Report des Cures Opérées a Bayonne par le Magnetisme Animal, par M. de Le Compte Maxime de Puyfegur. 8vo. Bayonne.

HIS is another work in favour of Mr. Mefmer, and his

are

numerous; but if we were to admit this kind of argument, every remedy publicly advertised, would have the fame advantage. But among the various attestations, we do not fee any One of the cure of the dog, mentioned by the count. This would have been an experimentum crucis; for no imagination could have influenced the event. In fact, the dog was magnetized, and he foon recovered; this we believe without the certificates, we only doubt of the complaint. The fact was this: a dog, standing in the way of fome young men at play, was taken by the tail, and whirled to a little distance. The fuddennefs, and the violence of the motion, as may be expected, deprived him of his fenfes, and this infenfibility continued long enough to allow of the ceremonies of magnetism, and to permit the count to boast of the cure.

The author feems, as ufual, angry with medicine, and the medical commiffioners. He declaims, but he does not reafon. The notes by Monfieur Duval D' Efprèmenil contain more reason than declamation. We fhall fubjoin a fpecimen. When the count has dwelt on the almighty power of his certificates, he exclaims, Well then! this croud of atteftations, figned by fo many people, ferve only to fhow how many knaves and dupes, chance has affembled to prove me a fool. The argument,'

way

adds the annotator is ftrong; but I know how to answer it : the is to disbelieve the atteftations, and deny the cures ; or rather to attribute them to nature, independent of magnetifin, that is, to nature, independent of herself."

We must apply to M. d'Efprèmenil for the interpretation; if it has any meaning, it is not true.-Adieu, fir, we have no wish to examine you any farther.

Confiderations fur le Magnetisme Animal, ou la Theorie du Monde &des etres Organizes d'apres les Principes de Mefmer. Par M. Begale. 8vo. A la Haye.

SIN

INCE animal magnetifm is almoft forgotten among our volatile neighbours, we fhall not purfue our account of the different works on this fubject, any farther. Thefe, in our prefent Number, are chofen, either for the weight of facts, or curiofity of the reafoning. The author of the 'Confiderations,' tells us, that

his work is not good, because we can do nothing good in three weeks; efpecially, when we must write on a new fubject, and one of fome extent.' This work is indeed of a great extent. It proves the existence of animal magnetifmn, fhows its nature, its natural and moral effects, with many accidental circumftances relating to our

ideas and fenfations, each of which would require more than 142 pages, the bulk of this pamphlet, even in fuperficial difcuffion.

After having fhown, in his own manner, viz. by talking about it, that general and animal magnetifm really exist, M. Begaffe, determines, that it is the vis confervatrix, or medicatrix of phyficians. This is explaining a riddle by an enigma We will readily allow, that the true art of healing must result from this knowledge; but Gaubius has long fince told us the fame; and we are not at all nearer the acquifition, by giving it another term, unless we prove, which our author cautioufly avoids, that, by magnetizing we can excite this vis medicatrix. The influence of magnetifin on our manners, our morals, and the fine arts, we fhall not enlarge on. If our author's confiderations had lafted three weeks longer, the fecond divifion of the work would probably have been expunged. We fhould have been forry for it, fince we fhould have loft much entertainment.

M. Begaffe is at fome pains, in the third part, to show that medicine, in general, is dangerous and uncertain, and magnetim infallible. He attempts alfo to fhow, that it acts independent of the imagination: but three weeks are not fufficient to lay the foundation for fuch an important fuperstructure. The author does not produce a fingle unexceptionable argument for his opinion.

Some thoughts' on motion by the marquis de Chatellux are added; but they confift only of fome doubtful additions to the vis inertia of Newton. The inertnefs of matter is admitted, with all the rigour with which it was first affigned.

MONTHLY CATALOGU E.

MEDICAL.

Obfervations on Antimonial Preparations. With a Defcription of a new Antimonial Powder, of peculiar Efficacy in Fevers, &c. 8vo. Herds field.

THI

HIS work is not deficient in candour and good fenfe. The author appears fo much fuperior to the office of vending a quack medicine, that he feems willing to affift every one in the preparation of his New Antimonial Powder.' The teftimonies in its favour are numerous. The obfcurity of the directions for preparing this medicine is, however, objectionable: we are indeed told, that further particulars are fold in a separate pamphlet, with a fpecimen of the appearance of the powder in a particular and effential part of the procefs; but no reason is given why the whole was not related in this part. We ought not to fufpect that the author is equally obfcure in the other pamphlet, because he chufes to be fo in that before us.-Wè

are

are informed that the publication of this fecond pamphlet is delayed, and that it is propofed to be fold at a guinea each. Befides the fpecimens, it is to be accompanied by two ounces of the powder.

The powder is directed to be made, by adding oil of vitriol to regulus of antimony and burnt hartfhorn, and then calcining them together. The author feems not to be aware of a double elective attraction; fince the hartfhorn is already an earthy falt, from which the acid is not eafily feparable by burning: but if we fuppofe, as he fays, that the earth is defigned to take up the fuperfluous acid, and that it has loft all other ingredients, then the vitriolic acid is applied to the metal, on which its action is very inconfiderable. By proper management fome part of the acid will act on the regulus, and make a falt; but the greater part is only calcined. The falt formed is very deliquefcent, and the ingredients are eafily feparated, by heat. The fpecimen before us is dry, and has actually been calcined. From thefe circumftances, we fufpect that the powder muft be only a calx; and fo uncertain do many parts of the procefs feem, that we are rather furprised at what the author afferts of the uniformity of the refult, in very frequent trials. We purpofe, however, to examine the powder chemically, fo far as our fpecimen will permit: in the mean time, we can only add, that, from the appearance of candour in the pamphlet, and the teftimonies in favour of the medicine, it feems intitled to attention.

Nofologia Methodica Oculorum: or, a Treatife on the Diseases of the Eyes, feleled and tranflated from the Latin of Francis Boffier De Sauvages. With Annotations. By George Wallis, M. D. Svo. 4s. 6d. Robinfon.

This work feems to be intended as an effay towards a complete tranflation of Sauvages' Nofology; a vaft collection of ufeful facts, imperfe&ily arranged, and often confufed. If the author purfues his defign, we would recommend to him to abridge fome part, and to blend together thofe paffages which relate to the fame fubject rather than the fame organ. In fhort, it would be most convenient to fellow Dr. Cullen's arrangement, and to add, in a mifcellaneous clafs, thofe difeafes which he has not mentioned. There is another part of his work more difficult, but which we know to be neceffary, viz. revifing and correcting the references: many of thefe are imperfect, and fome are erroneous. To preferve the introductory effays may appear fuperfluous, as the mechanical doctrines, of which they chiefly confift, are now exploded; but it will be neceffary to examine, and perhaps to abridge them, fince they contain fome very useful phyfiological and pathological obfervations.

In this first attempt, we commend Dr. Wallis for ufing the technical appellations parce detorta, with English terminations. The additions, from more modern authors, are very valuable. VOL. LX. Dec. 1785. Hh If

If he proceeds in the work, his language will probably become more free, and lefs ftiffened by Latin idioms. The additional obfervations are chiefly from the authors in our hands: the explanation of the new fpecies is illuftrated alfo by those who have mentioned them; fo that we cannot felect any fpecimen with advantage. The following observations are more particularly the author's own, and we tranfcribe them, to inforce their utility in preventing confufion.

It must be of great differvice to multiply terms where they are likely to perplex, and create confufion, but certainly the fame objection lies in contracting where the effects are fimilar, which here evidently appears to be the cafe. Sauvages confiders the ftaphyloma as an aqeous or uveal hernia,-so does St. Yves, which may affect part of the cornea or the whole. Heifter allows, amongft a number of other difagreeable and dangerous fymptoms, it induces abfcefs. In the ftaphyloma of Savauges, &c. the cornea feems only affected; in that of Mr. Bell, the ball of the eye; fo that Mr. Bell's may be confidered rather as an exophthalmia purulenta, both from its caufe, appearance, and mode of cure. In order to fix a clear idea of the two complaints, ftaphyloma and hypopion, we should confider the ftaphyloma of Mr. Bell as the exophthalmia purulenta; that of Sauvages, &c. as aqueo-corneal, or uveal hernia, which may be the caufe of it; and the hypopion of Mr. Bell as the corneal abfcefs, a collection of pus inter laminas, not fub lamellis ;-by which means all confufion will be avoided, and perfpicuity take place of perplexed contractility.'

The very copious index, and the fynoptical table, are exceedingly useful, and add to the value of the work.

A Medical Commentary on Fixed Air, by Matthew Dobfon. 2d Edit. With an Appendix, on the Ufe of the Solution of Fixed Alkaline Salts faturated with fixable Air, in the Stone and the Gravel. By William Falconer, M. D. 8vo. 4s. Cadeli.

It would have been inftructive and agreeable, to have feen the more mature reflections of Dr. Dobfon on this fubject, fince novelty fometimes engages our affections fo ftrongly, that there is little room for the exertions of judgment, and fince aërial chemistry is much improved in the period which has intervened. But Dr. Dobfon's remarks were in fuch a ftate, that his editor could not profit by the legacy; and the only part which could be of fervice is now made the fubject of the Appendix. The first edition we reviewed in our forty-eighth volume, page 172, and it is now reprinted, with the addition only of fome notes. We wished to fee more corrections; for fome things are afferted too rafhly, and, at this time, we can explain other facts more fatisfactorily than at the period of the first publication.

The Appendix confifts of directions for making and ufing the aqua mephitica alkalina. This is only a watery folution of alkali fuper-faturated with fixed air: it is more than faturated,

becaufe

because it is ordered to be acidulous. The cafes and experi ments feem to show, that this remedy is fafe and useful: of course it is much more valuable than the foap-ley; for, though this be fometimes ufeful, it is feldom fafe, and many people have been relieved of calculous complaints, at the expence of their conftitution. It may be worth remarking, for those who are without the means of preparing this water, that it is not very different from the Seltzer water, when in a proper state; but the trouble only is lefs; for the expence is much greater. It may add to Dr. Falconer's recommendation to observe, that the Seltzer water has been often used in this complaint, fometimes with fuccefs. On the whole, this Appendix contains ingenious and ufeful remarks, and may be perufed with great ad` vantage.

An Efay on the Jaundice; in which the Propriety of using the Bath Waters in that Difeafe, and alfo in fome particular Affections of the Liver, is confidered. By William Corp, M. D. 8vo. 15. 6d. Dilly.

There is little novelty in this Effay; but the different facts are felected with judgment, chiefly to determine the circumstances in which the Bath waters may be molt advantageously employed in the jaundice. Dr. Corp thinks, that fpafms in the duct cannot be one of the causes of the disease, fince there are no mufcular fibres in it; but the violence of the pain, the almost immediate relief from antifpafmodics, not directly fe dative, and the difeafe being induced by poifons, and paffions of the mind, are more powerful arguments than even the ap pearance of fibres. When Sydenham obferves, that jaundice has attended the hyfteric colic, our author thinks that the stoppage of a gall-ftone may have been the real cause of both; but this is not likely, fince in the jaundice, the pain is confined to the pit of the ftomach, and, towards the termination of the fit, fhoots out into the back. Our author, in his defcription, has not mentioned the place of the pain with accuracy.

Dr. Corp feems to be afraid of emetics, where there is dan ger from inflammation; but we have repeatedly employed them, in the fituation which he seems to dread fo much, without danger; indeed, he allows that emetics rather leffen than increase pain. He recommends them previous to bathing; for, if ufed just before, or after the bath, when they seem chiefly indicated, they fail in their effect, and either prove fudorific or cathartic. The fame confequences, in our experience, has followed the exhibition of opium; and there feems much analogy between the action of these remedies in this complaint. The rules for difcovering fcirrhus in the liver, and its tendency to inflame, are judicious; but it is well known that this disease is often with difficulty difcovered; and the foreness, which may feem to point out an inflammatory fcirrhus, fometimes proceeds from an abfcefs. The formulæ for a drop

Hh z