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The author has applied his principles in several instances, and as he believes, with all the success that he expected. But he confesses that he had not at the period of his publication had the opportunity of using this method in any confirmed and strongly marked case with proper regularity, and for a due length of time.

On the subject of Cancer the author expresses his belief that it arises from the saine source as other const tutional discases; and seems firmly convinced that it is in our power to eradicate this most deplorable of all maladies; and he observes with great justice, that such subjects are of all others, from the hopelessness of their situation, the most proper of all to try the full effects of the method he has proposed. The foundation of cancer, in common with all chronic diseases, seems to be laid in a derangement of the digestive organs; hence the symptoms which have been called bilious, harass them often for years before the appearance of cancer, continue after it is formed, and increase towards the termination to a degree that is often very distressing. This condition of the stomach, and bowels, he feels confident is excited by matter that is received with the ingesta.

The method which is proposed has been tried in four cases. In the case of Mrs. J. certainly with some shew of success. If this success be attributed to the abstinence from all water containing the septic poison, there can be no hesitation about the course to be pursued. But of these cases we must observe as of all the others contained in the work, that they prove nothing decisive in favour of the point at issue. They prove that certain persons suspected to be affected with caucer, amended, after continuing to drink distilled water for a long time. They do not prove that such persons amended, because a septic poison was prevented from attacking the constitution.

The article Gout is rendered valuable by the history of a case, in which this disease was of long standing, and complicated besides with some other affectious, particularly a diseased condition of the tongue, an affection of the head, and a total loss of appetite. The history is given in the words of the patient himself; from which it appears, that all these diseases have slowly and gradually yielded to the method adopted. The course had been pursued for a year and a half, and the success which has attended it, the author thinks, fully confirms the doctrine he has laid down, and justities him in the confidence he has expressed of the great advantage that will be received from it in all chronic discases. That Mr. Goring has been relieved exceedingly, cannot be de

nied. Lis letter, which we recommend to the perusal of our readers, is satisfactory on this head. But we must again repeat, was this relief obtained by a less quantity of septic poison being taken into the constitution, or by a less quantity of wine, and a larger quantity of pure water being taken into the stomach?

We have been thus copious in our analysis, in order that we might not be supposed to discourage this enquiry, and indeed, that we might display it fairly before our readers. But another and no less essential part of our duty must not be omitted,

On a subject so novel, on which so much is asserted, that admits of no easy or immediate. proof, as critics we are bound to step forward with caution, and neither to depress the, ar dour of the author by churlish discouragement, nor to flatter the hopes of the public by unqualified approbation, The question is of infinite magnitude, not because the reputation of one man is concerned in establishing the merit of a discovery; but because this discovery professes to ascertain the source of some of the most serious evils that befall the individuals of our imperfect race, and promises to relieve them. In the first place, let us look at the fact of discovery: Do the generality of waters contain a septic poison according to the position of Dr. Lambe, or do they not? The next question is, if they do, does this septic poison produce scrophula, &c. We shall not examine the source from which this septic poison springs, according to the theory, otherwise we should stick fast in limine, and abandon the enquiry; for if animal and vegetable matters by decomposition all afford this septic poison, how is it possible that inen and animals should escape constitutional diseases? Nor shall we bring against this hypothesis the constant experience of all mankind, that animals drinking the most impure water are little affected by them, having no diseases resembling gout, so far as our knowledge extends. But Dr. Lambe says that he has discovered this septic poison in water, and that he has traced its destructive agency. That the waters examined by Dr. Lambe contained something, which had perhaps not been examined or discerned by former chemists, and that this something, in some of its properties, resembled arsenic, may be allowed. But the enquiry has not gone to a sufficient extent, and the proof wants support and confirmation. That this something is arsenicated manganese, is only suspected from the resemblance of blueness on the glass, and the white spots on the copper, signs which chemically indicate the presence of arsenic in an experiment. But surely from such signs, unsustained by other experiments, it would

be esteemed rash to make any unqualified deductions, even in an ordinary case, much less to build up a system which contradicts the opinion, and tends to alter the habits of the bulk of mankind. Of waters, there is store enough for experiment, and we ought to be cautious and jealous of resemblances and analogies, till they are confirmed by broad and unequivocal facts. Let Dr. Lambe produce a ponderable and active, as well as a visible quantity of his septic poison, and we will be satisfied.

Whether, supposing this septic poison to exist, it be the cause of constitutional diseases, is the next question. That constitutional disorders arise from unwholesome aliment, and from impure water, whether the impurity be a septic poison or not, must be granted. Those unhappy beings, the Goitres and Cretins, perhaps, would have furnished Dr. Lambe with stronger examples than any contained in his book. But that all animated nature should be pervaded by a destructive agent sometimes appearing in one shape, sometimes in another, and in whatsoever shape it appears, corrupting the springs of life-that a dæmon of poison should arise out of the decay of all living things, and, insinuating itself into the means of man's subsistence, should slowly and silently sap the foundations of his health, is a doctrine so alarming that at least he ought to receive some precise instruction how to detect, and how to counteract the mischief. Of most other poisons we know the symptoms; we can discriminate arsenic, mercury, copper, and lead, from opium, laurel water, aconite, and tobacco. The poisons producing ulcerations, have also their decisive marks, which leave no doubt as to their dijudication, in the minds of intelligent and scientific observers. In the septic poison there is no regular chain of notices, no individual marks, no separate character. According to the predisposition to constitutional disease, it produces either scrophula, consumption, cancer, or gout;

Omnia transformat sese in miracula rerum.

Of such a poison, the existence is not supported by any one analogy; we must therefore suspend our acquiescence in the doctrine of the learned author, until we have more regular and undeniable notices of its solidity and truth. To Dr. Lambe's theory of the production of diseases, independently of the septic poison, there is also great objection. He introduces the humoral pathology of Boerhaave, and the atrabiliary system of the ancients, nearly without any modification. Surely this doctrine cannot pass at the present day, without some discussion on account of room we must content ourselves

with barely alluding to its admission. Here then we rest. We are indebted to Dr. Lambe for a book ably composed, for an enquiry in the highest degree curious and interesting. But he has not fully made out his case. His experiments and his examples furnish only probabilities; there are no facts which undeniably substantiate his doctrine. A septie poison may be contained in the generality of waters; this septic poison may be one agent in the production of constitutional diseases. Under no circumstances can we concede that it is the only agent. Even granting Dr. L. all that he claims, his method of cure is too much narrowed by his hypothesis. We do not mean to dispute, that distilled water may be useful in diseases, as recommended by Dr.L. To its use there can never be any objection; nay more, from its use there is an obvious benefit. The action of impure water, whatsoever it be, is precluded from taking effect. The salutary habit of drinking water, and consequently of drinking a smaller quantity of fermented liquor, is established: and to many individuals such a plan will be completely alterative, and supersede all other application. It cannot however in the cure of diseases exclude all other agency, temperature, diet, &c. &c. We grant that it is a simple and a sovereign remedy, but it not only admits, it requires auxiliaries. In regard to the whole question, we hope that further researches will be made, and in the mean time that the subject will be discussed with temper and moderation. Candour must admit that whatsoever be the grounds of his hypothesis, Dr. Lambe's method of cure can do no harm. And in this and all other discussions, let it be remembered, that violence and revilings only tend to increase the fever and irritation of error; whereas moderation, gentleness, and time, will destroy every thing but the truth.

ART. VIII.-Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, for the Year 1805. Part II. 4to. 10s. 6d. Nicol.

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1805.

ART. 9. Abstract of Observations on a Diurnal Variation of the Barometer between the Tropies. By J. Horsburgh, Esq. in a letter to Henry Cavendish, Esq. F. R. S.-Mr. Horsburgh has been a very assiduous observer of the phenomena of the barometer, and has with some success pointed out a peculiarity respecting the motion of the mercury in it, when placed on any part of the surface of the ocean within certain latitudes, which has not before this time attracted the attention

of philosophers. It appears that from 259 on the north side, to about 27° on the south side of the equator, the mercury in settled weather regularly fell from noon till four P. M.from that hour till nine or ten P. M. and rose again and remained stationary till midnight, at which time it again began to fall, and continued so to do till four A. M. when it was as low as at four P. M.; it then rose till seven or eight o'clock, and afterwards remained stationary till noon. Out of the latitudes stated, these regular variations could not be observed, and what is much more surprising, it is only at sea that they happen, and that in the strictest sense. For at Bombay not niore than a tendency to these motions could be remarked; whereas, on quitting the harbour of that island they took place with the wonted regularity. The same is true of all other land, and, what is more, of all other water, excepting only the ocean. For Mr. Horsburgh has observed that in the river at Canton similar phenomena appeared as on shore. These motions are distinguished by this gentle man, by the term equatropical, for brevity's sake as he in-. forms us, though he may be said, at least, to have chosen a very long way of being short. Two points are chiefly remarkable in this paper, the appearance of the equatropical motions only near the equator, and the restriction of the phenomena in question, at least to the same extent, to the surface of the ocean. And from these circumstances there appears reason to suppose, that the tides act a part in producing the effect on the mercury, though it may be difficult to account for so considerable a motion as actually occurs. That the barometer should be more influenced in the equatorial regions, does not appear a considerable difficuity, since we know the tides to be highest there. The mercury rose and fell from five to nine hundred parts of an inch, indicating thereby a remarkable change in the pressure of the atmosphere; but it may be inferred, that these motions do not originate solely from acrial tides, for in that case these ought to occur on shore as well as at sea; on the other hand, it seems difficult to understand how the influence of the tides of the ocean should be confined solely to the regions of the tropics. Mr. Horsburgh's Observations, however, are likely to prove of much importance to the improvement of meteorological science.

Art. 11. The Physiology of the Stapes, one of the Bones of the Organ of Hearing; deduced from a comparative View of its Structure and Uses in different Animals. By Anthony Carlisle, Esq. F. R. S.-The laborious and indefatigable exertions of Mr. Carlisie deserve the utmost commendation,

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