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ART. 17. Can we Doubt it? Or, the genuine Hiftory of Two Families of Norwich, by Charlotte Bournou-Malarme, Member of the Academy of Arcades at Rome. Tranflated from the French. By Mrs. Villa-Real Gooch. Three Volumes. Imo. 10s. 6d. Crosby. 1805.

Mrs. Gooch has more than once been a candidate for that fort of literary fame which accompanies this branch of writing. Her pen flows with great vivacity, and her defcriptions and character are not without force; but why call this a tranflation from the French, which is fo obviously a plain English original? Whether it involves any thing perfonal or not, we cannot fay, nor does it feem worth the while to enquire, it may be read as a Novel with entertainment. Mrs. Gooch does not difcover a very happy fancy in the invention of names of places or perfons. Some of them feem to have been borrowed from that good old book, Pilgrim's Progrefs; as Sumptuous Hall, Pervious Houfe, Fodder Lodge, &c. The names of perfons must have been found, many of them, east of Temple-Bar, as for example, Modbury, Grewell, Grimsby, Polesworth, &c. However, the tale, though fomewhat complicated, proceeds tolerably well; and if fome Novels are better, we are obliged to toil through some not half so good.

MEDICINE.

ART. 18. Outlines of a Plan, calculated to put a Stop to the Progrefs of the malignant Contagion which rages on the Shores of the Mediterranean, if it should make its Way into this Country. By Richard Pearfon, M.D. 8vo. 28 pp. 1s. 6d. Baldwin. 1804.

Contemplating the ravages made by the malignant contagion, which has, for many months past, afflicted a large portion of the fouthern parts of Europe, and confidering how extremely acceffible we are to its introduction here, from our widely extended commerce, the author has, with a laudable zeal, endeavoured to turn the attention of the legislature, and of his countrymen in general, to the measures it might be moft proper to adopt, if the contagion fhould get footing in this country, to confine it to the part or parts where it shall first make its appearance. Since medical writers are not perfectly agreed as to the defcription of the contagion, or whether it fhould be confidered as a fpecies of the plague or of the yellow fever; and fince a contagious fever might make its first appearance in parts of this country where it would be difficult to find by what means the foreign fever could have been conveyed; it should be fufficient, the author fays, to find that the fever is infectious, or that it was communicated from one perfon to another in the fame houfe, to determine it to be the malignant contagion, and to fubject the perfons and places where it appears to the regulations here propofed. The first object adverted to, and recommended by the author, is, that the regulations obliging veffels coming from fufpected places to perform quarantine be enforced with dili gence. But it is not fufficient, he observes, that fuch veffels are com

pelled

pelled to keep the stations allotted them for the time limited; and that all communication between them, or the perfons on board them, and the shore be prohibited, if care be not taken that the goods on board be, from time to time, opened, ventilated, and fumigated. It must be obvious, that it is extremely difficult to enforce the diligent performance of this hazardous duty, fo as to afford that complete fatisfaction which, in a matter of fo much importance, is required. To obviate, therefore, any ill confequence that may arife from neglect or error in this effential part, the author advifes, that Committees of Health be established in all the provincial fea-ports, to confift of phyfi cians and furgeons, affifted by the magiftrates and clergy. Their bufinefs fhould be, to enquire into, and learn what diseases are prevalent in their feveral districts, and wherever fever of a malignant kind appears, feizing three or four perfons under the fame roof, and of which fever three or more perfons have died, all poffible precautions fhould be used to prevent the perfons refiding in fuch places from mixing with the other inhabitants. For this purpose, receiving houfes are proposed to be taken without the town; in fome of which, the fick, in others, the fufpected should be kept, until all danger of the fever fhould be over. On this head, however, the author is not very full; as he confiders that the mode of conducting that business, or the regulations by which it fhould be performed, fhould be drawn up by a general Board of Health, to be inflituted in London, which fhould correfpond with the provincial Committees; and, in conjunétion with them, fhould draw up inftructions, pointing out the line of conduct to be obferved in all cafes where contagious fever makes its appearance.

It must give pleasure to the ingenious and intelligent author of this tract, to find Government entertaining the fame ideas he has here thrown out, of the inefficacy of the prefent regulations for performing quarantine, to prevent the introduction of the contagion into the country; which is manifefted, by their applying to Parliament for power to alter and amend them; and that they are about to adopt regulations for confining the infection, if it fhould be introduced, very fimilar to thofe here recommended.

ART. 19. An Essay on Refpiration. Parts I. and II. By John Boftock, M. D. Svo. 275 PP. 6s. Liverpool printed; Longman and Co. London. 1804.

The fubject of this Effay relates to one of the most important functions of the animal body. It has occupied the attention of the most diftinguished chemical philofophers of the prefent day; and their labours have placed in a clear and beautiful point of view a procefs effential to life; but refpecting which, for many ages, the most abfurd and erroneous notions continued to be adopted.

In the prefent volume, the author has collected, from the various fources to which he refers, the best authenticated facts, and the most valuable opinions, on the fubject of refpiration; and has arranged them in fuch a manner, as to exhibit a correct view of all the late difcoveries relative to this part of chemical phyfiology. On this occafion, he appears only in the character of a careful and faithful narra

tor;

tor; but, at fome future period, he proposes to undertake a series of original experiments, particularly concerning the ftate of refpiration in fever, and other diforders; experiments which cannot but prove highly interefting, and of which it is to be hoped the author will not relinquish the profecution.

Part 1. of this volume contains, a defcription of the human organs of respiration; a defcription of the mechanifm of refpiration; an enquiry into the bulk of a fingle refpiration, and into the capacity of the thorax; and an enquiry into the caufe of the first refpiration, &c.

In Part 11. the author treats of the mechanical effects produced by the dilatation and contraction of the thorax; of the change produced by refpiration in the infpired air; of the change produced upon the blood by refpiration; on the refpiration of the different gafes. To all which are fubjoined notes, which conftitute about a third part of the whole volume.

Having enumerated the contents of the feveral chapters, we shall very briefly point out fuch as feem more par icularly entitled to attention. The fecond Part is by far the moft interefting, particularly the Chap

rs 11. and 111. on the change produced by refpiration in the inSpired air, and on the change produced upon the blood by refpira

tion.

After giving an account, in Chap. 11. of Hales, Prieftley, Lavoifier, Menzies, Davy, Irvine, &c. refpecting the changes produced upon the air by refpiration, he forms his own conclufions, in fix difinct propofitions, at p. 99.

In the third Chapter, after reviewing the various facts and opinions relative to the changes produced in the blood by refpiration (a fubject fill involved in fome obfcurity, on account of the extreme nicety and difficulty in performing the neceffary experiments and examining their refults), he concludes, that the prefent ftate of our knowledge on this fubject may be comprifed in fifteen propofitions, which will be found in the 135th page. These parts contain the effential particulars of the author's fyftem.

ART. 20. Obfervations on Crural Hernia: to which is prefixed, a general Account of the other Varieties of Hernia: illuftrated by Engravings. By Alexander Monro, Jun. M. D. F. R. S. E. and Profeffor of Anatomy and Surgery in the University of Edinburgh. 8vo. 7. 6d. Longman and Co. London; and W. Laing, Edinburgh. 1803.

Until very lately, the right of jurifdiction was hereditary in Scotland; titles, fuperiorities, and lands, are, we know, far more ftrictly entailed there, than in England; but we own ourselves astonished to find that even profeffor hips feem to be a fpecies of feudal property. The author of this work is the third in lineal defcent who has filled the anatomical chair at Edinburgh and as he is fill a young man, it would be unfair to compare this early performance with thofe of his grandfather.

It appears that this was originally a paper read before the Royal Society of Edinburgh; and, we prefume, that the applaufe it then met with has occafioned its publication. There is not, however, enough of novelty, or folid inftruction in the work, to make us re-echo thefe

plaudits;

plaudits; for the author appears to have feen but little of the difeafe of which he treats, his knowledge is chiefly acquired "through the fpectacles of books". He has fearch-d, however, with a good deal of diligence through both foreign and domeftic authors, and has collected, with judgment, a confiderable portion of their cream; it is not, however, difpofed with that Lucidus ordo, which perfpicuity requires.

The cafe, in p. 17, defcribes a peculiarity in Hernia which has not been noticed elsewhere. It was communicated to the author by Dr. Wardrop, an eminent furgeon in Edinburgh, and is fo tar worthy of notice. In another part, the greater frequency of Crural Hernia in women than in men, is well accounted for.

"It is much more prevalent amongst females than males, because the crural arch of the female is longer and loofer than that of the male, owing to the greater width of the female pelvis. Befides, the internal edge of the crural arch is not nearly fo broad next the pubis in the male as in the female; and hence the crural ring of the female is larger, and the bowels are more readily protruded through it." P. 54. With refpect to the furgical treatment, this work is fingularly defective. Nothing is mentioned but the operation. The author tranflates Gimbernat's method, which he thinks very fimilar to Mr. Key's; and afterwards defcribes his father's plan, who propofed dividing Poupart's ligament, without opening the hernial fac. Then without pretending to decide upon the merits of either, he concludes thus: "future experience muft determine to which of these methods of performing the operation for crural hernia the preference is due".

It is peculiarly unfortunate, that this work fhould have appeared, nearly at the fame time with the fplendid one of Aftley Cooper. Who, uniting practice with study, is enabled to paint what he has feen, to decide boldly on what is to be done, and to relate what he has performed.

DIVINITY.

ART. 21. A Charge delivered to the Clergy of the Diocese of Rochester in 1782, and published at their Requeft. By John Law, D. D. Arch deacon of Rochefter. 4to. 16 pp. 15. T. Payne, &c. 1802.

This valuable Charge from an Archdeacon, who says in a note that he has holden thirty vifitations, has not been intentionally passed over by us. For fuch accidents it is not always poffible to account; the best apology is, to remove the occafion for it.

Being delivered in the fhort interval of peace, this Charge begins by adverting to it, which is done in the molt proper manner, with the feelings of a wife man and a Chriftian. With a fimilar fpirit, and with becoming modelty, Dr. L. fpeaks of the firmness of the clergy, and their exertions in the troublefome times that preceded; and he confiders the Refidence Act (as Bishop Majendie has fince done) as an acknowledgment from the laity, of the merits and utility of the clerical order being defigned, in the firft inftance, "to relieve them from vexatious profecutions"; and, in the fecond, to extend the benefit of their perfonal influence and example. Part of what is faid on this

subject

fubject is fo judiciously expreffed that we cannot but introduce it here.

"It is not then to be wondered at, if the ferious part of the laity are rigid in their demand for the immediate fuperintendence of a clergyman in every parish, where there is a provifion adequate to his repu table fupport. And when this demand has been accompanied with every expreffion of good will to our order, which its belt friends can wish for, we are, as I before remarked, bound to look upon the requifition as honourable to ourselves. Our ufe to fociety is thereby recognized; and, fo long as the principles of the Chriftian religion are preferved in this country (which ought now to be more fixed than ever, from the dreadful effects that have been exhibited of a contrary fpirit) we shall never, I truft, be difappointed in our expectations of the public favour." P. 14.

66

Dr. L. adverts alfo to the oppofition and calumnies of certain fectaries, and their misinterpretations of the feventeenth Article of our church, in particular. We with", fays he, "that they would be fellowlabourers with us, rather than unkindly traduce us; because we are perfuaded, that they would more effectually ferve the cause of Chrif tianity than by the methods they adopt. If fuch a hope be vifionary, we cannot fo fuccefsfully refute calumny as by an appeal to our own actions," With deferved exprefions of efteem and veneration for the prefent and late diocefan of Rochester, and of attachment to the clergy of that fee, Dr. L. concludes a well-planned and well-written Charge.

ART. 22. A Sermon on Religious Defpondence, extracted from the Second Volume of Sermons by the Rev. Thomas Gisborne, M. A. 1200. 24 PP. 68. Cadell and Davies. 1805.

From various caufes, and among others, from the great frequency of fuch publications, we find ourselves fomewhat in arrear with our account of volumes of fermons. Mr. Gisborne's Second Volume is among the number of thofe poftponed. Nor do we confider the delay as of much confequence, when the author thus deferred is, like Mr. G. fure to deferve our commendation, and fure of the public attention, without any aid from us. In the mean time, we are glad to take the opportunity of noticing the prefent very important difcourfe, which by defire has been printed feparately.

The difcourfe would, if any human effort could, have poured balm into the broken fpirit of Cowper; unlefs indeed, all confolation had been excluded by the miferable doctrine of arbitrary and abfolute rejection, which is here fo fuccefsfully combated. Even in a time of dreadful religious indifference, the oppofite extreme of defpondence is too often feen: and against it this difcourfe is directed, with a clear ftyle and comprehenfive views of the whole fubject. Suppofing the necellary groundwork of fincere and true repentance, this preacher takes up all the falfe imaginations and arguments, with which the defponding fortify themfelves in their milery. As we cannot cite much, we hold it most important to extract his arguments again't that Calvinistical doctrine of partial rejection, which we have lately had fo ficquent occafions to oppofe.

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