Art. 31. An Elegy, occafioned by the Death of a Lady's Linnet. 4to. 1 s. Davies.

Spirited and poetical, but not without fome defects, which the Public may put upon a repairing leafe. Yet thefe things, like the ephemeron, exist but for a day,-So, we hope, may the lady's grief for the linnet ;-not her love if he deferves it, for the poet. L. Art. 32. The Lion extricated; or, the Jackall's Defeat. A Fable. in Three Cantos. 4to. I S. Almon.

Political doggrel, working up the ftale materials of Lord Bute and the P. D. Lord Chatham and his penfion, and a great deal of ftuff of the fame fort.

Art. 33. A Familiar Epifile from C. Anftry, Efq; to C. IV. Bampfylde, Ejq; tranflated, and addreffed to the Ladies. 4to. 1 s.

Almon. 1777.

We have noticed the original in our Review for February: of the translation, take the following curious fpecimens:

Nor midit its merry notes does Polyhymny
Refuse to grace the corner of my chimney;

Great Cybele her vanquish'd creft deplore,
And boaft her, of her tower-capt head no more,
With finish hams, and bloody puddings ftor'd,

And though to Deary's fhare light coffers fall.-
The following fimile is worthy of obfervation;
As by a mafliff, when a hare is fpy'd
Securely friking near a copfe's fide,
His ears erect, the car begins the chace,
Urging with eager rage his tardy pace,
Thrown out at length, he halts upon the plain,-

This reminds us of a fimile in an Irish tragedy:
As when a hunter goeth forth to hawke,
He fees two filberts growing on one stalk:
He cracks the one, and, finding that is found,
Believes the other fo, though lying on the Ground.

But, notwithstanding the fudden metamorphofe of the maftiff into
a cur, we think the last quoted fimile inanitely fuperior.
L.
Art. 34. The Gamblers; a Poem; with Notes critical and ex-

planatory. 4to. 3 s. Hooper. 1777:

This poem is fo replete with the myftic terms of the turf and the tables, that it is fit only for the perufal of adepts. Bendes, it is uninteresting, and not likely to answer any moral purpose. The Duke of C has behaved fo well of late years, that it was certainly wrong to make him the fake hero of the poem. L. Art. 35. The Gamblers; a Poem. Canto II. 4to. 1 s. 6 d. Hooper.

I

Those who wish to acquire turfith knowledge may read this Canto with emolument. It is written with fpi-it, and contains many claffical allufions; but, as we faid of the first part, we know not where to find the cui bono.

L.

Art. 36. The Art of Converfing. Tranflated from the French 4to. I S. Lewis.

Thefe rhymes, for we cannot call them poetry, are faid to be tranflated from the French of a Pere Andrè of Rouen.

The Tranflator hath grievously offended the more respectable memory of Thomas Brown, who faith, that the vilest rhymes are those that end in inguish.

Don t contradict him, or he will distinguish,
And fub-diftinguish, and all fenfe extinguish.

To debafe the human mind, and spoil the heart.

Speak that I may see you, faid an ancient wight. Cedite Liffei fcriptores, cedite Taveda!

MEDICAL.

L.

Art. 37. Practical Remarks on West-India Difeafes. 8vo. 2s. F. Newbery. 1776.

This pamphlet is given as a fpecimen of a larger work, on the fame fubject, which the Author means to purfue, fhould he be encouraged to proceed. It is therefore only a kind of sketch of the defcription and method of cure of fome of the most violent and fatal difeafes which attack the inhabitants of those torrid regions. The compafs it takes is fcarcely fufficient for an accurate difcrimination of the feveral difcafes on which it treats; but the mode of practice ipculcated is free, vigorous, and apparently founded on juft obfervation. We doubt not, therefore, but the Author's defign, executed in its full extent, would be a valuable addition to the healing art; especially fhould he adopt a more correct and lefs florid manner of writing, in his future compofitions.

Some of the circumstances moft worthy of remark in the prefent piece are the extraordinary efficacy attributed to the red precipitate of mercury, adminiftered in cofes of half a grain, with nitre and camphor, or abforbent powders, in internal inflammations; the amazing dofes of opiates fafely and advantageously given in the tetanus, fo far we are told in one cafe, as twenty ounces of laudanum in one day, in others four ounces of folid opium during the courfe of the difeafe; and the happy effects of throwing cold water upon patients placed in a draught of air between two doors, in the height of a mof malignant and putrid fmall-pox. A. Art. 38. A felett Number of fchirrhous and cancerous Cafes, fuc ceis ully treated without cutting, by the peculiar Remedy of Melmoth Guy, Surgeon, &c. 8vo. I S. Nichol, &c. 1777. Mr. Guy here offers to the Public twenty cafes in favour of his method of treating fchirrhous and cancerous humours without the knife. Were any really effectual remedy for thefe moft dreadful of all difeafes difcovered, it would be the height of inhumanity to confine the benefits of it by an interefted concealment, How much the Public lofes by this conduct in refpect to Mr. Guy's medicines, we pretend not to determine, The cafes related have the appearances of authenticity; but every perion acquainted with medical history will know how little certainty can be obtained from a partial view of

any point of practice. With regard to ftyle and language, this pub-
lication is not in the leaft fuperior to the generality of attefted
cures, &c." which accompany the pills and drops of every common
noftrum-monger.
See alfo our account of an An Effay on Schirrhous Tumours and
Cancers, by Richard Guy, Surgeon, (the father, we fuppofe of the
prefent author) Rev. vol. xxi. p. 515,
A.
Art. 39. A Letter from the celebrated Dr. Tillot to Dr. Zimmer-
man, on the Morbus Niger; including fome appofite Cafes equally
curious and interefting. The whole illuftrated with an Account of
the morbid Appearances of the diffected Bodies. Tranflated from
the French by John Burke, M. D. 8vo. 1 s. 6d. KearЛly.
1776.

The Morbus Niger takes its name from the difcharge of a black
matter by vomiting and purging; which, imperfectly known to the
ancients under the name of Atra Bilis, is now difcovered to be blood
extravafated from a ruptured veffel in the flomach. The most ex-
cruciating pains precede this evacuation; by which, and the lofs of
blood, the patient is fo much reduced, that the difeafe ufually proves
fatal. The first cafe here related by Dr. Tiffot was faccefs fully
treated by a truly Hippocratic fimplicity of practice. A diet entirely
liquid, confifting of ptians, light broths, and milk; with emollient
glyfters, and the gentleft aperients, were the only medicines employ-
ed; and the learned and ingenious Writer fuggefts various arguments
in his reafonings upon the nature of the difeafe, to fhew that more
active medicines could not have been used with propriety. A fecond
cafe of the Morbus Niger, which terminated fatally; and a third, of
a diforder fomewhat refembling it in fymptoms though different in its
nature, afford fome curious appearances difcovered on diffection.
Two other obfervations, one relating to a particular kind of inteftinal
worm; the other to a violent and obftinate pain of the head, cured
by a deep incifion on the part; though worth perufal, are not fo
appofite' to the fubject of the former part of the letter as the title-
page feems to exprefs.
Α.
Art. 40. An Examination of a Charge brought against Innoculation,
by De Haen, Raft, Dimfdale, and other Writers. By John Wat-
kinfon, M D. 8vo. 1 s. 6d. Johnfon. 1777.

At a time when the prejudices against inoculation are almost entirely filenced, it must appear an alarming circumftance to the friends of that falutary practice, that fuch objections are railed against the mode of adminiftering it, by thofe who allow its merit and fuccefs, as must tend greatly to abridge the benefits derived from it. For we own we have little expectation that it will ever be found practicable in this country to introduce, under the authority of government, fuch a plan of inoculation as fhall extend its advantages through the body of the people; and if this be not effected, every restriction on fuch individuals as may be difpofed to practise it, will operate to its difcouragement. Many tender parent, who would venture to inoculate a child under their own eye and nurfing, would not be able to overcome their reluctance fending it abroad, amidft new faces, under another roof, where their own attendance would be impracticable or highly inconvenient. The great charge under which private

inoculation

d/ß

to

inoculation labours, is that obvious one of fostering a disease always ready to spread by natural infection. That by its means the natural fmall-pox is in fact more diffused than it would otherwife have been, is fuppofed to be proved by the increased proportion of deaths from this disease, appearing in the bills of mortality fince the inoculation was practifed. This is the foundation of the charge brought against it by the authors mentioned in the title of the present treatife; and what the Writer attempts to invalidate.

The following are the principal confiderations urged by Dr. Watkinfon: That one caufe of the greater proportion of deaths from the fmall-pox with refpect to other difeafes in the modern London bills, may be the increased purity of the air, which leffens the mortality of other diseases, but has little effect on the fmall-pox. That the inoculated small pox are so much lefs contagious than the natural; that little danger is to be apprehended from their infection. That the contagion even of the natural fmall-pox is fcarcely fufficient to propagate a prevailing epidemic, without the influence of fome peculiar conftitution of the air. But the most important argument, and what indeed we think tolerably decifive in exculpating inoculation, is drawn from a review of the Bills of Mortality as far back as the year 1629, a century before the introduction of that practice; by which it appears that the proportion of deaths from the fmall-pox has been increasing in gradual progreffion ever fince that time, excepting indeed for the laft four years, in which it has decreased. During a very confiderable part of this period, therefore, we must look for fome other caufe of the increased mortality of the small-pox in London; and we may reasonably conclude, that this caufe, whatever it be, would operate equally fince the introduction of inoculation as before. What this caufe is, Dr. Watkinfon has not attempted to afcertain. We think the prodigiously increased conflux of freth people out of the country, whofe fears of the fmall-pox have been conquered by ftronger incitements of pleasure or intereft than their ancestors felt, will go a great way towards accounting for the fact.

For the valuable tables exhibiting this progreffional feries, which were furnished to the Author by Dr. James Sims, we refer to the pamphlet itself, which deferves the perufal of those who wish to fee the arguments on both fides of this important question.

A.

MISCELLANEOUS. Art. 41. Supplement to the Life of David Hume, Efq; containing genuine Anecdotes and a circumftantial Account of his Death and Funeral. To which is added, a certified Copy of his Will. 12mo. J S. Bew.

We obferve nothing very material in this publication.

Art. 42. A Treatife of Laws, from the Greek of Sylburgius's Edition of Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrus, his Therapeutica, &c. By Thomas Comber, LL. D. Rector of Buckworth and Morborne, Huntingdonshire. 8vo. 2 s. fewed. White, &c.

We announced this valuable work in our Review for July, 1-76. It is now regularly published; and the learned world is much obliged to Dr. Comber for this republication and tranflation of an author fo juftly celebrated for his learning and eloquence. The Doctor has also added

MONTHLY CATALOGUE, Mifcellaneous.

to the work two sets of annotations, one of which he entitles Sentimental, the other, Interpolatory and Explanatory.

Art. 43. A Book of Infiructions, written by the Right Hon. Sir Christopher Wandesforde, Knt. Lord deputy of Ireland, &c. &c. to his Son and Heir George Wandesforde, Efq; in order to the regulating the Conduct of his whole Life. izmo. I s. 6d. fewed. Becket, &c. 1777:

This work is a curiofity, and will ferve to add, as the Editor obferves (in his dedication of it to John Earl of Wandesforde, of the kingdom of Ireland) a Lord Caltlecomer to Mr. Walpole's lift cf noble authors. Dr. Comber, a defcendant of the family, has now published it for the use of young gentlemen of fortune; who will find it fraught with much inftruction on a numerous variety of important points, arranged under their proper heads, and illuftrated with notes. The Author appears to have been a perfon of strong sense, of found judgment, and of exemplary piety and prudence

Art. 44. The Trifler; or, a Ramble among the Wilds of Fancy, the Works of Nature, and the Manners of Men. Vols. III. and IV. 12mo. 5 s. fewed. Baldwin. 1777.

When we fet out with the Trifler on his fecond Ramble, we found him fo entertaining, that we foon promifed ourfelves much pleasure in the excurfion. From feveral flights of fancy, and ftrokes of character, fuperior to any with which he had aniufed us formerly, we began to apprehend, that whatever occafion his irregular and unufual manner of thinking and talking might give us for criticism, we should, on the whole, have no occafion to regret the renewal of our acquaintance. But, as it often happens to travellers whom chance has thrown together, we had not gone far before we saw reafon to lower our ideas of our companion. Whether fome crofs accident had put him out of humour; or whether he had fo little command of himself, as not to be capable of journeying on for a fingle day without difcovering his ill-temper, we cannot fay; but, in the first evening of the excurfion, he behaved in fuch a manner, to fome worthy gentlemen who happened to be at the fame inn with us, as gave us fufficient proofs, that instead of having had the good fortune to meet with an agreeable Trifler, we had fallen into a most unlucky connection with a fplenetic humourif, and fuarling cynic, who was likely to give himself and us no fmall vexation upon the road.

To drop the allufion: the pleasure we promised ourselves from this work has been greatly overbalanced by the pain we have fuffered from the wanton and illiberal attack which the Author has made upon two modern writers, whofe literary and perfonal merit ought to have protected them from fuch an infult. Though our Author has not exprefsly named the objects of his misplaced ridicule, he has taken care to identify them by marks fufficiently characterific. He has introduced, in the courfe of his narrative, an Experimental Philofopher under the character of a vender of Depblogifticated Air, and an Orator haranguing a mob on Civil Liberty. He leads the former, with a chemift his companion, through feveral low adventures, offenfive to delicacy; but ftill more offenfive, as an infult upon philofophy in the perfon of one of her fons, whofe indefatigable and fuccessful refearches into nature, have juftly procured him an high degree of public approbation.

In