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the Palaces of Princes, efpecially in Italy, are generally built near the Walls and Ditches of a Town, which are the moft unwholfome Parts of it. He adds, That fome Years ago being at Modena in the Summer and the Autumn, he obferved that several People who lived near the Town-Walls, died of Malignant Fevers; and that there was hardly any Body fick of that Diftemper among those who lived in other Parts of that City. From whence he infers, how neceffary it is for the Prefervation of Health, to live in a pure Air, without which the Tranfpiration can never be well performed.

The Author maintains, by Virtue of his Obfervations upon the Barometer, That the Air is heavier in clear Weather, and when a North Wind blows, than in cloudy and rainy Weather. From whence he draws this Inference; That a thick Air leffens the Tranfpiration, not fo much because it obftructs the Pores of the Skin, as because the Body is not fo clofely preffed by the Atmosphere, and therefore the Fibres must needs be relaxed. Whereas in clear Weather the Air has a greater Force upon the Fibres, which by their Effort facilitate the Circulation of the Blood, whereby the Tranfpiration is more eafily performed. A Phyfician muft therefore confider the Nature of the Air, and the Temper of a Prince, that he may have a free Tranfpiration, than which nothing can be more effectual for the Prefervation of his Health, The Author makes fome other Obfervations, on which I cannot enlarge. I fhall only take Notice of one. When the Small-Pox (fays he) rages among Children, tis a Sign that the Air is corrupted. He adds, That he has frequently obferved, that the SmallPox has been attended with Epidemical Difeafes, fuch as Malignant Fevers, and Dyfentery.

IV, The Tables of Princes, fays the Author, are full of fuch a variety of Difhes, that their Health may eafily be impaired by an Excefs of Eating, which is the Caufe of fo many Diseases. Their Stomach has not a fufficient time to digeft Crudities. Befides,

4

Befides, fo many Sorts of Meats and Ragoos cannot, be equally diffolved by one and the fame Ferment, and the Blood, confifting of fo many different Particles, can never attain to a perfect Mixture without difordering the Body; and therefore will not be proper for the Nourishment of the Parts, and enable them to perform their Functions. This gives the Author Occafion to take Notice of a Paffage in Galen relating to the Emperor Commodus. That Prince felt a violent Pain in his Stomach after Supper: He had a frequent and flow Pulfe, which was looked upon as a Sign of a Fever. Galen being fent for in the Night, declared that the Emperor had no Fever. Commodus asked him, What was to be done? Where upon that Phylician gave him this Answer: "If any Body else was taken with the fame Illness, I would give him, as I use to do, fome Wine mixed with Pepper; but because you are King, it will be fuf"ficient to lay upon the Orifice of the Stomach a "Handful of Wool dipped in a hot Pigment of "Nard." The Emperor being well pleased with the ingenuous Freedom of Galen, drank fome Sabine Wine mixed with Pepper, and recovered his Health.

Dr. Ramazzini does not approve Drinking several Sorts of Wine, and fhews the ill Confequences of it. He recommends Sobriety, as being the only Way of enjoying a good Health, and attaining to old-Age; as it appears from thofe ancient Hermits, who lived upon Roots and Dates, and from the famous Lewis Cor, naro, a Noble Venetian, whofe excellent Book (fays the Author) concerning the Advantages of a Sober Life deferves to be illuftrated with a Commentary. That Learned Phyfician informs us, that he will perhaps undertake fuch a Work. He adds, That a Man's Stomach is the beft Judge of the Quantity and Goodness of Food neceffary to him; that thofe Aliments that are easily digefted, and afford a quick Nourishment, ought to be accounted the beft, and that, as Lucretius fays;

Neç

Nec multum refert, quo victu corpus alatür, Dummodo, quod capias, concoctum didere poffis Artubus, & ftomachi humectum fervare tenorem.

This Extract is continued in ART. XX.

ARTICLE XIX

PARIS.

ATHER Martianay has published the Life of Sifter Magdalen of the Holy Sacrament, a Carmelite Nun.

La Vie de Soeur Madeleine du S. Sacrement, Religieufe Carmalite du Voile blanc, avec des reflexions fur excellence de fes vertus. Paris 1711. in 12mo. Pagg. 235.

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That Nun was born at St. Sever, a Town of Gaf cogne, in the Year 1617. and died at Bourdeaux at Fourscore Years of Age. We are told that her Death was attended with feveral Wonders. Sifter Magdalen had many extraordinary Favours beftowed upon her by Heaven. Being ftill in the World, fhe felt a wonderful Sweetness as often as fhe came near "the Holy Table, to receive the Eucharift. That "Sweetnefs (faid fhe) was like a Fountain of Sweet Oyl, which rendred the Ufe of the Holy Sacrament very delicious to her. Whenever the confulted the Child Jefus, he gave her a plain answer, which he heard inwardly. Here follows an Inftance of it. "A Mendicant Fryar, being "accused of maitaining a new and dangerous Do"ctrine, was like to prove a very unhappy Man; for his Brethren and Superiors, moved with a

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"falfe

"falfe Zeal, were refolved to prosecute him with "the utmost Severity. Sifter Magdalen was pitched upon to decide that Difference. The Superior of the Carmelite Nuns ordered her to befeech the Child Jefus to difcover the Truth, and to reconcile a Community, that was threaten'd with a ve ry fatal Discord. Magdalen faid her Prayers, and "then heard an inward Voice telling her very diftinctly, That the Faith and Doctrine of the acσ cufed Monk were Orthodox. But because she did not understand the Signification of that Word, fhe "could not tell whether the Child Jefus had acquit

ted the Fryar, or whether he was guilty; and there"fore the faid with great Simplicity, That the Doctrine of that Religious was Orthodox; and asked, "What was the meaning of it? This Anfwer removed all Sufpicions, and fecured from Perfecution ઉર a Man, whofe Faith was not approved by his "Mafters.

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The Devotion of Sifter, Magdalen was accounted a Chimerical one by feveral Perfons, even in her Convent. "Mother Anne, my Aunt, (Jays fhe, in one of her Letters) cannot apprehend my Way. Tho' fhe has been my Priorefs Fifteen Years, he is al ways uneafy, being of Opinion that I am mistaken. "If it be fo, I know nothing of it. My Spirit * is intolerable to Mother Anne. When he knows "that I have been employed in any thing, or that "I have fpoken with fome Body, fne is very angry & with our Mother, becaufe, (fays the) I have no વઢ Wit, nor Senfe, nor Judgment.

[The Learned Bishop Stillingfleet published a Curious Book, entitled, The Fanaticifm of the Church of Rome.]

A Third Edition of a Body of Philofophy, compofed by M. Pourchot, late Profeffor of that Science in Mazarin-College, is lately come out at Lyons.

Inftitutiones Philofophica ad faciliorem veterum ac recentiorum Philofophorum lectionem comparata. Edi

tio tertia locupletior. Lugduni. 1711. in V. Volumes

in 12mo.

That Work is very much efteemed, because the Author has collected in a few Words, and very me thodically, the beft Things that are to be found upon the feveral Parts of Philofophy in the moft celebra ted Philofophers both Ancient aud Modern. M. Pour chot has added feveral curious Obfervations to this new Edition, and has not forgot Prefident Bon's Dif covery concerning the Silk of Spiders *.

A new Edition of the Candidatus Rhetorice, has been printed here from that of Father Juvenci lately publifhed at Rome.

Candidatus Rhetorice olim à Patre Francifco Pomey digeftus. In hac Editione noviffima à Patre Jofepho Fuvencio auctus, emendatus, & perpolitus. Paris, 1711. in 12mo, pagg. 360.

Father Juvenci has left out in this Edition what ever appeared to him needlefs, and added many Things which he thought neceffary. He has allo altered the Method and Style of Father Pomey in feveral Places.

I have given an Account of that Discovery in the First Volume.

LONDON.

THE following Book has been lately published.

The English Grammar: Or, an Effay on the Art of Grammar, applied to and exemplified in the English Tongue. By Michael Maittaire. London: Printed by W. B. for H. Clements at the Half-Moon in St. Paul's Church-yard. 1712. in 8vo. pagg. 272.

Mr.