ye do not the things that I say, men cannot know that ye are Christ's disciples indeed. If, classing yourselves among his disciples, ye will not listen to one of the most prominent lessons of his law, how true is your master's declaration, "Narrow is the way that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

And would to God that the times were such that all men would be at peace with one another, that our enemies would be at peace with us, and that we could be so far of one mind in one house, that the wisdom of our governors could find it safe and prudent to remove all such invidious distinctions, which I have for years taught myself to believe rather tended to the promotion of discord than to the establishment of peace. P. xxi.

ART. 27.-The Anniversary Sermon of the Royal Humane Society, preached at the Parish Churches of Kensington, April 19, and of St. Lawrence, Reading, June 17, 1801. By W. Langford, D. D. &c. Dedicated (by Permission) to his Majesty, and published for the Benefit of the Charity.—An Appendix by the Society, on shipwrecked Mariners, Resuscitation, &c. 8vo. Is. Rivingtons. 1801.

Every friend to humanity must wish well to the society before whom this sermon was preached. It contains some affecting senti ments on the modes of death which fall under the notice of the society. In the Appendix are given directions for the recovery of persons apparently dead; and with pleasure we read, that by means of this institution two thousand five hundred and eighty-nine persons have been restored to life, to their parents, to their families, and to the state.' Subscriptions are received by the following bankers: Baron Dimsdale and Sons; Barnard and Son; Down, Thornton, and Free; Drummonds; Fuller, Chatteris, and Co.; Dr. Fothergill, Bath; and Dr. Haweis, treasurer, N° 8, Spital-square. Several of our readers will, we are persuaded, avail themselves of this informa. tion; and it must ever be a satisfaction to us to be in any degree instrumental in promoting the useful designs of so laudable an institu tion.

ART. 28.-Address to the Inhabitants of the United Kingdom of GreatBritain and Ireland, on the Termination of the War with France. By the Rev. Thomas Robinson, A. M. &c. 8vo. 4d. Rivingtons.

1801.

Pious reflexions on the approach of peace.-The prospects presented to us of the future will, we hope, be realised. We may fairly calculate,' says our author, upon a considerable reduction of expense, and the removal of some heavy burdens, which the country indeed has borne with a patriotic cheerfulness, but not without painful exertions and sacrifices of private comfort.' But if the writer expect rather too much, his reflexions on past transactions deserve attention; and of several of our more brilliant successes he thus speaks:- Alas! how often have our victories been celebrated in such a way, as if we worshipped the heathen deities, and not the God of Christians !'

ART. 29.-A Sermon preached before the worshipful the Mayor, &c. of the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, on Friday the 13th Day of February, 1801, being the Day appointed by his Majesty for a general Fast. By the Rev. William Stow Lundie, B.A. 4to. Is. Law.

Among a variety of topics selected for the meditation of the mayor, &c. of the town of Berwick, the union with Ireland holds a distinguished place; and on other accounts also this may be ranked among those political sermons which, if they must be pronounced from the pulpit, we never wish to see spring up from the

press.

ART. 30.-A Sermon preached at the Octagon Chapel, Bath, on Sunday, April 26, 1801, on returning Thanks for his Majesty's Recovery from a dangerous Sickness. By the Rev. John Gardiner, D.D. &c. 8vo. Is. 6d. Robinsons. 1801.

A panegyric on the king, which, however well deserved, is not suited to the pulpit. The praises bestowed on a living monarch in an elaborate oration can seldom be free from the imputation of flattery.

ART. 31.-A Sermon preached in the Parish Church of Dudley, on Friday, February 13th, 1801, the Day appointed for a general Fast; containing an Address to British Soldiers, (a respectable Body of whom being then present,) by the Rev. L. Booker, LL.D. Published, by Request, for the Benefit of the Soup Charity in the said Parish, and dedicated, with Permission, to his Royal Highness the Duke of York. Svo. Is. West and Hughes. 1801.

The critical reader will be pleased candidly to regard the discourse as a composition not originally meant to meet the public eye, and to ascribe its imperfections rather to the understanding than the heart.'

MEDICINE, &c.

ART. 32.—A Treatise on the new-discovered Dropsy of the Membranes of the Brain, and Watery Head of Children; proving that it may be frequently cured, if early discovered. With Objections to Vomits, &c. 3. To which are added, Observations on Errors in Nursing; on the Diseases of Children, their Treatment, Sc. proper for the Contemplation of Parents. By William Rowley, M.D. &c. 8vo. Murray and Highley. 1801.

25.

This newly-discovered disease is only the hydrocephalus externus, the accumulation of water existing between the arachnoid membrane and the pia mater. This membrane is very inconsiderable in bulk and contexture; indeed scarcely more than a cellular texture connecting the dura and pia mater. The whole is displayed with great pomp, and the distinction ostentatiously expanded. The latter however is sufficiently clear, from what has been said of the hydrocephalus internus; for, unfortunately, there are no symptoms of distinction between these two diseases; though the enlarged sutures, the extended fontanelle, and the particular fluctuation felt there,

will distinguish the dropsy of the membranes from that of the ventricles.

The cure is detailed with equal pomp: but we shall transcribe the indications, which will give a sufficient idea of the author's plan. The rational indications of cure, from what has been premised, appeared to be the following:

1. To attract and evacuate fluids from the exhalants of the most contiguous parts, by means of blisters, to the sutures and whole hairy scalp, according to the exigency of the case, and to continue the discharge copiously.

2. To promote perspiration, and stimulate the absorbents by calomel and antimony, and keep the body warm.

3. To act upon the torpid enervated stomach and intestines, and occasionally to evacuate serum by mercurial and stimulating cathartics.

4. To impart tone and vigor to the debilitated habit by tonics of bark, steel, vitriolated zinc, acid, or sweet elixir of vitriol.

5. The instituting a very dry diet, that the corroborating effects of the tonics may not be counteracted and defeated, by diluting drinks or slops, tea, &c.

6. After the cure to still continue the tonics, dry nourishing diet, and warm clothing, to prevent a future relapse.' P. 22.

This plan differs little from that of the case of hydrocephalus internus, only that the blisters to the sutures may in this last disease be omitted. If the dropsy of the brain be ever cured, it is, we believe, by the tonic plan, with small doses of calomel, leaving the rest to the simple powers of nature. We have cured many so; though, in our younger days, we were more fond of a variety of medicines.

The observations on nursing contain some good remarks, joined with a number of strange fancies. Among the latter we reckon the opinions, that suffering the legs to be uncovered renders them misshapen, and that frequent vomiting tends to produce dropsy of the brain. The author would change the children's dress four times a year; viz. linen in summer, calico in spring and autumn, and flannel in winter. This would he very proper, if he could also change the temperature of the air at will, or command it to obey the orders of the calendar.

ART. 33.-A Collection of Testimonies respecting the Treatment of the Venereal Disease by Nitrous Acid, published by Thomas Beddoes, M. D. 8vo. 45. served. Johnson.

This indefatigable author continues to pursue this worn-out subject: but we are now so much habituated to confident assertions, and have so often experienced their fallacy, that we read them with diffidence and distrust. Our scepticism is almost at its height. On the efficacy of the nitrous acid in syphilis the best practitioners are nearly agreed, and consign it to equal oblivion and contempt with that of digitalis in hectics. To the new reports are added, Obser vations on the Cases published by Mr. Blair,' and Remarks on various Questions that have arisen during the Investigation of the Antisyphilitic Virtues of the Nitrous Acid.'

ART. 34.-A Letter to Sir Walter Farquhar, Bart. on the Subject of a particular Affection of the Bowels, very frequent and fatal in the EastIndies. 8vo. 25. Cadell and Davies. 1801.

We are much pleased with this short account of a disease which to us is new. The author relates, with great simplicity and candour, but with equal judgement and discrimination, the appearances of the disease, and its remedies. It would be well if other complaints were so satisfactorily described.

The disease of which I speak, and which is, by much, the most acute and fatal I have met with in India, is an inflammation of the colon, attended, from the beginning, with a severe fixed pain above the pubes; with extreme difficulty of making water, and frequently an entire suppression of urine. There is, at the same time, a violent and almost unceasing evacuation from the bowels, of a matter peculiar to the disease, and which I cannot describe more correctly, than by observing that it exactly resembles water in which raw flesh had been washed or macerated. There is always a very high fever, with unquenchable thirst and perpetual watchfulness. The pulse is extremely hard, frequent, and strong, resembling that which takes place in the highest degree of pleurisy or the most acute rheumatism; and there is a burning heat in the skin, which leaves a sensation on the finger, as if it had touched a piece of heated metal.

The fixed pain above the pubes, together with the peculiar evacuation above described, and the suppression of urine, may be regarded as the diagnostics of this disease, which will, on every occasion, sufficiently distinguish it from all other disorders of the intestines. These three leading symptoms are so constant and invariable, that, having always found them existing together when I was first called to see the patient, I had often great difficulty in ascertaining the exact order in which they arose; for the first approaches of disease are either disregarded or not accurately marked by the persons affected. Some of the patients told me that the fixed pain and purging began at the same time; others, that the pain preceded; and others, that they had been suddenly seized with a purging, which, after a few hours' continuance, was followed by the fixed pain and strangury. This last, though a constant, is, no doubt, a secondary symptom, depending on the previous affection of the colon but with respect to the fixed pain and evacuation, they appeared, in all severe cases, to have begun so nearly at the same time, that I could not determine, with precision, which followed or which preceded the other.' P. 3.

From dissection, the colon seems to be primarily affected, and the bladder suffers only from communication, as the lower part of the large intestine is generally inflamed. Tenesmus sometimes occurs; but the distinction between it and dysentery is sufficiently obvious from what we have transcribed. Bleeding seems useful; but opium, given in the coinmencement, is the most effectual remedy. If delayed till the fever supervenes, it is injurious, and can only be admitted on the decline of the complaint. The remedies then are emollient clysters and drinks, with fomentations above the pubes,

which are more useful than blisters. Similar symptoms occasionally succeed after the usual fluxes of India: but they then are only a secondary complaint, and are to be managed in the same way.

ART. 35. Some few Cases and Observations on the Treatment of Fistula in Ano, Hemorrhage, Mortification, the Venereal Disease, and Strictures of the Urethra. By John Andree, M. D. &c. 8vo. 25.

Nicol.

These cases have unaccountably escaped us; which we regret the more, as in some points to which they refer we have been obliged to find our own way without assistance. Fortunately we have not greatly differed from our author. Fistula in ano may, he remarks, be often cured without the operation, by attending to the patient's health, and avoiding irritation, or using only a gentle compress. Indeed the health should be particularly attended to; for they are often depositions from the mere efforts of nature, and, on the discharge being stopped, the original disease returns.

In hæmorrhages from wounds, the artery, when tied, should always, in our author's opinion, be brought to the sight. In a violent internal hæmorrhage from the intestines, he succeeded by placing the patient in a washing-tub, and repeatedly pouring pails of cold water on the belly.

In mortification, attended with pain, Dr. Andree thinks opium even a superior medicine to the bark. As an antisyphilitic, he conceives the nitrous acid not effectual, though it may relieve some obstinate Venereal symptoms when mercury has been long continued and disagrees. He dissuades the application of mercurial ointment to chancres, and prefers dry lint. Some fixed pains, which remain after salivation, he remarks, are often rheumatic, and may be cured by the sarsa, a milk diet, and free air. In this observation most practitioners will agree with him.

Some cautions are added respecting the use of caustics; and Dr. Andree advises that they be not employed till bougies have absolutely failed.

ART. 36.-Experiments upon the Circulation of the Blood, throughout the vascular System on languid Circulation: on the Motion of the Blood, independent of the Action of the Heart: and on the Pulsations of the Arteries. By the Abbé Spallanzani. With Notes, and a Sketeb of the Literary Life of the Author; by J. Tourdes, M. D. &c. Translated into English, and illustrated with additional Notes; by R. Hall, M. D. &c. 8vo. 95. Boards. Ridgway. 1801.

We noticed the original of this work in the Appendix to our 29th volume, p. 544, and need only announce the present translation. It appears sufficiently correct and elegant. The additional notes are not numerous, nor are they important.

ART. 37.-The Doctrine of Phlogiston established, and that of the Composition of Water refuted. By Joseph Priestley, LL.D. F.R. S. &c. 8vo. No Publisher's Name. 3s. 6d.

This is the telum imbelle, sine ictu, of a veteran in the science of the conquered Priam. To engage in the controversy at present would