Hydrargyrus vitriolatus (olim. merc. emet. flavus) emetic, gr. ij ad v. alfo errhine; against amaurofis attended with dilatation of the pupil, &c. gr. 4, or more, mixed with eight times its weight of liquorice powder, once or twice a day; where the nofe is peculiary dry, Mr. Ware advises the fteam of warm water to be previously in

haled."

"Oleum terebinthinæ. Externally ftimulant; against rheumatic pains, fprains, &c. Oil of turpentine 3j, oil of olive 3iifs, vitriolic acid gtt. xlv, form an efficacious application for chronic affections of the joints from fprains or bruifes." We may add that it is allo advantageoully ufed internally, for uterine and other hæmorrhages, gtt. xv. in brown fugar, twice or thrice a day.

ART. 56. A complete Dictionary of Farriery and Horfemanship; containing the Art of Farriery in all its Branches, with an Explanation of the Terms, and a Defcription of the various Particulars relating to the Manage and to the Knowledge of Horfes. The whole compiled from the best Authors. By J. Hunter, Veterinarian. Pearfon, Birmingham; Baldwin, London. 1796.

8vo. 65.

After expatiating on the value of the horfe, the ignorance of farriers, and the numerous errors and imperfections to be found in works of a fimilar nature, this author proceeds to fay, that he has with great labour collected the best opinions which now prevail on the nature and treatment of the difeafes of horfes, and has given accurate deferiptions of the principal articles that are used in their cure. But, befides thefe effential paris, every thing relative to breeding, breaking, dieting, exercifing, feeding, hunting, racing, riding, fhoeing, ftabling, &c. will be found," he fays, "carefully inferted. The different terms ufed in the manage explained; and the furniture and the appurtenances of both horfe and rider defcribed in the most plain and intelligible manner." All this the author feems to have performed with diligence and fuccefs. But we cannot help wifhing he had been more candid in acknowledging the affiftance he has received from other writers; particularly that he had excepted from the general cenfure paffed upon works of this kind, Wallis's Farriers Dictionary, first printed in the year 1759, and which has fince paffed through feveral editions; as he has not only adopted the fame order in the arrangement of his matter, but has tranfcribed a majority of his articles, almost verbatim, from that work, of which this can only be confidered as an improved edition. As fuch, we have no hesitation in recommending it to the attention of the public.

ART. 57. Obfervations on the Canfes of the Distortions of the Legs of Children, and the Confequences of the pernicious Means generally used with the Intention of curing them; with Cafes to prove the Efficacy of a Method of Cure invented and practifed only by T. Sheldrake, Trufsmaker to the Westminster Hofpital and Mary-le-bone Infirmary. 8vo. 95 PP. 2s. 6d. Egerton. 1795.

Mr. Sheldrake begins with giving an account of the different methods that have been devised to cure clubbed feet. Thefe, from experience

as

as well as argument, he fhows to be incongruous and inefficient. The method recommended by Chefelden, of placing the feet in a natural pofture, and confining them with ftripes of rags, ftiffened with whites of eggs, can only anfwer, he fays, when the joints are perfectly pliant, and may be reduced with the hand. In thofe cafes fuch a mode of treatment will be fufficient. But when the difeafe is inveterate, other modes must be adopted. The irons that have been invented to remedy these distortions are in general too heavy, and clog the motion of the legs; and cannot, without doing material injury, be applied to the parts fo closely as is necessary to keep up a conftant action. They, therefore, feldom effect a cure. "Having, in the courfe of twenty years experience," he fays, p. 15 and 16, " had many opportunities of obferving this, I was ftimulated to attempt to fubftitute fome more effectual principle in its flead; and at length fucceeded in reducing to practice, a fyftem of treating thefe difeafes, by which they may be fpeedily cured, without being liable to thofe objections which have justly been made to the old and imperfect method of treating them.”

"The idea upon which this method is founded, is to substitute a fpring, fo adapted to the nature of the diftortion, that when bound upon the limb, its action will draw the deformed parts into their natural fituation; when it is neceffary to allow of motion in the limb, that motion, by increasing the reaction of the fpring, accelerates the cure this effect is directly contrary to what has been experienced from the common inftruments that have been used for the fame purpofe."

The author then proceeds to confider the cause of the distortion. This confifts, he fays, in the power of the mufcles contracting the feet, having completely overcome the power of the extenfors. The contractors are, therefore, in a conftant ftate of action, the extenfors in a state of relaxation and imbecility. The cure is to be effected by reftoring the equilibrium between these two fets of muscles, by aflifting and ftrengthening the extenfors, and oppofing the action of the contractors. The author relates fome cafes in which his method has proved completely effectual, and has, no doubt, that in all cafes, where it is early applied, a cure may be effected. The method here recommended is ingenious, and feems much fuperior to any hitherto divulged; and we have little doubt that fubfequent experience will prove favourable to its merit.

ART. 58. An experimental Effay on the Manner in which Opium as on the living animal Body. By Alexander Phillip Wilson, M. D. Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, F. R. S. Edin. and S. R. M. E. S. 8vo. 162 pp. 35. Johnfon. 1796. Dr. Wilfon begins by giving an account of the more obvious effects of opium upon animal bodies, and of the obfervations of former experimentalifts. Soon after the exhibition of a moderate dose of opium, the pulfe becomes fuller and quicker; this is followed by a celation of pain, and, in most inftances, tranquillity of mind and a refreshing fleep. In larger dofes, it occafions a deep fleep, convulfions, and death.

Dr.

Dr. Alfton obferved that the velocity of the circulation was fuddenly diminished, on throwing a watery folution of opium into the ftomach of a frog, and from this and other experiments concludes, that opium produces its effect on the body through the medium of the nerves, to which it is immediately applied. Dr. Whytt fays, that opium, by affecting the extremities of the nerves of the part to which it is applied, does, by means of their connection and fympathy with the brain and fpinal marrow, deftroy or prevent, through the whole nervous fyftem, the operation of that power, upon which depends fenfation and motion in the bodies of animals. Dr. Monro found that opium applied externally produced the fame efect as when taken into the ftomach; but, as might be expected, in a milder degree. Hence a fecond mode by which this drug is fuppofed to affect the fyftem, is by abforption. Fontana, after torturing an almoft infinite number of animals, to afcertain the medium by which opium produces its effects, concludes that it is by means of the circulation, or of abforption, and not of the nervous fyftem. To reconcile thefe jarring opinions, or detect their fallacy, this author was induced to commence the experiments detailed in this effay." But he does not prefume to fay that he has actually attained the end propofed, or expect that the refults from his experiments ought to be granted; efpecially when they contradict the inferences which we muft draw from the experiments of a Whytt, a Monro, or a Fontana." P. 43. Indeed we are afraid our knowledge of the modus operandi of this celebrated drug, will not be found to be much advanced by this publication, although the author appears to have profecuted the inquiry with fufficient ingenuity and diligence. Opium, he fays, as the refult of his experiments, appears to affect the nerves to which it is immediately. applied, the heart and blood-veffels, and the brain, after being admitted into the circulation. On each of these parts of the fyitem it produces effects fimilar to thofe occafioned by other ftimuli, with the addition of fomething peculiar to itfelf. But we will give the author's words. From what has been faid it appears, that the effects of opium on the living body, may be divided into three claffes: first, its action on the nerves of the part to which it is applied, p. 97, &c. This does not differ effentially, the author thinks, from any other topical irritation. Secondly, its effect on the heart and blood veffels, which is that of increafing their action, when administered in small dofes, and of impairing and deftroying it, when taken in larger quantities. In neither of these effects, he fays, does the action of opium differ effentially from that of many other fubitances. The third clafs comprehends the effects it produces, when it arrives at the brain. In moderate dofes it occafions impaired fenfibilty, languor, and flcep; taken in larger quantities, convulfions and death. In each of its effects on the living animal, we fill find that opium has much in common with other fubftances, but, at the fame time, fomething peculiar to itself." But, as it is to this indefcribable quality, or fomething, as our author calls it, that we muft probably attribute the peculiar effects of opium upon a living animal, it follows that our knowledge

е

BRIT. CRIT. VOL. VIII. AUGUST, 1796.

knowledge of the mode by which thofe effects are produced, is very little advanced by thofe experiments.

ART. 59. On the Neceffity of adopting fome Measures to reduce the prefent Number of Dogs; with a fhort Account of Hydrophobia, and the most approved Remedies against it. A Letter to Francis Annefley, Efq. M. P. for the Borough of Reading, and one of the Trustees of the British Mufeun, &c. &c. 8vo. 37 pp. 15. Smart and Cowflade, Reading; Richardfon, London. 1796.

The measure propofed by the author for reducing the number of dogs, is, by fubjecting the owners of them to a tax. This has been adopted by the legislature, but not to the extent this writer feems to think neceffary; as the cottagers, whofe dogs are likely to be moft mifchievous, as being more fparingly fed, and, therefore, more commonly found in the ftreet, prowling for food, are exempted. But yet this tax will probably have the effect of gradually leffening the number of thofe animals, not, perhaps, by occafioning many of the prefent race to be deftroyed, but by preventing fo large a number of them from being hereafter reared.

The fecond part contains an account of hydrophobia, and of the moft approved remedies ufed in its cure. The defcription of the difeafe is taken from Boerhave. The remedies are the lichen and pepper, recommended by Mead; washing the part that has been bitten with warm water, then cutting it out with a knife, or destroying it with cauftics, and, laitly, mercurial frictions to bring ca a falivation. The exhibition of fweet oil, by the mouth, is glyfters, and by rubbing it over the whole body, has been lately recommended, and, in one inftance, is faid to have been fuccefsful, after the appearance of hydrophobia; it should, therefore, our author fays, never be omitted, at least until a more certain remedy be found, which, from the ardour with which the fubject is profecuted, may, he feems to think, be expected.

MISCELLANIES.

ART. 60. Obfervations on Hamlet; and on the Motives which mo probably induced Shakspeare to fix upon the Story of Amleth, from the Danish Chronicle of Saxo Grammaticus for the Plat of that Tragedy: being an Attempt to prove that he defigned it as an indirect Cenfure on Mary Queen of Scots. By James Plumptre, M. A. 8vo. 44 PP. Robinfons, &c. 1796.

25.

"These observations," fays their author, before they went to the prefs, were fhewn to a gentleman for whofe abilities and critical acumen he entertains the highest refpect. He gave it as his opinion, that Shakspeare had no defign of cenfuring Mary when he wrote this tragedy. A ftory and a play, he obferved, had already been taken from the fame fubject, and, being popular, naturally induced him to fix upon it for the plot of a tragedy." In this opinion, though not in all that follows it, we agree with this unknown gentleman, who

probably

probably is Mr. Whiter. His notion that, from the fimilarity of the ftories, the circumftances attached to the incidents of Mary's life naturally fuggefted themfelves, and he probably drew his characters from thofe concerned in her ftory, without any intention of affixing reproach to her name," favours too much of that gentleman's imperceptible connection of ideas. Mr. Plumptre's hypothefis is, however, fupported with ingenuity. His ftrongeft proof is contained in thefe lines,

In fecond hufband let me be accurft!

None wed the fecond but who kill'd the firft.

Thefe certainly bear hard upon Mary's cafe; yet they might have been written without thought of her; who, ftrictly speaking, wedded the third when she was fufpected of killing the fecond. That Shakspeare was willing enough to flatter Elizabeth, is very true, and no reproach to him. All ranks and defcriptions of men were proud to flatter her. The great, the small, the wife, the witty, the politic, and the fimple, fung the fame fong; and Mary's story was probably in general received in England, juft as the wifhed to have it reprefented.

ART. 61. Letters, moral and entertaining, by Ann Wingrove. 12mo. 150 pp. 38. 6d. Wallis. 1795.

Mediocrity of talent, and ftri&t purity of defign, though incapable of great and interefting exertions, are yet, in a certain fpecies of compofition, abundantly ferviceable to the morals of mankind. The nature of virtue is too fimple to need the brilliant trappings of ingenious decoration; and a mind enamoured with moral beauty, and bleffed with an ordinary portion of fenfe, may fafely engage in its fupport and defence. To these qualities, in their most creditable fenfe, the fair writer whom we are now reviewing may juftly pretend. Her letters evince clearness of perception, and propriety of feeling. Her ftyle is neat and unaffected; and her fentiments, if marked by no original beauties, are ever in unifon with virtue and decorum.

The fubjects of which the letters treat are miscellaneous, and twelve in number, namely; 1. On reading Novels. 2. On Juftice and Generofity. 3. On Humility. 4. Journey to Sidmouth. 5. Clarinda's Hiftory. 6. Amanda's Hiftory. 7. On Wealth. 8. On Solitude. 9. On Happiness. 10. On Contentment. 11. Matilda's Hiftory. 12. On Refignation. A numerous lift of fubfcribers is prefixed to this little volume; and the author profeffes in her advertisement, that the production of fome virtuous impreffions will accomplish her object in publication. We fincerely hope that this end will be effected; and warmly recommend her book to that part of the public which can be gratified by the fimple effufions of a moral pen,

ART.