eftablished and feemingly fagacious plan of critical operations, we carefully perufed, with much fatisfaction, the prefatory addrefs at the head of this Enquiry; and we afterward entered upon the work itself, under a firm perfuafion, grounded on the contents of the faid preface, that we fhould find it totally free from vague and fanciful theories, and replete with found practical knowledge, deduced from, clinical obfervations made on the fick, and on the operations of remedies. But verily there is no truft to be put now-a-days even in prefaces. The Author there informs us that, in confequence of an invincible defire,' or call, he had been led through many difadvantages to the ftudy of phyfic;' where he had been obliged to trace out the way for himself, through the intricate paths of the medical art: that he was furprized to find fo little uniformity in the practice and theory of phyficians, and was ftrongly incited to difcover the cause of these variations. He at laft began to fufpect that the doctrine of the ance celebrated Boerhaave was the fource of all that evil which he much wished to avoid.' In this piteous and undetermined ftate, poor Gentleman! he left Leyden, the German, and Flemish schools, and visited Paris. In this laft place an end was happily put to his difquietudes for here he found a fet of medical fages, who had fhook off the errors of Boerhaave's doctrine, and had resolved to take nature only for their guide, and to confirm their theory by clinical obfervations.' He was now perfuaded that the excellence of a phyfician does not confiit in a knowledge of the imaginary laws of circulation, or in vain conjectures on the force of mufcles.' In fhort, he refolved to put himself under the guidance of Meffrs. De Bordeu, La Caze, Fouquet, Robert, Michel, Barthes, and the celebrated M. Vennel;' to be directed by thefe new luminaries, and to hold forth their fhining lights to the world; trimmed and improved by himself in the prefent publication. Impatient to be introduced to this groupe of worthies, and to be initiated into doctrines which lead to fuch a defirable and unexpected defideratum, as medical uniformity, we attend the Author in his intro duction; where, inftead of leading us, as we hoped, to the very bedfides of the fick, we find him, to our great aftonishment, treating only of the most high and recondite matters; mounting up to the Syncellian Chronicle, and defcanting, ab ovo ufque, on the formation and primitive ftate of the terráqueous globe, before the creation of the fun, and other fublime concerns, as diftant from the purport of the preface, as the titles of fome of Montaigne's chapters are from the fubjects treated in them. With regard to the body of this work, we fcarce know how to characterize or give any account of its contents. Not a page immediately applicable to medical practice is to be found in it. It is replete with theory and fanciful conjectures, well or ill founded, from one end of it to the other; on fuch fubjects as, the nature of man; the generation and expansion of the embryo; proofs of a propulfive force exerted in the animal molecule, &c. This laft doctrine is attempted to be proved, and the quomodo explained, by fome microscopical obfervations made by the Author, on the fucceffive ex panfion panfion of the parts in tadpoles; which is fuppofed to be effected by means of an etherial principle that animates the mucus, from which, thefe new philofophers inform us, every animated part of nature is formed. And though, with regard to the errors of Boerhaave's doctrine,' and thofe of the mechanical and chemical physicians; Meffrs. De Bordeu, De Caze, &c. with their pupil and expofitor Dr. Berdoe, may authoritatively fay, with the Doctor in Moliere, Nous avons changé tout cela, we cannot difcover from this account of the doctrines fubftituted in their ftead, that the change is made for the better.-Error for error, we think the old ones full as fpecious as, and somewhat more comprehenfible than, the new. As to the influence of the electric fluid, fo fpeciously fet forth in the title-page, as a prime agent in the generation and formation of animals, we cannot contradict the affertion; but we find nothing in this treatise that clears up this grand phyfical arcanum, or any other, by any new experiments or difcoveries relating to that fluid; the name of which indeed, as well as ether, atherial principle, electric impulfe, &c. very commodioufly occur almoft in every page; but for which any others might have been fubftituted, with almoft equal fatisfaction to the philofophical reader. On the whole, the utmost we can fay in favour of this work is, that it exhibits proofs of the Author's multifarious reading, and of his endeavours to improve himself in the knowledge of certain matters more or lefs relative to his new vocation; which he avowedly commenced and prosecuted under many difficulties and disadvantages. Indeed feveral marks of thefe difadvantages appear, in the midst of all our Author's oftentation of erudition in this performance, that feem not fairly chargeable upon the prefs. But whatever may be his perfonal merits in this refpect, we cannot much commend his difcretion, in felecting one of the obfcurest parts of a very abftrafe art, for the fubject of his firft attempt: nor can we conceive a very favourable opinion of his humility, in propofing to enlighten the medical and philofophical world by his prefent labours, and in fetting off in the high ftyle of a fubverter of all the mechanical and chemical fchools, on the ftrength of fome heterogeneous reading, and a little flimfy philofophy. It would have become him too,to have treated even the errors of a Boerhaave with a little more respect. B. Art. 12. An Efay on the Pudendagra. By Mermaduke Berdoe, M. D. 8vo. 1 S. Bath. 1771. Sold by Robinfon, &c. in London. This Effay is of a more practical nature than the Author's foregoing publication. It contains an account of what the ancients and moderns have faid on this disease, and of the circumstances in which it differs from the lues venerea. But if the Author is determined to write on, we would advife him to be more folid, and lefs florid, pathetic, and declamatory in his future medical productions. This French frippery and tinfel, which he has vifibly imported with him from the continent, is neither adapted to the taste of his English readers, nor to the fubject. B. Arte Art. 13. Effays on several important Subjects in Surgery, &c. The Whole illuftrated with Copper plates. By John Aitken, Surgeon, of the College and Incorporation of Surgeons in Edinburgh. 8vo. 4 s. fewed. Dilly. 1771. In the first of thefe Effays, which forms the most confiderable and ufeful part of this work, the Author treats of the nature and cure of fractures of the bones of the extremities. After exhibiting an elementary, but clear and methodical view of the phyfiological and pathological doctrines on this fubject, on the different articles of extenfion, coaptation, retention, &c. in general, the Author proceeds to treat of the fractures of the thigh and leg-bones in particular. We not long fince endeavoured to explain the very great improvements, communicated to the public by Mr. Pott, on this particular branch of furgery t, and which were founded on an attention to a fimple and feemingly obvious, but hitherto neglected, circumftance; the keeping of the mufcles furrounding the fractured bone in a state of relaxation, with a view both to facilitate the reduction, and to promote the retention, of the fractured parts. Though the Author approves in general the principles of that excellent writer on this fubject, he is nevertheless of opinion that the due retention of a fractured Os femoris is not, in many cafes, to be effected merely by pofture or relaxation; but that mechanical means are likewife requifite to counteract the ftrong contractile power of the mufcles belonging to that limb. After examining the feveral contrivances which have been offered for this purpose, and particularly defcribing and delineating the mar chines invented by Hildanus and Mr. Gooch, to which he offers fome objections, he propofes his own; which appears to be commodious in the application, and well adapted to fulfil the purpofe expected from it, and feems, from a fhort paffage in the preface, to have been fuccessfully employed in practice. Experience alone can finally decide in matters of this nature; and, for that reason, we wish that the inventor had been more fatisfactorily explicit on this head. In thofe cafes, in which a continued extenfion of the limb is undoubtelly neceffary [as where there is a confiderable lofs of fubftance of the bone, &c.) the apparatus here recommended must be particularly ferviceable. h the fucceeding Effay, the Author applies the principles on which his method of accomplishing the retention of the fragments of the thigh and leg-bones is founded, to the cure of the fractured Tendo Achillis. In the next, he propofes to adapt part of the fame machinery to the purpofe of preventing the retraction of the skin and mufcular parts, and the confequent protrufion of the bone, after an amputation of the thigh. The Author's propofed method, which is liable to fome objections, might be rendered ftill more effectual by operating in the manner defcribed by M. Louis, in the 2d and 4th volumes of the Memoirs of the R. Academy of Surgery. The rationale, and a fhort defcription of this method, the Reader will find in the Appendix to our 3th volume, page 592. + See M. Review, vol. xl. June 1769, page 466. In the firft of the two following Effays, a part of the apparatus above-mentioned is recommended, for the purpose of producing a proper degree of compreffion on the ftump, after amputation of the lower extremities, and for the retention of fpunge or other fubftances on the part: and, in the fecond, the Author adapts his machinery with a view to accomplish the very difficult retention of the fragments of the patella, when fractured tranfverfely. In the laft, the Author confiders the defects of the key-inftrument at prefent used in the drawing of teeth, and endeavours to obviate them in the conftruction of a new inftrument here defcribed.-On the whole, this work is evidently the production of a man of fcience and ingenuity, and contains many hints which are worthy of the attention of practitioners. B. Art. 14. An Account of the Method of obtaining a perfect or radical Cure of the Hydrocele, or watery Rupture, by Means of a Seton. By Percival Pott, F. R. S. and Surgeon to St. Bartholomew's Hofpital. 8vo. 1 S. Hawes. 1771. We owe the prefent rational and fuccessful methods of treating the diforder which is the fubject of this effay, to a more perfect knowledge of its nature, and of the anatomical ftructure and functions of the parts interested in it, than was poffeffed by our predeceffors whofe erroneous notions concerning it were naturally productive of an abfurd and inefficacious treatment. This disease, as we have formerly obferved, is now known to be only a partial or local dropfy, caufed by an accumulation of water or lymph; the feat of which is the cavity formed between the tunica albuginea or proper coat of the teftis, and the tunica vaginalis, feparated from each other by the contained fluid. The total abolition of this cavity must neceffarily prevent any future collection and tumor, and confequently produce a radical cure of the diforder. ...Of one successful method of effecting this purpose, recommended by Mr. Elfe, we lately gave a particular account. [M. Review, August 1770, page 138.] In that procefs the intire peccant part, or the whole tunica vaginalis, is deftroyed by means of a fmall cauftic, applied to a part of the ferotum. In that here propofed, a radical cure is effected by exciting an artificial inflammation in the fame membrane, by means of a feton. The membrane itfelf, however, is not deftroyed, as in the former method; but, in confequence of the inflammation, is made to adhere to the tunica albuginea, throughout its whole extent, fo as to produce an obliteration of the cavity. ingenious Author, purfuing a hint of the late Profeffor Monro, propofed this method in a former publication. He here fpeaks with confidence of its fuccefs, as now improved by him; and defcribes it with that plainnefs and accuracy which diftinguish his judicious and ufeful publications. The B. MATHEMATICS and PHILOSOPHY. Art. 15. Fire Analyfed; or the feveral Parts of which it is compounded clearly demonftrated by Experiments, &c. and the Manner and Method of making Electricity medicinal and healing confirmed by a Variety of Cures. By Richard Symes, Rector of St. Werburgh's, Britol. 8vo. I s. 6d. Robinson, &c. 1771. In an advertisement prefixed to this pamphlet the reverend Author raifes our curiouty, as philofophers and electricians, to the higheft pitch, by declaring that unwilling to let the discoveries he had made perith with him; and thinking them of too interefting a nature to be buried in oblivion, he has made them public, wishing that the fubject may be pursued and improved for the benefit of future ages. After fo promifing a declaration, the fhock of an electrified jar fent through our heads could not have confounded us fo effectually, as the first three lines of the introduction in the very next page; where we read of the contrary powers, that are in nature, both within and without man, and of the rich treasures to be found in the writings of Jacob Behmen and Mr. Law.' Our Readers in general may not perhaps be acquainted with Jacob Behmen. We have a great • refpect indeed for honeft Jacob; but really his popping upon us thus unexpectedly and unfeafonably, we own, greatly difcompofed us. The reverend Author no where emulates fo fuccefsfully the great Teutonic Theofopher, as where he attempts to explain Jacob's feven properties in nature,' by means of the electric machine; and in his fublime fpeculations on the number feven; which he finds, by many cogent reafons drawn from fcripture, to be a number of perfection: for fever priests, with feven trumpets, blew feven days, for the overthrowing of the walls of Jericho, &c. The aforefaid feven properties, we shall add for the benefit of the unlearned (making ufe of Mr. Law's account of them, which the Rector of St. Werburgh's admires for its clearnefs) are the holding faft, the going out, the whirling round, fire, light, life, and fpirit.' Hence, according to Mr. Symes, and particularly from the three first, that arch thief Newton filched his fyftem of the world.-An old flyboots!-And yet one would think the volume of nature rather more eafy to be decyphered than The threefold Life of Jacob Behmen; who, as his panegyrift informs us, on being strictly examined at the Saxon court, by the most learned profeffors in every science, collected together for that purpose by the Elector, fairly nonpluffed the whole learned corps, and faid many things to them far beyond their comprehenfion.' We can readily believe this, as we find ourselves under the fame predicament with the wife men of Saxony, on this short conference even with the pupil. We fly for fhelter therefore, from his victorious incomprehenfibility, to the laft chapter of this effay, where the Author talks more like a man of this world, and which contains matter more intelligible and interesting. In this part of the effay Mr. Symes recites the hiftories of 22 cures, felected from many others, performed by means of the electric machine, in a variety of cafes. Some of these are remarkable enough, and are related, in general, with fobriety and precision. But though we are fully difpofed to rely on the Author's veracity, we own we are apprehenfive that the hiftories related in this eighth chapter will fuffer fome diminution of weight and credibility, with those who confider their near relation to the myftic nonfenfe and credulity difplayed in all the feven chapters that preceed it. Music. B. Art. 16. A practical Treatife on Singing and Playing with just Ex- Anfelm |