and reflection which frequently excited the attention of his playful companions, who wondered why he was always thinking."

Upon leaving this seminary he was placed under the tuition of an eminent scholar, the Rev. Samuel Dickenson, Rector of Plymhill, in Staffordshire, to be prepared for the University. Mr. Dickenson remarked, that whilst under his care voung Beddoes was so intent upon literary pursuits, and especially classical learning, that he never devoted a single hour to diversions or frivolous amusements of any kind, whilst his moral conduct was irreproachable.

In 1776, he entered at Pembroke College, Oxford; conti

pued

nued his habits of unremitting application, and soon established his reputation as a classical scholar. He acquired a competent knowledge of the French, German, and Italian languages, without the aid of a master. Having received a bias at his early age for the medical profession, he began to cultivate chemistry with ardour. The discoveries made about that period, by Black, and by Priestley, powerfully impressed his mind. He studied the subject decply, and soon became acquainted with all that was known of pneumatic chemistry. He then proceeded to the study of mineralogy and of botany, and in both made rapid advances.

"His vacations at this period were generally spent in Shropshire, and he devoted much of his time to shooting and whist. To both these amusements he was equally partial. In his long morning rambles with his gun, he was accustomed to unite scientific research with his amusements. He explored every recess of the most rugged mountains; he searched every dell, and seldom returned home without his pockets filled with mineralogical or botanical specimens. As a whist-player, he was in much request: he was supposed to play that game as well as almost any man in England. He sometimes on these occasions amused his friends by a surprising effort of memory. He would relate, at the termination of a game, the exact order in which all the cards were placed, and particularize who had played them." P. 10.

In the year 1781, having taken his degree of Bachelor of Arts, Mr. Beddoes repaired to London, and entered upon the study of anatomy under the celebrated Sheldon. Having diligently dissected and acquired a knowledge of physi ology, he attended the classes of the most distinguished lecturers in the metropolis, in other branches of the profession. About this period he executed a spirited translation of the physiological dissertations of Spallanzani. In a second edition, he added several observations of his own, and experiments instituted by others to illustrate the subjects treated of in the work.

He took his Master of Arts degree in 1783, and in the autumn of the following year proceeded to Edinburgh, and continued, during three successive winters and one summer, to prosecute his studies in the celebrated medical school of that city.

He soon distinguished himself in the Royal Medical, and Natural History Societies; of both of which he was elected President in the ensuing session.

In 1786, he returned to Oxford, and was admitted Doctor. of Medicine on the 13th of December. In the spring, howeyer, he again visited Edinburgh, where he remained some months, and afterwards made an excursion to the Highlands, during which he amused himself in botanizing and in collecting mineralogical specimens, Whilst on this tour, he acci

dentally.

dentally witnessed the beneficial effects of cold immersion in fever. Before ascending the mountain Schehallien, he had prescribed for a young woman labouring under a low fever then prevalent in the country, and which had in her case manifested symptoms of peculiar violence.

"On his return he was surprised to find her fever subdued, and no traces of indisposition remaining except weakness. It appeared that in her delirium she had uttered a wish for cold water, which being refused her, she had crawled, during the absence of her attendant, to the brink of an adjoining river; from which she immediately, perceived a herd of cattle, with the drovers at some distance, on their way to cross the bridge. The sight induced her to make for the water, in hopes of concealing her nakedness. She waded up to her middle, and leaned against a fragment of rock; nor was it till one of the drovers turned his horse towards the inn, that she was discovered in this position; and it was believed that she had occupied it not less than five minutes. Her delirium was gone, and the symptoms of fever had quitted her.". P. 16.

In the autumn of this year Dr. B. visited the Continent, and associated with Guyton de Morveau and Lavoisier. Shortly after his return, he obtained the chemical lectureship at Oxford.

His acquaintance with Dr. Darwin, about this period, is thus introduced by our biographer.

"A congenial spirit of philosophical inquiry, and a corresponding ardour for the improvement of medicine, procured for him the distinguishing notice and regard of this truly illustrious medical philosopher. A frequent and friendly epistolary intercourse was kept up between them, confined chiefly to medical and philosophical subjects. In the course of it, it appears that the proof sheets of Zoonomia were regularly sent to Dr. Beddoes, and his opinions and criticisms were freely invited by the author. They seem to have been communicated with the same candour with which they had been solicited. He was not afraid to use the language of commendation, for the intrinsic merit of the work repelled the suspicion of flattery, and he offered his objections with as little reserve, because truth was the object of both."-P. 19-20.

It will readily be supposed that when Dr. Beddoes under took to read lectures on chemistry at Oxford, he was not an idle occupant of the chair. In a letter to a friend he ex presses the gratification he felt at the success of his lectures. He observes, "that they were attended by a full and over flowing audience, and that "the interest for scientific re searches was not confined to the younger members of the University only." One of his pupils and friends, who was long connected with Oxford, speaks of the effect of his lectures in the following terms:

"The time of Dr. Beddoes' residence in Oxford was a brilliant one in the annals of the University. Science was cultivated more than it has been since, and I believe that I may say the same of the period