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of the Chinese radish, which has, of late, been cultivated there with great success. The oil of this plant is represented to be superior to any yet known, not merely for the table, but for burning, and many medical purposes.

Mr. Stevenson has made some important improvements in the treatment of blear-eye, by which he is enabled to effect a very speedy and ra dical cure, with scarcely any pain to the patient. We hope soon to have an opportunity of stating the particulars of this improvement in the treatment of this obstinate and distressing disease.

Test for the Discovery of Sulphuric Acid in Vinegar.

The Acetite of Barytes is a most delicate test for the detection of this sophistication. Upon the application of a small quantity of this acetite to vinegar thus adulterated, a copious insoluble sediment is immediately precipitated.

Mr. James Ward, an eminent artist, residing in Newman-street, is engaged in etching the portraits of Mary Thomas, the fasting woman of North Wales; and of Ann Moor, of Tutbury, who has likewise lived a long time without taking nutriment. These portraits will be published early in the spring, and are now in sufficient forwardness, to manifest all that spirit and freedom which renders the etching of painters so peculiarly valuable. Notices of these two women, so remarkable by the circumstance of their continuing to exist for so long a time, literally with out food, will be found in the preceding volumes of this Journal. Ward proposes to publish with these portraits, the fac simile of a letter written during sleep. Connected with this letter, which was written by a person named Bush, will be given some surprising facts respecting the operation of the intellectual principle during the period of sleep; and which add considerably to the stock of materials that at present constitute the history of somnambulism.

Mr.

Charles Wilkinson, Esq. after a series of observations, made during everal years, on the Influence which the Moon has upon the Atmos. phere of this Earth, gives the result of those observations in the following TABLE, the calculations in which, we are assured by him, are sufficiently near to the truth, to ascertain, generally, what weather will follow the times of the changes in that Planet, as there specified. The effect resulting from every individual change in the Moon, occupies the space of time up to the next change, so that each prognostication continues in force for eight days. If a more extended observation, and the experience of successive years should support these conclusions, great benefit will arise to Agriculture, various rural employments, and matitime affairs.

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THE disappearance of the Swallow Tribe in the Autumn has always excited the attention of naturalists. Various hypotheses have been formed to account for this fact. That they either migrate from, or hibernate in this country, is certain: but which of the two still divides opinion.

Mr. Foster has lately printed (Phil. Mag. October 1810) some ob servations on the hirundines of this country, in favour of migration.

The Swift (Hirundo apus Lin. Martinet noir, Buff.) which abounds, he says, in the neighbourhood of Hackney, and annually builds in greats numbers in the old steeple, was not seen after the 13th of August: several days after this (on the 17th) Mr. Foster being at Ely, saw great numbers of this kind flying round the tower of the cathedral; after which not a singel bird was seen.

In consequence of the controversy so long carried on among naturalists, whether the swallow was a bird of passage, or whether it remained dormant, during the winter, Mr. Foster opened several holes of the sand martin (Hirundo riparia, Lin.-L'Hirondelle de rivage, Buff.) but found nothing in them but toads, which had there taken up their winter lodging. There are many circumstances which tend greatly to establish the opinion, that these birds migrate: for instance, they do not appear in spring and depart in autumn sooner or later according to

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the forwardness or backwardness of the season, but generally according to the direction of the prevailing current of air. The prevalence of N. E winds occasioned a very great diminution of the numbers of swallows and mar tins, this year, before their usual time; whence it may be inferred that they had taken their flight in a south-western direction. The winged insects (the food of this tribe) were very abundant, when this migration took place. Many proofs that swallows hybernate in the countries where they have been seen in the summer, are to be gathered from the ancients. Olaus Magnus and Scheffer, in a letter to Hevelius, affirm, that, in some northerly countries, it is very common for fishermen to find in the water large clusters of swallows, which in the beginning of the Autumn had thus piled themselves up. Kircher, in Mund, Subterran lib. 8. Sect. 4. observes, that some Swallows migrate, whilst those in cold countries conceal themselves in caves, lakes, hollow trees, &c. Fortunus Licetus affirms, that the Swallows which in Summer build their nests on the tops of houses towards the end of September plunge into ditches and rivers, and remain till the middle of May. Huet, archbishop of Avranches, informs us, that between Caen and the sea, along the shore of the river Orne, large clusters of swallows are found in the Winter suspended in the caves like bunches of grapes, Pedo Albinovanus, in his elegy on the death of Mecenas, speaks of the retreat of the Swallows to the rocks, as an infallible sign of the approach of winter.

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Congelantur aquæ, scopulis se condit hirundo
Verberat e gelidas garrula vere lacus."

Various other writers might be quoted in support of these facts.

The following intelligence from Dublin, from unquestionable authority, proves that the state of medical education in the sister kingdom is rapidly advancing.

The College of Surgeons is now completed, and will, when some proposed additions are made to the anatomical department, excell any thing of the kind in the Empire. The present dissecting room is inadequate to accommodate a class which, last season, amounted to more than three hundred students, and which has been rapidly increasing for four years past. The facility with which dead bodies are procured here, and the indifference with which all classes of the people look upon the business of dissection, give us advantages which, as far as I can learn, are not enjoyed to the same extent in the schools of either London.or Edinburgh, so that we have every reason to believe that Dublin, in a few years, will have established a character of respectability for Anatomical Instruction.

The School of Physic too in this city, is likely to become conspicuous. A very magnificent Clinical Hospital is now almost finished, which will be a great acquisition to the Students, and will enable our own countrymen to graduate here, without going to the expence and inconvenience of a journey to Edinburgh."

Mr. George Graves, nephew of the late ingenious and accurate Bota pist, William Curtis, is engaged in a work on British Ornithology. It is inter de to publish this work in numbers, each of which is to contain six coloured Engravings. Copious descriptions will be given of the (No. 143.) peculiar

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peculiar manners of each species of British Birds, the modes of nidification, generic and specific character, with other particulars, illustrative of their habits. Such birds as have been domesticated, though originally foreign, will be placed in an Appendix, making a part of the fourth or last volume. The work is in such forwardness as to insure an immediate publication of the first number.

When we are informed that the plan of the work was projected by the scientific Author of the FLORA LONDINENSIS, and that many of the Drawings were executed under his care, and that Mr. Graves is actuated by the same ardent desire to improve Natural History, that his late relation possessed, we cannot doubt, but this work will be highly acceptable to the Ornithologist.

Anatomical Theatre, Bristol. Mr. Shute will commence his Spring course of Lectures on Anatomy, Physiology, and the principles of, and operations in Surgery, on Saturday the 12th of January, at eight o'clock in the morning. Park-street, December 21st, 1810.

Dr. Buxton will commence his Spring Course of Lectures on the Practice of Medicine, about the 20th of January, 1811, at the London Hospital.

Lectures on Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, and Surgery, by Mr. John Taunton, Member of the Royal College of Surgeons of London, Surgeon to the City and Finsbury Dispensaries, City Truss Society, &c.,

In this Course of Lectures it is proposed to take a comprehensive view of the structure and economy of the living body, and to con sider the causes, symptoms, nature, and treatment of surgical diseases, with the mode of performing the different surgical operations; forming a complete course of anatomical and physiological instruction for the medical or surgical student, the artist, the professional or private gentleman.

An ample field for professional edification will be afforded by the opportunity which pupils may have of attending the clinical and other practice of both the City and Finsbury Dispensaries.

The Spring course will commence on Saturday, January the 12th, 1811, at eight o'clock in the evening, precisely, and to be continued very Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, at the same hour.

Particulars may be had on applying to Mr. Taunton, Grevillestreet, Hatton Garden.

J

Theatre of Anatomy, Blenheim-street, Great Marlborough-street. The Spring Course of Lectures on Anatomy, Physiology, and Surgery, will be commenced on Monday, the 21st of January, at two o'clock, by Mr. Brookes.

Spacious Apartments, thoroughly ventilated, and replete with every convenience, are open all the Morning for the purposes of

Dissecting

Dissecting and Injecting, where Mr. Brookes attends to direct the Students, and demonstrate the various parts as they appear on Dis.

section.

In the beginning of January Dr. Adams will commence his Course of Lectures on the Institutes and Practice of Medicine at his house, No. 17, Hatton Garden; to be continued every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, at ten o'clock in the morning.

Mr. Joseph Murphy, surgeon, in a few days will publish a Natural History of the human Teeth, with a treatise on their Diseases from infancy to old age, adapted for general information: to which are added Observations on the Physiognomy of the Teeth and projecting Chin.

The following Letter was received too late to be inserted in its proper place.

GENTLEMEN,

IN the life of Dr. Beddoes, lately published by me, an accidental error has been detected, which I should be happy to avail myself of the medium of your journal to correct.

From the account given at page 389, it would appear as if Dr. Craufuird had expressed a wish that further advice should be called in, when the alarming change had already taken place, which so shortly preceded Dr. Beddoes's dissolution. The fact, however, is, as I have since been informed, that this wish was expressed, not by Dr. Craufuird, but by some members of the family, and though complied with on his part, was accompanied by a remark that it must necessarily be useless. I remain, Gentlemen, Your very humble Servant, J. E. STOCK.

Bristol, Dec. 1810.

MONTHLY CATALOGUE OF NEW MEDICAL PUB.

LICATIONS.

On Diseases of the Generative System; with twelve plates. By John Roberton. 8vo. Highley.

The Anatomy of the Human Bones and Nerves. By Alexander Monro, M. D. Highley,

Observations on the Natural History, Climate, and Diseases of Madeira, during a period of eighteen years. By William Gourlay, M. D. Callow.

Practical Observations on the Sclerocele, and other Morbid En. largements of the Testicle, also on the cause and cure of the Acute, the Spurious, and the Chronic Hydrocele. The whole illustrated by cases, to which are added four cases of operations for ancurism, subclavian, femoral, popliteal, and femoral-popliteal, with Practical Remarks, and Plates. By Thomas Ramsden. 8vo. Wilkie and Robinson.

Memoirs of the Life of Thomas Beddoes, M. D. with an Analy til account of his Writings. By John Edmonds Stock, M. D. 4. Murray.

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