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this is certainly a performance well calculated for the notice of young medical readers who are too often distracted and dismayed by the ponderous volumes that are offered to their attention.

Art. 34. An Essay on the most rational Means of preserving Health, and of attaining to an advanced Age; to which are added, Angedotes of Longevity. 12mo. Pp. 105. 35. Boards. Wallis.

1799.

We find little either to praise or to blame in this piece of patchwork it is made up of facts and opinions from different writers, fairly quoted by the compiler. Most of the passages have long been before the public, and we have no right to try them afresh in our court.-Many good hints may doubtless be collected from the vo

lume.

Art. 35. A Lecture on the Situation of the large Blood-Vessels of the Extremities; and the Method of making effectual Pressure on the Arteries, in Cases of dangerous Effusions of Blood from Wounds. Delivered to the Scholars of the late Maritime School at Chelsea and first printed for their Use. Third Edition. To which is now added, a brief Explanation of the Nature of Wounds, móre particularly those received from Fire-Arms. By William Blizard, F. R. S. 12mo. pp. 84. 35. Boards. Dilly. 1798.

Mr. Blizard has here been very meritoriously engaged in delivering instructions respecting the application of the tourniquet, in cases of wounds; a part of knowlege which ought to be rendered familiar, both in our navy and army, as it may frequently save valuable lives. A general acquaintance with subjects of this nature, as he has rightly judged, would be an useful part of the education of officers.

Art. 36. An Enquiry into the Nature and Causes of the great Mortality among the Troops at St. Domingo: with practical Remarks on the Fever of that Ísland; and Directions for the Conduct of Europeans on their first Arrival in warm Climates. By Hector M'Lean, M. D. Assistant Inspector of Hospitals for St. Domingo. 8vo. pp. 358. 63. Boards. Cadell jun. and Davies. 1797.

Our review of this book has been so long delayed by unavoidable accidents, that it would now be out of season to enter into a particular analysis of it; a great part of the information which it contains having been superseded by recent events, and later publications.

Dr. McLean considers the yellow fever of St. Domingo to be the endemic remittent of that island, not infectious, and acting with unusual violence, because applied to English constitutions; which are peculiarly susceptible of the morbid attack from their plethoric state, and from habits of free living. As every idea of conquering this island seems now to be abandoned, the author's plans for preserving the health of Europeans in it excite only regret for past fatality, and

thanks for his well-meant endeavours.

In the cure of the disease, Dr. M'Lean seems to have met with much disappointment. He has related his failures with the candour of a man of science, and we feel pleasure in acknowleging the merit of his frankness. He found, at length, that bleeding and cold

bathing

bathing afforded more relief than any other method of treatment. The practice certainly appears very singular; it is really

-Miscere quadrata rotundis :

but from careful experience there is no appeal.

We cannot avoid observing that there is a strange mixture of matter and manner in this work. The practical part is simple and plain: but it is overwhelmed with a quantity of theoretical declamation, very little connected with the subject, which almost appears to be the production of a different author. From the extent and duration of Dr. M'Lean's personal experience, however, this book will con. tinue to be considered as authority on several questions relating to this epidemic.

Art. 37. Advice to the Commanders and Officers of his Majesty's Fleet serving in the West-Indies, on the Preservation of the Health of Seamen. By Leonard Gillespie, M. D. Surgeon to the Naval Hospital, Fort Royal, Martinico. 8vo. 1s. Cuthell. 1798. This sensible tract contains many observations which merit the attention of our naval commanders. It is written with great brevity, and therefore does not admit any analysis: but we shall extract a note, which contains a new and important fact concerning the origin of fever.

There is great reason to suppose that the generation of a shipfever took place on board his Majesty's ship Avergavenny, on her pas sage to the West Indies, in the spring of 1796, which affected almost every person on board, in a greater or less degree, from the putrefaction of a large quantity of potatoes which had been put on board, for the use of a regiment embarked in that ship.'

The writer's general instructions seem to be the result of personal experience, and we recommend them to those who have it in their power to enforce them.

Art. 38. Hints on the Ventilation of Army Hospitals and Barrack Rooms; also on Regimental Practice: on Matrimony, (as it regards the private Soldier,) and on Regimental Education, (as proposed by ingenious Authors,) submitted with Deference to the Oth cers and Surgeons of the British Army., By W. H. Williams, Surgeon to the Eastern Regiment of Norfolk Militia. 12mo. 2s. Longman.

This pamphlet offers a project for a new ventilator, which cannot be understood without the copper-plate print, and which does not appear to possess any great superiority over former contrivances of a similar kind. The other parts of the work contain some particulars that may be of use to regimental surgeons: but we do not perceive that any great accession of knowlege is likely to accrue from it, to ge neral readers.

Art. 39. Medicine Praxeos Compendium; Symptomata, Causas, Diagnosin, Prognosin, et medendi rationem, exhibens. Auctore, Edvardo Goodman Clarke, M, D. 12mo. pp. 214. 55. sewed. Johnson, &c. 1799.

The arrangement of diseases, and the enumeration of symptoms, are here chiefly taken from Dr. Cullen's Nosology. The additions of

the

the Causes, Prognostics, Diagnosis, and method of cure, render this pamphlet a complete Manual of Practice, which may prove instructive to students; and it may even be found a tolerable text-book for practitioners in general. We have often wished to see a work of this nature undertaken, on a larger scale, in imitation of Dr. Home's Principia Medicine; a production which only requires some revisal and enlargement, to resume the high station which it held, not many, years ago, among medical productions.

LAW.

Art. 40. The Laws respecting Wills, Testaments and Codicils, and. Executors, Administrators, and Guardians, laid down in a plain and easy manner; in which all technical Terms of Law are familiarly explained; and in which the Statute of Wills, and such Parts of the Statute of Frauds and Perjuries, as relate to the Subject of Divines, are particularly considered and expounded; with Remarks and Directions for the use of those who are desirous of making their own Wills. Also the methods of Descent and Distribution of Property, where no Will is made, as collected from the several Reports and other Books of Authority up to the present Time. Containing likewise a Complete Abstract of the Legacy Act, an Account of the Expence of proving a Will, and of obtaining Letters of Administration: the Stamps on which Discharges for Legacies and distributive Shares are to be written, &c. &c. With an Appendix of Precedents, comprising a great Variety of the most approved Forms of Wills, Testaments, Codicils, &c. relative to every Description of Property. The Third Edition, corrected and much enlarged. By the Author of the Laws respecting Land: lords and Tenants. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Clarke and Son. 1799.

After having laboured through a title-page so comprehensive and full of promise, how will the reader smile at being informed that the entire work, with its full apparatus of Preface, Table of Contents, Appendix, and Index, does not consist of one hundred and fortypages? This circumstance will probably remind him, as it did us, of the adage which was so common in our school-boy days: "It is easy to promise, but it is hard to perform."-What Mr. Bird's abilities may be for a due performance of so magnificent a promise, we cannot say, as he has confined himself to limits much too circumscribed for even a few of the many topics which he has introduced. This we histed to him on a former occasion, in our article concerning his first edition, in our 18th volume, N. S. p. 222; and we are sorry at now being obliged to repeat the observation.

Art. 41. The Laws respecting Parish Matters, containing the several Offices and Duties of Church-Wardens, Overseers of the Poor, Constables, Watchmen, and other Parish Officers. The Laws concerning Rates and Assessments, Settlements and Removals of the Poor, and of the Poor in general. The Laws relating to Repairs of Highways, Weights and Measures, &c. The whole laid down in a plain and easy Manner, in which all technical Terms of Law are familiarly explained, as collected and digested from the several Reports and other Books of Authority up to the present REY, AUG. 1799. Time;

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Time; also an Appendix of Precedents, comprising a great Variety of the most approved Forms of all such Instruments as most fre quently occur in the Management of Parish Affairs. The Second Edition, improved and much enlarged. By the Author of the Laws of Landlord and Tenant, Law of Wills, Laws of Masters and Servants, &c. 8vo. pp. 144. 2s. 6d. Clarke and Son. 1799If Mr. Bird be not entitled to much praise as a book-maker, he should surely obtain a patent for title-pages; for that numerous class of readers, who never extend their inquiries farther, cannot fail of encouraging his labours.

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Art. 42. The Security of Englishmen's Lives, or the Trust, Power, and Duty of the Grand Juries of England, explained according to the Fundamentals of the English Government, and the Declarations of the same made in Parliament by many Statutes. First published in the Year 1681. To which is prefixed a Sketch of the History of Juries, by a Barrister. 8vo. pp. 120. 2s. 6d. West. 1798. This tract was originally published in the year 1681 in 12mo., again in 1682 in 4to., and, besides having been re-printed in Lord Somers's Tracts, appeared in 8vo. in the years 1715 and 1766.—It was written in the reign of Charles II., and has been attributed to Lord Shaftesbury, Lord Essex, and, with greater probability, to Lord Somers, whose exertions were so uniformly beneficial to the Constitution. The present edition, the work having become scarce, is recommended not only by its own intrinsic merit, but by several sensible and pertinent observations.

Art. 43. Term Reports in the Court of King's Bench, from Michaelmas Term 31st George III. to Trinity Term 32d George III. both inclusive. By Charles Durnford and Edward Hyde East of the Temple, Esqrs. Barristers at Law. Vol. IV. a new Edition, corrected, with additional References. Royal 8vo. 19s. Boards. Butterworth. 1799.

We have only to announce to our readers the appearance of this work in its present commodious size, as we have on a former occasica discussed the merits of the performance.

Art. 44. Observations on the present State and Influence of the Poor Fars; founded on Experience; and a Plan proposed for the Consideration of Parliament; by which the Affairs of the Poor may in future be better regulated; their Morals and Habits of Industry greatly improved; and a considerable Reduction in the Poor Rates effected. By Robert Saunders, Esq. 8vo. pp. 190. 35. 62. Boards. Sewell. 1799.

The great attention, which has been paid of late years to the con. cerns of the Poor, reflects much credit on the humanity of the age; and many of the publications which we have noticed, on this interesting and important topic, are as honourable to the character of their authors for the abilities which they shew, as for the benevolence of the motives in which they originated. Mr. Saunders, having acted for the period of two years as overseer of a populous parish, possessed opportunities of knowlege and means of information which belong to few individuals; and the good sense and practical remarks, to be

found

found in his book, prove that he availed himself of the advantages of his situation. His work contains a state of the poor at Lewisham, in Kent, the parish of which Mr. S. was overseer. He proceeds to give a cursory review of the sentiments of different authors on the poor laws; and here he evinces an intimate acquaintance with what had been previously written, and gives high and merited praise to the exertions of Mr. Gilbert, Sir William Young, and Mr. Rug gles, in their attempts to rescue so large a part of the community from the hardships and difficulties under which they labour, and to render more extensively useful the liberal contributions which are annually made. A plan for the future government and control of all that concerns the management of the poor concludes this well-written treatise. Mr. S. considers most of the present evils attending the system, as arising from the nature of the office of overseer, which involves in it a medley of important and degrading duties; the former demanding the assistance of the liberal and independent classes of society, and the latter absolutely precluding their interference.-He advises a separation of the duties of collector and overseer, and the placing the funds in the hands of a treasurer. All that he urges on this subject is founded on good sense and experience, and we recommend the production to the attention of those who are entrusted with so important a concern as the regulation of the poor.

Art. 45. A Treatise on the Law of Bills of Exchange, Checks on. Bankers, Promissory Notes, Bankers' Cash Notes, and Bank Notes. By Joseph Chitty, Esq. of the Middle Temple. Svo. pp. 300. 6s. Boards. Brooke. 1799.

The great and extensive advantages, resulting to this country from the influence of commerce, have induced our Courts to afford it all the encouragement in their power; and the custom of merchants has been recognized and supported from the fourteenth century.The assignable quality of a bill of exchange, and of a promissory note, forms an exception to the old common law on the subject of Choses in Action; which, even in the present day, cannot be so com pletely assigned as to be sued-for in a Court of Law, in the name of the assignee; and this exception is admitted for the benefit of com mercial transactions. The decisions on the subject of these transferable instruments are very numerous, and not easily reconciled with each other; and though there are various treatises on this branch of our law, we do not think that there is any one so complete as to su persede the necessity of farther discussion.

The author of the present publication has divided his work into. two parts; in the first of which he considers the Right which may be acquired by a bill, check, or note; and in the second he explains the Remedies by which a payment of them may be inforced. He has also subjoined an Appendix of Forms of Declarations, &c. with Annotations, and a List of the Notary's Fees of Office, together with the Statutes relative to small Notes and Bills.-Much useful information will be found collected in this work, and arranged in a systematic and methodical manner.

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