will be added an abridgement of the physiology of the amphibia, a new classification, and a synopsis of these animals.

Suckows G. A. Anfangsgründe, &c. Elements of the Natural History of Animals, theoretical and practical. By G. A. Suckow. 2 Vols. 8vo. Leipsic.-This is a short abridgement of natural history, which, however, contains more than from its contracted limits we might expect. The first volume comprises the natural history of animals; and the second, the two first orders of landbirds, the birds of prey, and the picæ. In another section (for this is only the first) the other birds will be described, and in another volume the insects and the worms. The new observations, which could not be inserted in the body of the work, will be added.

Gesundheits-Taschenbuch, &c. Manual of Health for the Year 1801. By a Society of Physicians at Vienna. 8vo. Vienna. -Vienna was, under the guidance of Van Swieten, De Haen, and Stoll, a respectable seminary of medicine. We are sorry to see, from a perusal of the present collection, that it can no longer merit such a title. The collection indeed relates chiefly to the hygieine-the methods of preserving health; but it is deformed by some of the most trifling fancies and erroneous doctrines that we have lately perused. Dr. Frank first gives the life of Brown, with an explanation of his system; and this is followed by an account of inoculation for the cow-pox, by Dr. de Carro. The third article is an inquiry into the causes of the great number of hectics in large cities, and particularly Vienna, with the means of curing them, by Dr. M. Schmid. The fourth, on the present dress of women, and its influence on their health, by Dr. Frank. Commentaries on the ideas of treatment of cure, by J. A. Schmid; observations on the influence of heat and cold in the preservation of health and the cure of diseases, by Dr. Werner; on the influence of smells on the human body, by Dr. Cappellini; and on the pretended preservatives, taken in spring, follow. M. Wagner communicates what he styles a fragment of a regimen for winter; and M. J. Malfatti adds some remarks on the influence of the custom of bleeding and purging. The eleventh article is a singular history of a person who had a hole in his stomach, visible externally, and who nevertheless enjoyed a good state of health; and the twelfth is on the mortality of the hospital at Vienna, by M. Frank.

System der practischen Heilkunde. A System of practical Medicine. By C. W. Hufeland. Part I. 8vo. Jena.-We have received very favorable impressions of the present work, which is intended as a syllabus to the author's lectures; and may be able to notice it more at large when a greater portion is before us. The volume before us relates to general therapeutics. The effects of remedies, and the symptoms of diseases, he professes

to deduce from the phænomena of organic life; and the deficiencies are supplied by observation and experience.

6

Ueber die Zweckmaässigste Einrichtung der Fild Hospitäler. On the most convenient Arrangement of Field Hospitals. By Dr. G. P. Michaëlis, late Field Physician in the Electoral Brunswick Lunenburg Service. With a Plate. 8vo. Göttingen. 1801. -We fully agree with the author, that this subject is too much neglected in the piping times of peace.' It should be remembered (absit tamen) that war may again return; and we should not be unprepared, especially in regulations so necessary and so essential. Wherever an army exists, regulations for the maintenance of the diseased and wounded should exist also, and be ready on the first beginning of hostile operations. M. Michaëlis seems to think that the practice of physic and surgery would be most conveniently divided in the military hospitals; but, in the actual conduct of such hospitals, the officers could not be properly separated.

The first part relates to the arrangement of hospitals; to the ambulatory, depôt, and chief hospitals; and to the inferior circumstances requisite in the conduct of such institutions. The second part relates to the maintenance of patients; and the third to the persons belonging to the hospitals, and to their direction. On the whole, we cannot approve of some parts of our author's advice: it may perhaps be adapted to German customs and German constitutions. They could not, without cations, be admitted in the English army.

many

modifi

Darstellung der Saren, Alkalien, Erden, und Metalle. An Explanation of Acids, Alkalis, Earths, and Metals; of their Combinations and elective Affinities. In Twelve Tables. By J. B. Trommsdorff. Folio. Erfurt.-The author published, about two years since, a more imperfect edition of the present tables, which are now corrected in many respects, but are still, we think, unaccountably incomplete. It is singular, for instance, that his tables of elective attractions, which are perhaps the best part of the work, should be confined to those in the dry way; that the triple and quadruple salts should be omitted, as well as the double affinities. He introduces the formic suberic acids, &c. But excludes that of camphor. Among the earths, not only the glucine of Vauquelin is omitted, but, more strangely, the agustine, discovered by himself. As if also weary of his labour, we find only the names of the metallic salts.

Anleitung zur Hydrodynamick. Elements of Hydrodynamics. By G. Vega. With Nine Plates. 8vo. Vienna.-Though this is of itself a distinct and complete work, it in reality forms the fourth volume of the author's Elements of Mathematics; the three first of which appeared in the years 1782, 1784, and

1788 respectively. It is sufficient, at so great a distance from the time of their publication, to observe, that the first treats of arithmetic and finite quantities; the second of geometry, of the differential and integral calculus, with their application to geometry; the third of mechanics.

In the present volume, M. de Vega explains the principles of hydrostatics, of aërostatics, hydraulics, and the motions of solid bodies in a resisting medium. The work appears to us to merit considerable commendation, and is particularly estimable for the clearness of the definitions, the spirit and precision of the analysis, and the accuracy of the calculations.

Berthold Schwartz der Pulverer-finder. Berthold Schwarts, Inventor of Gunpowder, a Historical Romance. 2 vols. 8vo. Hamburg-We do not notice the romances of the continent, unless we find some of peculiar interest or singular novelty. Berthold Schwartz is not very eminent in either, but possesses enough of both to induce us to allot to him a few lines. This famous monk was at firft named, after his father, Constantine Angklizen; and his adventures are related in a style rich in imagery, but somewhat too poetical. The author mixes with these a philosophical view of the events, opinions, and manners of the fourteenth century, or rather has adopted the life of Berthold as their vehicle. This period, so highly praised, is stripped of its imaginary charms; and the boasted age of chivalry is described as scarcely emerging from a state of barbarity, under the daminion of ignorance and superstition. His erudition and philosophy, for the author possesses both, are conveyed in agrecable and, not unfrequently, in animated language; but the work is not concluded; for we leave Berthold, yet young, at the battle of Cressy. We have reason to think that, when the author speaks of his work as the continuation of the life of Faustus, it is rather the trick of the bookseller. It must mean that Berthold is in the same style; for, if we are not misinformed, we are indebted for the present work to the same pen from which we received the Sagen der Vorzeit, or the Traditions of past Times.

Adelstans Jovialisch-politische Reise durch Italien, &c. The Jovial and Political Travels of Adelstan in Italy, during the Campaigns of Bonaparte. 2 Vols.-Fielding called the Odyssey the poem of good eating;' and this may be styled the romance of drinking.' Adelstan had laid a wager of a thousand guineas with an English lord, that it is possible, in passing through countries where the vine is cultivated, to find every evening a new kind. The period however is not fixed. Adelstan attempts to execute this wild project; but the political events detain him so long, that he is still at Naples. The tour is designed to terminate at Cyprus.

G. Ch. Lichtenbergs Vermische Schrifften. Miscellaneous Works of G. Ch. Lichtenberg. Published after his Death by L. C. Lichtenberg and Fr. Kries. 2 Vols. Göttingen.-The miscellaneous works of Lichtenberg were lately published at Bareuth; but these contain the hitherto inedited pieces of this singular author. Many are unfinished; and we shall only transcribe a passage or two.

Hypochondria is the talent of drawing from each event of our lives the greatest quantity of poison for our own use.'

People in general lose by the combat of the flesh against the spirit;-the man of letters by the combat of the spirit against the flesh.'

The difference between the man of the world and the man' of letters consists only in a species of perception, or in the art of making a book.'

HUNGARY AND TRANSYLVANIA.

Jacobi Josephi Winteri Prolusiones ad Chemiam Sæculi 19. Introduction to the Chemistry of the Nineteenth Century. 8vo. Buda.-This work, we have reason to believe, is not to be purchased. We are informed that seventy copies only have been printed, and presented to different chemists. From one of these gentlemen the copy from which this account is taken is derived.

The great object of the author, who, by the way, considers the century to have begun in the year 1800, is to announce the discovery of a new earth, universally diffused, which he calls andronia. Thus, barytes is a compound of lead and andronia ; steel is iron saturated with andronia; molybdæna of copper, kali of lime, and tin of tungsten, with the same earth respectively. Tin however is supposed to contain a third substance hitherto unknown. On this subject we can offer no opinion, because the author gives no leading experiments to elucidate the discovery, but appears anxious only to raise a system on it. We must therefore wait till he choose to explain himself more fully.

Ambrosii Simigiani Historia Rerum Hungaricarum et Transylvanicarum, &c. Ambrose Simigianus's History of Hungary and Transylvania, from the Year 1490 to 1606, in Four Books, with Notes. Edited by Jos. C. Elder. Book I. 4to. Hermanstadt. -The name of the author, stript of its Latin form, is Ambrose Snornogyi: he was the notary of count de Snolnoz, and obliged, by the entry of the imperial troops, to quit his retreat at Dès, and retire to Bistritz, where he employed himself on the present work. He has not, in any part of the ancient history, quoted his authorities, so that we cannot appreciate the value of his information. With respect to the more recent events in Transylvania, he was an eye-witness, and often actively engaged in them. Much of the ancient history we find copied from Jovius:

4

and we must remember that the author was the decided enemy of the Germans, or rather of the Austrians, whom he consider. ed as the oppressors of his country.

M. Eder has accompanied each chapter with notes and observations, in which he has endeavoured to supply the omissions or imperfections of Snornogyi; so that the present work will be a valuable history of Transylvania, from the year 1527.

These additions have been printed faithfully from the originals; even the archives, and the numbers in which they occur, have been pointed out. The editor's religious impartiality is accurately kept up. It is remarked with justice, and he proves, that, from the year 1527, the race styled the Saxon, in Transylvania, has always been the active partisans of the house of Austria. The present volume extends only to 1541, and will not be very interesting to modern readers.

SWITZERLAND.

Salomon Gessners Briefwechsel mit seinem Sohn. The Correspondence of S. Gesner with his Son. 8vo. Berne.-We insert this solitary volume, almost the only publication of Switzerland in a period of no little extent-if we except political ones. Such is the unfortunate state of this once literary country! such the consequences of French protection! The letters before us relate chiefly to the fine arts, and were written from the year 1784 to 1788, while his son, a distinguished artist, resided at Rome.

The editor, Gessner's second son, remarks that this correspondence was not designed for public view, and should be considered only as the conversation of a father with a son on the fine arts, and the means of cultivating them. The letters have not been corrected; they are characteristic of the author; and furnish a portrait from his own hands.

S. Gessner has left a large collection of designs and studies from nature, in a greater or less degree of perfection, which will be published by his son.

HOLLAND..

A. Ypey Introductio in Materiam Medicam. Introduction to the Materia Medica. 8vo. Leiden.-Our author has been less anxious to display his erudition than to give solid information. Though confined, in the title, to the Materia Medica, he mixes pathological observations and remarks, founded on practical experience. The description of the plants used in me dicine is very exact, though, in this respect, he falls short of the minute accuracy of Bergius in one view, and of Murray in another; yet, on the whole, mistakes are guarded against with sufficient care. Specifics are considered with great attention;